North Dakota State Archives

09/18/2026

Let's go this week as Audiovisual Archivist Greta digitizes a new oral history collection which was recently added to the Sate Archives! This collection contains interviews conducted by the Bismarck Historical Society with people who lived in Bismarck for most of their lives prior to 1972.

These interviews will provide a wealth of information on a period of Bismarck's history that may not be preserved elsewhere. And having audio interviews will allow future researchers to hear even the tone of voice and inflection of those who were interviewed, which can provide more context to the story than written histories or reminisces can provide.

You can listen to these interviews in the State Archives Reading Room, or order digital copies.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]!

09/18/2026

More on the Dakota Territory Papers Project!

Supported by an NEH grant, a partnership between State Historical Society of North Dakota and the University of South Dakota will give public, educators, students, and researchers access to records of the Dakota Territory from 1861-1889.

The project will reunite records held by both states to preserve and digitize them for an online clearinghouse of materials documenting the region’s growth and governance before the territory was split and admitted to the Union as North and South Dakota in 1889. https://tinyurl.com/bdkfjx42

09/16/2026

In 1899, North Dakota laws concluded that no two townships in the state could keep the same name. Too many townships with the same name became a bit too confusing, after all! Read all about the struggles of naming and renaming in this Dakota Datebook entry through Prairie Public Radio!

In 1899, revised laws in North Dakota stated that no two townships could have the same name. However, most townships didn’t act on the change. Pembina’s Pioneer Express opined, it was a law “in existence, but … in innocuous desuetude”—which was a fancy way of saying a harmless state of d...

09/15/2026

Now that schools are back in session across the state, it's nice to reflect on some of the early history of education in North Dakota!

that schools were already being erected in communities across the state in the 1870s? According to an article in the Pembina Express from 1904, the pictured school building was the first public school built using public funds in North Dakota in 1876. Read more about it here: https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn88076741/1904-07-08/ed-1/?sp=7&q=first+school&st=pdf&r=-0.207%2C0%2C1.413%2C1.413%2C0

📷: C1712-00001. Image was denoted as copied from a book.

09/14/2026

“Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.”

Well… except for the records. 😉

When Dakota Territory was divided into North Dakota and South Dakota in 1889, its government records were divided, too.

Now, thanks to a National Endowment for the Humanities grant and partnership with the University Libraries - University of South Dakota, we’re bringing records from both sides of the border back together (digitally) through the Dakota Territory Papers Project!

Learn more 👇
https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?u=a13cda8364c0b99f233125843&id=6872026050

09/12/2026

Don't forget--the Archives is open today from 10-4:30! Now is your chance to RUN in and RESEARCH!

📷: 00654-00008, our former research space and equipment, as it looked when we were in the Liberty Memorial Building! (Don't worry, we have a lot more space and updated tech now for your microfilm use!) 🤓

09/10/2026

Hey, spread the word--we're open this Saturday, September 12, from 10-4:30!

"Fall" into research 🍂📘📦 and let Dan and Virginia help you to answer those pressing historical and/or genealogical questions you may have!

We can't wait to see you!

09/09/2026

Our team is on location at the Bottineau County Courthouse, picking up records for the State Archives! 📦

We can’t wait to take a closer look at the records... especially this ledger containing information about a Dakota National Guard cavalry unit stationed at Bottineau in 1887! That's right, pre-statehood!

08/24/2026

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀

"This past May, I graduated from Bemidji State University in Minnesota with a bachelor's in social studies. I began my internship at the State Archives with very little knowledge of North Dakota"

Read the rest of the blog post at https://blog.statemuseum.nd.gov/FindingMyFutureinthePast

08/12/2026

Phew! 😅 The update you've all been waiting for is finally here!

290 boxes of Grand Forks County probate records loaded, transported, and shelved in their new home at the State Archives.

It took us an average of 10 seconds per box to unload and shelve. 📦🦸‍♂️