Series Number: 30529
Dates: 1936-1940
Quantity: 42 feet
Abstract: The Pioneer Biography Files, Series 529, are arranged alphabetically by the pioneer's last name. There are over 5,000 Pioneer Biography Files.
Provenance: The North Dakota State Archives acquired these records series through the auspices of the Historical Data Project, Professional and Service Division, Work Projects Administration, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota, ca.1936-1940.
Copyright: Public records are not subject to copyright restrictions, although record series may contain copyrighted material. Consideration of such copyrights is the responsibility of the author and publisher.
Access: These records are available for public inspection under provision of the North Dakota Century Code, 55-02.1-08.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the record group, series name and number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: Photographs that were filed with Series 529 and Series 548 were transferred to the Photograph Collection. Publications that were filed with all three series were transferred to the printed materials collections.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Established in April 1936, the Historical Data Project was sponsored by the Division of Women' and Professional Projects, Work Progress Administration and the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The purpose of the Historical Data Project was to gather biographical and historical information on early settlers in North Dakota. To limit the scope of the survey, a "pioneer" was "defined as a person who was born before 1870 and who lived in Dakota Territory prior to the division into North and South Dakota, or as the first settler in a township." In addition, Historical Data Project personnel prepared historical sketches of North Dakota counties, cities, townships, agriculture, fraternal organizations, political parties, population, railroads, climate, natural resources, prominent citizens, etc., and prepared transcripts of early North Dakota county and township records having genealogical and historical value. The survey work of the Historical Data Project ceased in 1940.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The records of the Historical Data Project date from 1936 to 1940 and occupy 57 1/2 cubic. The records consist of three record series: Pioneer Biography Files (Series 529), Local Histories (Series 548), and Transcripts of Local Government Records (Series 549).
The Pioneer Biography Files, Series 529, are arranged alphabetically by the pioneer's last name. There are over 5,000 Pioneer Biography Files occupying 42 cubic feet. Some of the files were formerly designated as "incomplete" or "dropped." To simplify use of this series, the "incomplete" files were merged with the "complete" files. An index to the merged series is available to researchers in the Reading Room. Most Pioneer Biography Files contain either a "Pioneer Data Form" or an "Old Settler Questionnaire." Forms were completed by an Historical Data Project survey worker or by the pioneer. Information contained on each form includes the name of the pioneer, birth and death dates, nationality, names of spouse, parents, children, and other relatives, date of marriage, occupation, date of immigration to the United States, date of migration to Dakota Territory, mode of transportation used, education, religion, political affiliation, family history, family heirlooms and relics, and information concerning "firsts" in the community, i.e., the first birth, death, school, church, doctor, lawyer, etc. The forms usually include a small township map providing the precise location of the family homestead, schools, churches, neighbor's farms, post offices, villages, groves, cemeteries, land marks, forts and posts, Indian sites, and stage lines. Some files contain information concerning the pioneer's experiences or knowledge of buffalo hunting, Indians, early settlers, land companies, colonies, mail service, shipping, railroads, land transfers, politics, citizen's organizations, organization of political subdivisions, natural catastrophes, epidemics, farming, vigilantism, military activities, popular entertainment, industry, newspapers, churches, schools, post offices, and landmarks. An occasional "Archaeological and Historical Survey Form" appears in the Pioneer Biography Files. These forms provide information concerning the location and characteristics of land marks, Indian sites, artifacts, historic sites, first settlers in a township, trading posts, trails, first schools, churches, births, deaths, marriages, etc. Many files include pioneer biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, correspondence concerning interviews and collection of data, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Most newspaper clippings were photocopied and destroyed. All photographs were photocopied and transferred to the Photograph Collection. Photocopies and notes identifying the photographs were placed in each file.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
