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.


πŸ‘‰ Click beadlecountysd.blogspot.com

Have a genealogy question? You're invited to join the conversation:

πŸ—¨οΈ Beadle County, SD Genealogy Forum – genealogy.com
πŸ“¬ 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 communityβ€”giving you more opportunities for collaboration, shared discoveries, and focused discussion.

Additional Genealogy Resources

πŸ“š Huron, SD Public Library – Local archives, genealogy guides, and historical references
πŸ‘‰ Click https://sd-huron.civicplus.com/268/Online-Databases

πŸ›οΈ South Dakota Genealogical Society – Statewide support and research resources for family historians

πŸ‘‰ Click https://sdgensociety.org/

🏘️ South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships – Information on local jurisdictions and township histories

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.sdtownships.com/

πŸ“˜ Facebook: South Dakota Genealogical Society – Connect with fellow researchers and stay updated on events

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.facebook.com/sdgenealogy

πŸ“—Facebook: Beadle County Genealogy Group – Join our growing community to share findings, ask questions, and collaborate
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.facebook.com/BeadleCountyGenealogyGroup

πŸ› οΈ 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
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.stimaging.com/

 

Preservation Help


How to Preserve Family Records – Practical guidance from Archives.gov

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.archives.gov/

Start Your Genealogy Research – Step-by-step guide from NARA

πŸ‘‰ Click https://archives.gov/research/genealogy/start-research 

🌳 Family Tree & Genealogy Research Links

Major Platforms


Ancestry
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.ancestry.com/


Ancestry Blog

πŸ‘‰ Click https://blogs.ancestry.com
Note: Ancestry Library Edition – Free at participating libraries
πŸ‘‰ Click https://library.sd.gov/LIB/ERD/complete.aspx


FamilySearch - Federal Census Records

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/


Geni

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.geni.com/


GenealogyBank

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.genealogybank.com/


HeritageQuest

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login 

πŸ“‚Curated Genealogy Directories

Cyndi’s List – A categorized & cross-referenced directory of genealogical websites

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.cyndislist.com/


Genealogy Today – Top 10 Questions

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.familytree.com/reviews/genealogy-today/


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

πŸ“– Free Resources via Your Local Library

Birth & Death Records – Access via Ancestry Library or HeritageQuest

πŸ‘‰ Click https://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com/aleweb/ale/do/login

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/How_to_Find_South_Dakota_Death_Records


Federal Census Records – Browse with Family Search or HeritageQuest

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login


Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System – Military service records

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm


Immigration Records – Includes Ellis Island, Castle Garden, and more

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/find-the-u-s-immigration-ports-your-ancestors-used
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/immigration-records-research-guide


Quick Access Tools – Calendars, maps, vital records, translation resources, and more

πŸ‘‰ Click


Land Records – Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Homestead Records Index, and more

πŸ‘‰ Click https://glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx

🌍 Global & Regional Genealogy Networks

USGenWeb – Research organized by state

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.usgenweb.org/

WorldGenWeb – Worldwide genealogy collaboration

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.worldgenweb.net/

RootsWeb and RootsWeb Newsletter – Archives and community updates via Ancestry

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.rootsweb.com/
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.ancestry.com/boards/


Central Europe GenWeb – Available through both WorldGenWeb

πŸ‘‰ Click https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ceneurgw/


Sons of Norway – Scandinavian heritage connections

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.sofn.com/


US Ports of Entry – Immigration entry points for genealogical tracking

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.cbp.gov/about/contact/ports 

βš™οΈ Additional Tools & Portals

SteveMorse.org – One-step web-based forms for searching multiple databases

πŸ‘‰ Click https://stevemorse.org/

Archives.com – Record lookup and family tree building

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.archives.com/


RecordsBase – Historical and public records research

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.archives.com/?mrb=1


Official Land Records – Track land patents and purchases

πŸ‘‰ Click https://glorecords.blm.gov


Immigration Research Guide – NARA

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration

🌳 South Dakota Family Tree Research Links

State Archives & Historical Resources

πŸ“š South Dakota State Archives (via WorldGenWeb-USA)

