South Dakota Periodicals

Overview
A periodical is a regularly published magazine, newsletter, or journal. Several valuable periodicals concerning South Dakota genealogical research exist. Many genealogical and historical societies publish magazines and newsletters. The articles in these periodicals often include the following:
 * Family genealogies and pedigrees
 * Helpful articles on research methodology
 * Transcripts or indexes of biographical sketches, censuses, church records, migration lists, military records, obituaries, wills, vital records, and more
 * Historical background
 * Current and historical maps
 * Information about local and national records, archives, and services
 * Interesting articles about social life and customs
 * Book advertisements and book reviews
 * Advertisements of professional researchers
 * Queries or requests for information about specific ancestors that can help you contact other interested researchers

Periodicals
Among the periodicals at the Family History Library are:


 * Black Hills Nuggets 1968-. Published by Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research. Pierre, South Dakota. Family History Library ; also on  for Volumes 1-17; and  for Volumes 18-26.


 * The Dakota Homestead Historical Newsletter 1972-. Formerly: Bismarck-Mandan Historical and Genealogical Society Quarterly. Published by Bismarck-Mandan Historical and Genealogical Society. Bismarck, North Dakota.  Family History Library book.


 * Germans from Russia Historical Society News 1984-. Published by Germans from Russia Historical Society. Bismarck, North Dakota. Family History Library . Library holdings begin with vol. 84, issue 3 (Nov. 1984) - vol. 2006, issue 4 (Dec. 2006).


 * Pioneer Pathfinder 1975-. Published by Sioux Valley Genealogical Society. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Family History Library . A quarterly of the Sioux Valley Genealogical Society.


 * South Dakota Genealogical Society Quarterly 1982-. Published by South Dakota Genealogical Society. Pierre, South Dakota. Family History Library.


 * The Tree Climber 1974-. Published by the Aberdeen Area Genealogical Society. Aberdeen, South Dakota. Family History Library . This is the newsletter of the Aberdeen Area Genealogical Society.

Obtaining Periodicals
Copies of periodicals are available from the local societies that publish them. Major archives with genealogical collections will have copies of many periodicals, particularly those representing the area they serve. The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. PERSI is available online and is especially useful because it refers to countless items published in thousands of family history periodicals worldwide. Learn more at the PERSI wiki page here: Once you locate an article in a periodical, check the FamilySearch Catalog and regional or local libraries for available copies. The Family History Library has collected many periodicals, with some available in digital format and accessible online. South Dakota periodicals may be found in the FamilySearch Catalog with a Place and Subject search, as found here: South Dakota-Periodicals. They can also be found by using: Also find Periodical resources available at other libraries via WorldCat. As with the FamilySearch Catalog search, search WorldCat using society names, locality names, and periodical title names. Learn more about how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog on our Wiki pages.
 * Periodical Source Index (PERSI). Ft. Wayne, Indiana: Allen County Public Library Foundation, 1987-. (Family History Library book ; 40 fiche (1847-1985); 15 fiche  (1986-1990).) Partially indexes over 5,000 English-language and French-Canadian family history periodicals. The microfiche indexes are cumulative; book indexes since 1986 are year-by-year. For further details see the PERiodical Source Index Resource Guide (34119).
 * Find My Past Researchers can use the Internet edition of this index at Family History Centers via their site.
 * Place Search of the country, state/province, and county
 * Title Search of the periodical
 * Keyword Search for the publishing society name.