1 Aafedt, Peter-Alstad, Joseph K.
2 Alstad, Thomas J.-Anderson, Olaf
3 Anderson, Oscar-Baglien, Ole Hanson
4 Bagstad, Erik J.-Bass, John E.
5 Basye, Mrs. Florence-Bell, Benjamin
6 Bell, Bent-Birkholz, John Jr.
7 Bisek, Thomas-Boe, Tosten
8 Boeckel, George-Bourque, Thiliman
9 Boushele, George-Brown, Frank
10 Brown, H.E.-Butler, Edward C.
11 Buttree, James E.-Cartier, Mary Exhilda
12 Cary, L.N.-Christianson, Herman
13 Christianson, John G.-Comstock, Oliver D.
14 Connall, Bartholomew-Creel, Herber M.
15 Crider, Magner-Davidson, Ole Mrs.
16 Davies, Frank C.-Dickinson, George
17 Dickinson, Nancy L.-Doyen, Theodore
18 Doyle, James-Dyste, John H.
19 Dyste, N.H.-Enge, George
20 Engebretson, John-Ewald, Fred B.
21 Ewing, Sarah H.-Fisk, Charles
22 Fisk, Henry-Foubert, Israel
23 Foussard, Emile-Funk, George H.
24 Gad, Charles-Giesler, August
25 Gieszler, Mrs. Catherine-Grantier, Jay
26 Granum, Christ-Gulack, Theodore 0.
27 Gulbranson, Martin-Hall, Sarah Esther Thornton
28 Hall, Miss Vannie-Hanson, Katherine
29 Hanson, Lars J.-Hauck, Fred
30 Haug, Anton M.-Heiser, Mike
31 Heisig, Elmer-Hertz, Henry
32 Herz, Anton-Hofstrand, Mrs. Ella
33 Hofto, K.A.-Houser, Harry
34 Houde, Lars-Imhoff, Jacob
35 Imhoff, Joe-Jelsing, Rognald
36 Jenks, Charles-Johnson, Iver
37 Johnson, James-Jolliffee, John Thomas
38 Jondahl, Mrs. Laura-Kamp, Mrs. Olga
39 Kamrud, Edward T.-Kilbourn, Fred G.
40 Killander, John E.-Koehler, Rev. Robert
41 Koehn, Augusta (Ell)-Kuntz, Martin
42 Kunz, Fred Albert-Lang, Agnes and Michael
43 Lang, Fredrick-Layton, Fred
44 Leach, John-Less, John E.
45 Letraille, Louis-Little, Laura L.
46 Little Bird, Robert-Luzier, N.A.
47 Lybeck, Nellie-McDonald, William
48 McDonald, William Edward-McLeod, John
49 McLeod, Malcon-Maresh, Mary Padden
50 Margoch, William-Mattson, J.L.
51 Mattson, Peter-Meyer, Julius
52 Meyer, Mrs. Mary-Mitts, W.F.
53 Mix, Horace P. and Lena (Collier)-Morgan, Thomas Edgar
54 Morgan, Mrs. Vivian-Murphy, Zilphy
55 Murray, Charles B.-Nelson, Nels Martin
56 Nelson, Nels P.-Nordness, Lars Larson
57 Nordquist, Charles-Oien, Halvor
58 Oium, Thomas N.-Olson, Mrs. Mary
59 Olson, Nub-Ostrum, William
60 Ostund, Alice-Pederson, Jens H.
61 Pederson, Jonathan-Pierce, Mary Jane Roberts
62 Pierce, Thomas Sr.-Purintun, Everett
63 Purintun, Orrin-Rehberg, John P.
64 Reich, Mathias-Roberts, Lee A.
65 Roberts, Margaret Barr-Rothe, Martin
66 Rothert, Gust L.-Sanderson, Henry
67 Sanderson, Sander-Schoenbecker, Lawrence
68 Schoening, Herman-Seglem, Carl
69 Seibert, Elizabeth Stewart-Simmer, Susanna
70 Simmers, Francis E.-Smiley, Mrs. Margrete
71 Smishek, J.J.-Sperry, Mrs. Phena
72 Spitzer, Carl-Stenger, John
73 Stenmo, Thor O.-Strong, M.L.
74 Strubel, George-Taylor, Andrew A.
75 Taylor, Benjamin-Thompson, Mr. T.O.
76 Thompson, Mrs. T.Y.-Torrance, James
77 Torrison, Goodnow-Underdahl, Peter
78 Underwood, Fred-Vold, Christian B.
79 Volkmann, Andrew-Walley, Bertha Marie
80 Walper, Leah Geiger-Weeks, John
81 Weeks, Stephen Palmer-Whitfield, George S.
82 Whitt, Griffea William-Wilson, Mary Ann Asher
83 Wilson, Mary L. Barr-Woodrow, Robert John
84 Woods, Daniel R.-Zuern, Fred
Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
Museum Store: 8am - 5pm M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10am - 5pm.
State Archives: 8am - 4:30pm., M-F, except legal holidays, and 2nd Sat. of each month, 10am - 4:30 pm.
State Historical Society offices: 8am - 5pm M-F, except legal holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: (701) 328-2666
fax: (701) 328-3710
email: histsoc@nd.gov
