Archival Links
Welcome to our curated collection of archival resources designed to assist you in tracing your family history in Beadle County and the surrounding areas. These trusted links provide access to a wealth of historical records, databases, and research tools.
Additional Resources & Community Connections
One of our valued references is the Beadle County, SD Blog , created by Sheryl Stearns Hickle, a dedicated genealogist with over 25 years of research experience.
👉 Click beadlecountysd.blogspot.com
Have a genealogy question? You're invited to join the conversation:
🗨️ Beadle County, SD Genealogy Forum – genealogy.com
📬 Beadle County, SD Message Board – ancestry.com
You can also message us directly through the Beadle County Genealogy Group Facebook Group via Messenger for additional help and friendly support.
Coming soon!
The Beadle County Genealogy Group (BCGG) will soon offer both a public and a private online community—giving you more opportunities for collaboration, shared discoveries, and focused discussion.
Additional Genealogy Resources
📚 Huron, SD Public Library – Local archives, genealogy guides, and historical references
👉 Click https://sd-huron.civicplus.com/268/Online-Databases
🏛️ South Dakota Genealogical Society – Statewide support and research resources for family historians
👉 Click https://sdgensociety.org/
🏘️ South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships – Information on local jurisdictions and township histories
👉 Click https://www.sdtownships.com/
📘 Facebook: South Dakota Genealogical Society – Connect with fellow researchers and stay updated on events
👉 Click https://www.facebook.com/sdgenealogy
📗Facebook: Beadle County Genealogy Group – Join our growing community to share findings, ask questions, and collaborate
👉 Click https://www.facebook.com/BeadleCountyGenealogyGroup
🛠️ Research & Archival Tools and Guides
Equipment & User Tutorials
Scanning Standards – Best practices for digitizing archival materials from the Library of Congress (LOC) and the National Archives (NARA)
ST ViewScan Microfilm Machine – Easy-to-follow tutorial to help you navigate this valuable research tool
👉 Click https://www.stimaging.com/
Preservation Help
How to Preserve Family Records – Practical guidance from Archives.gov
👉 Click https://www.archives.gov/
Start Your Genealogy Research – Step-by-step guide from NARA
👉 Click https://archives.gov/research/genealogy/start-research
🌳 Family Tree & Genealogy Research Links
Major Platforms
Ancestry
👉 Click https://www.ancestry.com/
Ancestry Blog
👉 Click https://blogs.ancestry.com
Note: Ancestry Library Edition – Free at participating libraries
👉 Click https://library.sd.gov/LIB/ERD/complete.aspx
FamilySearch - Federal Census Records
👉 Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/
Geni
👉 Click https://www.geni.com/
GenealogyBank
👉 Click https://www.genealogybank.com/
HeritageQuest
👉 Click https://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login
📂Curated Genealogy Directories
Cyndi’s List – A categorized & cross-referenced directory of genealogical websites
👉 Click https://www.cyndislist.com/
Genealogy Today – Top 10 Questions
Free through your local library:
Archives
Birth Records - AncestryLibrary | Heritage Quest
Bureau of Land Management: Land purchased from the Federal Government
Cen Euro Gen Web from World Gen Web
Cen Euro Gen Web from Roots Web
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors
Death Index: Search by State - AncestryLibrary | FamilySearch.org
Family Search: Federal Census Records
Family Tree
Genealogy Today~ Top Ten Genealogy Questions
How to preserve family records: Archives.gov
Immigration Records
Immigration Research Guide
Land Records
Military Records - Fold3
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
https://history.sd.gov/archives/military.aspx
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) -
Start Your Genealogy Research Guide
Click here: https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/start-research
Official Land Records: Land including homestead records index
Quick access: Ellis Island, Calendars, Castle Garden, Maps, Translation, Vital Records, etc. -
https://www.statueofliberty.org/discover/passenger-ship-search/
Start your research today - Archives.gov
Records Base - Archives.com
Rootweb
Rootsweb Newsletter - Ancestry.com
USGenWeb: Research by State
US Ports of Entry
WorldGenWeb
South Dakota Family Tree research links:
South Dakota State Archives - WorldGenWeb-USA
South Dakota State Historical Society
South Dakota State Library
~ Access more with a library card bar code
Cemetery Record Search Beadle County, SD Blog
SDGenWeb
Ancestry
WorldGenWeb
Other resources to assist in the growth of your family tree:
Midwest Genealogy Center
~ Getting Started tracing your family history
~ Top 10 Genealogy FAQs
~ Family History Forms
~ About the Midwest Genealogy Center
~ Location and Hours
~ Collections and Events
📖 Free Resources via Your Local Library
Birth & Death Records – Access via Ancestry Library or HeritageQuest
👉 Click https://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com/aleweb/ale/do/login
👉 Click https://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login
👉 Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/How_to_Find_South_Dakota_Death_Records
Federal Census Records – Browse with Family Search or HeritageQuest
👉 Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/
👉 Click https://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login
Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System – Military service records
👉 Click https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm
Immigration Records – Includes Ellis Island, Castle Garden, and more
