Use ‘Dakota Roots’ To Shape Your Tree

Today’s column continues from last week with tips from the 1999 book, “Tracing Your Dakota Roots.” This book is truly a boon to those researching in North Dakota, the Sioux State. (State Bird: Western meadowlark. State Flower: wild prairie rose.)

The North Dakota Heritage Center, synonymous with the State Historical Society of North Dakota, is the best place to begin researching your Dakota ancestors. Located near the state capital in Bismarck, a lovely statue of Sacajawea greets visitors as they approach the doors. (Lewis and Clark wintered near Bismarck twice on their 1804-1806 journey.)

The museum, reading room and society offices are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The heritage center is also open on weekends. It would be a good idea to write or call the center for such free leaflets as: “Materials Available for Genealogical Research,” “Charges for Reference Services,” “North Dakota Census Records,” “Oral History Information,” “Pioneer Biography Files,” “Photo Archives,” “Land Laws,” “Land Settlement,” “Naturalization Records Information,” and “Newspaper Information.” Write them at 612 East Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505-0830, or telephone: (701) 328-2091.

I have visited Bismarck several times and can honestly say I have never seen a better state museum. Even without Dakota roots, I found the displays fascinating and a microcosm of the entire American Midwest history.

Those with Norwegian ancestry in North Dakota should contact the Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9000. This library houses a collection of bygdeboker, Norwegian farm books, as well as nearly a 5,000-piece collection of primary and secondary sources for researching in North Dakota. Call (701) 777-4625 for a “Guide to the Bygdeboker.”

The Germans from Russia Heritage Society was founded in 1971 to help researchers discover history that’s unique to the Germanic-Russians who immigrated to America.

“Handbook for Researching Family Roots,” compiled by Diane J. Wandler, gives particular emphasis to this kind of research. Order a copy for $25, plus $2.75 postage, from Germans from Russia Heritage Society, 1008 E. Central Ave., Bismarck, ND 58501.

Society members will be happy to help you search for your family’s history. They maintain an obituary card file of 100,000-plus cards, a family history collection of 500-plus books, and a pedigree chart collection with 200,000 surnames of German ancestry.

The earliest Dakota census information can be found on the 1836 Iowa Territorial Census Schedule. Minnesota Territory Censuses of 1850 and 1857 include statistics on the Pembina settlement in the extreme northeast corner of the state, along with a South Dakota settlement. Dakota Territory Censuses were compiled in 1860, ‘70, and ‘80. In 1885, Dakota Territory was one of five states and territories that chose to take a statewide census, and records for 17 North Dakota counties have survived. Seven state censuses were compiled in North Dakota between 1900 and 1945.

Most information for this two-week series came from “Tracing Your Dakota Roots, a How-To Book on Genealogical Research in North and South Dakota,” by Cathy Langemo and JoAnn Winistorfer. It’s available for $19.99, plus $3 postage, from Dakota Roots, 205 W. Arbor Ave. No. 105-G, Bismarck, ND 58504-5703.