The "Biographical Index of South Dakotans" is an online index of biographies written on prominent South Dakotans from roughly 1897 to 1930. The index lists surnames in alphabetical order giving the book number and page number in which the biography is found.
"These biographies were written in 12 different books which are found in the library of the South Dakota State Archives," said Matthew T. Reitzel, manuscript archivist with the State Historical Society, located in the CulturalHeritageCenter. "Various libraries throughout South Dakota may also have copies of the books listed in the index, and will find this Web site useful."
Reitzel mentions that the index itself contains 7,139 names and that a few of the biographies also feature a photo of the individual.
"The index itself was created several years ago," Reitzel said. "Historical Society volunteers recently transferred the typewritten index to a digital format, making it searchable online."
To find your South Dakota ancestors, visit the State Historical Society's Web site or visit the Biographical Index of South Dakotans Web site.
The State Archives Web site also has a link "For Genealogists" which has online indexes for naturalization records, newspaper databases, cemetery records, South Dakota surname indexes and other genealogy resources.