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.worldgenweb.net/usa


πŸ›οΈ South Dakota State Historical Society

πŸ‘‰ Click https://history.sd.gov/


Navigate to β€œArchives” β†’ β€œFor Genealogists” to access:
Collections
πŸ‘‰ Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/collectionindexes.aspx

WPA Cemetery Index
πŸ‘‰ Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/wpainsd.aspx

South Dakota Naturalization Index
πŸ‘‰ Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/naturalization.aspx

Statewide Newspaper Index
πŸ‘‰ Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/newspaperarchive.aspx

Civil War Veterans Index
πŸ‘‰ Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/data/civilwar/default.aspx


Military Records

πŸ‘‰ Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/military.aspx

Newspaper Surname Index
πŸ‘‰ Click https://history.sd.gov/archives/surnamearchive.aspx

πŸ“– South Dakota State Library - Unlock additional resources using your library card barcode
πŸ‘‰ Click https://library.sd.gov/
πŸ‘‰ Click https://library.sd.gov/LIB/ERD/complete.aspx

πŸͺ¦Local Cemetery & County Records

Beadle County Cemetery Record Search – Available via the Beadle County, SD Blog
πŸ‘‰ Click https://beadlecountysd.blogspot.com/p/cemeteries.html

SDGenWeb – Genealogy projects by and for South Dakota researchers
πŸ‘‰ 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
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.worldgenweb.net/

🧭 Getting Started: Research Help & Forms

Midwest Genealogy Center - Beginner's Guide to Tracing Your Family History
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/get-started

Genealogy FAQs
πŸ‘‰ Click https://familytreemagazine.com/general-genealogy/common-genealogy-questions-answered/
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/start-research/faqs
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.genealogyone-on-one.com/page/page/1119824.htm

Downloadable Family History Forms
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/research/family-history-forms

Learn About the Midwest Genealogy Center
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/about-mgc/mgc-history

View Collections, Classes & Events
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/special-collections

πŸ“ Location & Visitor Information
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/about-mgc/directions

πŸ“Œ Preservation Resources

Protect and preserve your family records with help from:

Gaylord Archival – Archival-quality storage solutions

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.gaylord.com/

Light Impressions – Trusted tools for photo and document preservation

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/

πŸ›οΈ Explore Beadle County History

Historical & Cultural Sites

πŸ–ΌοΈDakotaland Museum – Exhibits and artifacts preserving local stories

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.thedakotalandmuseum.org/

🎨Murals on the Town – Celebrated by South Dakota Magazine and Travel South Dakota

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.huronsd.com/visiting-huron/sights-to-see/murals-on-the-town/

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.southdakotamagazine.com/huron-murals

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/huron/arts-culture-history/art-gallerydisplay/murals-town

🏑 Pyle House Museum – Historic home tours and exhibits

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.pylehouse.org/

🎑South Dakota State Fair – A community tradition reflecting state pride

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.sdstatefair.com/home/

🏫 Education & Public Records

πŸ“œ Genealogy & Public Records – Local archives and city records

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.countyoffice.org/sd-beadle-county-genealogy/

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.countyoffice.org/beadle-county-sd-public-records/

πŸŽ“ Huron College / Huron University – Campus History

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=178926

🏫 Dakota State University – About DSU & History
πŸ‘‰ Click https://dsu.edu/about-dsu/history.html

🀝 Connect With Us Online

πŸ”΅ Facebook: Beadle County Genealogy Group

πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.facebook.com/BeadleCountyGenealogyGroup

🟦 Facebook: South Dakota History of Cities, Towns, and People
πŸ‘‰ Click https://www.facebook.com/groups/1665417910340226

🐦 Twitter – Stay updated on events and historical finds

πŸ‘‰ Click https://x.com/BeadleCtyGenGrp

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