South Dakota, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is in This Collection?
This collection contains Church records from various denominations in South Dakota, 1875-1993. The record content and time period varies by denomination which include the Sioux Valley Genealogical Society. These records include births, baptisms, marriages, banns, deaths, and burials. Before viewing the images, check to see if there is an index of names in alphabetic order at the beginning or end of these records. If you can find your ancestor in the index, it will tell what page number they are listed on.

What Can these Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Births
 * Name
 * Date of birth
 * Names of parents

Baptisms
 * Name
 * Date of birth
 * Date of baptism
 * Names of parents
 * Residence

Marriages
 * Names of bride and groom
 * Date of Marriage
 * Birthplaces and residences of bride and groom
 * Ages of bride and groom
 * Occupation of groom

Deaths
 * Name
 * Spouse
 * Death date

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the individual
 * Approximate date and or location of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Search for other church and vital records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in censuses. Witnesses were usually family members.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.

I Can’t Find The Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the info box above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of South Dakota.
 * South Dakota Guided Research
 * South Dakota Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present
 * United States Church Records

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. South Dakota Diocese, Guide to the archives of the Episcopal church in South Dakota. Sioux Falls, South Dakota : Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota, 1982? FHL 978.3371/S1 K23g
 * Sioux Falls. Episcopal. Cavalry Cathedral Church. Church records 1878-1990, index 1878-1976
 * Sioux Falls. Episcopal Church. Rosebud Mission. Church records, 1875-1993.
 * Harry F. Thompson. Guide to the archives of the South Dakota Conference of the United Church of Christ. Sioux Falls, South Dakota : Center for Western Studies, c1986 FHL 978.3 K23t
 * Richard H. Taylor. Congregational churches on the plains. Providence, Rhode Island : Richard H. Taylor, ©2012 FHL 973 K24t

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.