👉 Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/find-the-u-s-immigration-ports-your-ancestors-used
👉 Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/immigration-records-research-guide
Quick Access Tools – Calendars, maps, vital records, translation resources, and more
👉 Click
Land Records – Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Homestead Records Index, and more
🌍 Global & Regional Genealogy Networks
USGenWeb – Research organized by state
👉 Click https://www.usgenweb.org/
WorldGenWeb – Worldwide genealogy collaboration
👉 Click https://www.worldgenweb.net/
RootsWeb and RootsWeb Newsletter – Archives and community updates via Ancestry
👉 Click https://www.rootsweb.com/
👉 Click https://www.ancestry.com/boards/
Central Europe GenWeb – Available through both WorldGenWeb
👉 Click https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ceneurgw/
Sons of Norway – Scandinavian heritage connections
👉 Click https://www.sofn.com/
US Ports of Entry – Immigration entry points for genealogical tracking
⚙️ Additional Tools & Portals
SteveMorse.org – One-step web-based forms for searching multiple databases
👉 Click https://stevemorse.org/
Archives.com – Record lookup and family tree building
👉 Click https://www.archives.com/
RecordsBase – Historical and public records research
👉 Click https://www.archives.com/?mrb=1
Official Land Records – Track land patents and purchases
👉 Click https://glorecords.blm.gov
Immigration Research Guide – NARA
🌳 South Dakota Family Tree Research Links
State Archives & Historical Resources
📚 South Dakota State Archives (via WorldGenWeb-USA)
👉 Click https://www.worldgenweb.net/usa
🏛️ South Dakota State Historical Society
👉 Click https://history.sd.gov/
Navigate to “Archives” → “For Genealogists” to access:
Collections
👉 Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/collectionindexes.aspx
WPA Cemetery Index
👉 Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/wpainsd.aspx
South Dakota Naturalization Index
👉 Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/naturalization.aspx
Statewide Newspaper Index
👉 Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/newspaperarchive.aspx
Civil War Veterans Index
👉 Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/data/civilwar/default.aspx
Military Records
👉 Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/military.aspx
Newspaper Surname Index
👉 Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/surnamearchive.aspx
📖 South Dakota State Library - Unlock additional resources using your library card barcode
👉 Click https://library.sd.gov/
👉 Click https://library.sd.gov/LIB/ERD/complete.aspx
🪦Local Cemetery & County Records
Beadle County Cemetery Record Search – Available via the Beadle County, SD Blog
👉 Click https://beadlecountysd.blogspot.com/p/cemeteries.html
SDGenWeb – Genealogy projects by and for South Dakota researchers
👉 Click http://www.usgwarchives.net/search/search.cgi/searchsd.htm
Ancestry – Access census records, family trees, and South Dakota collections
WorldGenWeb – South Dakota and global genealogy research connections
👉 Click https://www.worldgenweb.net/
🧭 Getting Started: Research Help & Forms
Midwest Genealogy Center - Beginner's Guide to Tracing Your Family History
👉 Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/get-started
Genealogy FAQs
👉 Click https://familytreemagazine.com/general-genealogy/common-genealogy-questions-answered/
👉 Click https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/start-research/faqs
👉 Click https://www.genealogyone-on-one.com/page/page/1119824.htm
Downloadable Family History Forms
👉 Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/research/family-history-forms
Learn About the Midwest Genealogy Center
👉 Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/about-mgc/mgc-history
View Collections, Classes & Events
👉 Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/special-collections
📍 Location & Visitor Information
👉 Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/about-mgc/directions
📌 Preservation Resources
Protect and preserve your family records with help from:
Gaylord Archival – Archival-quality storage solutions
👉 Click https://www.gaylord.com/
Light Impressions – Trusted tools for photo and document preservation
🏛️ Explore Beadle County History
Historical & Cultural Sites
🖼️Dakotaland Museum – Exhibits and artifacts preserving local stories
👉 Click https://www.thedakotalandmuseum.org/
🎨Murals on the Town – Celebrated by South Dakota Magazine and Travel South Dakota
👉 Click https://www.huronsd.com/visiting-huron/sights-to-see/murals-on-the-town/
👉 Click https://www.southdakotamagazine.com/huron-murals
👉 Click https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/huron/arts-culture-history/art-gallerydisplay/murals-town
🏡 Pyle House Museum – Historic home tours and exhibits
👉 Click https://www.pylehouse.org/
🎡South Dakota State Fair – A community tradition reflecting state pride
🏫 Education & Public Records
📜 Genealogy & Public Records – Local archives and city records
👉 Click https://www.countyoffice.org/sd-beadle-county-genealogy/
👉 Click https://www.countyoffice.org/beadle-county-sd-public-records/
🎓 Huron College / Huron University – Campus History
👉 Click https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=178926
🏫 Dakota State University – About DSU & History
👉 Click https://dsu.edu/about-dsu/history.html
🤝 Connect With Us Online
🔵 Facebook: Beadle County Genealogy Group
👉 Click https://www.facebook.com/BeadleCountyGenealogyGroup
🟦 Facebook: South Dakota History of Cities, Towns, and People
👉 Click https://www.facebook.com/groups/1665417910340226
🐦 Twitter – Stay updated on events and historical finds
👉 Click https://x.com/BeadleCtyGenGrp
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