Title: Historical Society. Historical Data Project, Pioneer Biography Files
Dates: ca. 1936-1940
Series: 30529
Quantity: 28 feet/36r. (#02399, 04438-04439, 04446-04453, 05046-05061, 05094-05101, 17329)
Abstract: Series consists of more than 5,000 brief biographies of North Dakotans, and consist of forms and personal reminiscences of pioneers in North Dakota. In addition, they provide information on many ethnic cultures in North Dakota, customs, and the challenges that pioneers encountered. Most Pioneer Biography Files contain either a "Pioneer Data Form" or an "Old Settlers Questionnaire Form" which was completed by the Pioneer or by a survey worker. The questionnaire, which includes the family history section of either a "Pioneer Data Form" or an "Old Settler Questionnaire," includes the name of the pioneer, birth and death dates, nationality, name 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, education, religion, political affiliation, family history, etc. To show the precise homestead location, the form includes a small township map and indicates locations of schools, churches, neighbor's farms, post offices, villages, groves, cemeteries and other landmarks.
The files are on microfilm arranged alphabetically by county and therein by the name of the pioneer.
Provenance: These records were collected as a joint project of the Historical Data Project, Professional and Service Division of the Work Projects Administration and the State Historical Society of North Dakota. At the end of the project the records were deposited with the State Historical Society.
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 researcher.
Access:This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation:Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection name, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: Photographs were transferred to the photograph collection. Publications were transferred to the library collection.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Established in April 1936, the Historical Data Project was sponsored by the Division of Women' and Professional Projects, Works 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 57.5 feet. The records consist of three record series: Pioneer Biography Files (Series 30529), Local Histories (Series 30548), and Transcripts of Local Government Records (Series 30549).
The Pioneer Biography Files, Series 30529, are arranged alphabetically by the pioneer's last name. There are over 5,000 Pioneer Biography Files occupying 42 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 here and 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 Inventory See INDEX of Pioneer names
Box 1 Adams County and Barnes County (A-Warrior) (Microfilm rolls #04438-04439)
Box 2 Barnes County (Weber-Z), Benson County, and Billings County (Microfilm rolls #04439, 04446)
Box 3 Bottineau County, Bowman County, and Burke County (Microfilm rolls #04446-04447)
Box 4 Burleigh County and Cass County (A-Monson) (Microfilm rolls #04447-04449)
Box 5 Cass County (Moore-Z), Cavalier County, Dickey County (A-Marsh) (Microfilm rolls #04448-04450)
Box 6 Dickey County (Marshall-Z), Divide County, Dunn County, and Eddy County
(Microfilm rolls #04449-04451)
Box 7 Emmons County, Foster County, Golden Valley County, and Grand Forks County (A-Borden) (Microfilm rolls #04451-04452)
Box 8 Grand Forks County (Bourque- Rafter) (Microfilm rolls #04452-04453)
Box 9 Grand Forks County (Rasmussen-Z), Grant County, and Griggs County (A-P) (Microfilm rolls #04453, 05046)
Box 10 Griggs County (R-W), Hettinger County, Kidder County, LaMoure County, Logan County, and McHenry County (A-J) (Microfilm rolls #05046-05047)
Box 11 McHenry County (K-W), McIntosh County, McKenzie County, and McLean County (Microfilm rolls #05047-05048,05050)
Box 12 Mercer County (Microfilm rolls #05049-05050)
Box 13 Morton County (A-S) (Microfilm rolls #05049, 05051)
Box 14 Morton County (T-Z), Mountrail County, and Nelson County (Microfilm rolls #05051-05052)
Box 15 Oliver County and Pembina County (A-M) (Microfilm rolls #05052-05053)
Box 16 Pembina County (N-W), Pierce County, and Ramsey County (A-N) (Microfilm rolls #05053-05055)
Box 17 Ramsey County (O-Z), Ransom County, and Renville County (Microfilm rolls #05055-05056)
Box 18 Richland County (A-L) (Microfilm rolls #05056-05057)
Box 19 Richland County (R-Z) and Rolette County (A-L) (Microfilm rolls #05057-05059)
Box 20 Rolette County (M-Z) and Sargent County (Microfilm rolls #05059-05060)
Box 21 Sheridan County, Sioux County, Slope County, Stark County, and Steele County (A-O) (Microfilm rolls #05060-05061)
Box 22 Steele County (P-Z), Stutsman County, and Towner County (Microfilm rolls #05061, 05094)
Box 23 Traill County (Microfilm rolls #05094-05095)
Box 24 Walsh County and Ward County (A-C) (Microfilm rolls #05095-05097)
Box 25 Ward County (D-S) (Microfilm rolls #05097-05098)
Box 26 Ward County (T-Z), Wells County, and Williams County (A-Haustvedt) (Microfilm rolls #05098-05099)
Box 27 Williams County (Heaslet-Z) (Microfilm rolls#05099-05100)
Box 28 South Dakota (Microfilm roll #05100)
Box 29 California, Minnesota, Montana, Washington, and Wisconsin (Microfilm roll #05100)
Name index tof file (Microfilm roll #51010
Biographical files of French/Metis in Rolette County (Microfilm roll #02399)
Box 30 Native American biographies
1 The Origin of Fire by Makula
Who Killed Sitting Bull?
Sioux Legends and Traditions and Their Origins
Emigration
A New Religion
Nahua Tribes
Meaning of Names
Language
Hunkpapya
Inkpaduta (Scarlet Point)
Little Crow
Palaniapapi ot Struck by the Ree
Chief Bear Ribs or Oohenumpa Chief
Tamahay or The One Eyed Sioux
Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotake)
Maga or Canteteri or Goose
Tahunska Tanka or John Brughier
(Marpiya Luta) Red Cloud
Magaska or White Swan III
2 Canrpiluta or Red Tomahawk
Sungleskasapa or Black Spotted Horse
Sleepy Eye Istarba
Wamblirota or Grey Eagle
Big Head or Nasunatanka
Man Afraif of His Horses or Tasunke Kikipapi
Tasunka Witko or Crazy Horse
Spotted Tail (Sintegleska)
Big Turkey, A Brule
Lieutenant Henry Bullhead, Jr. (Tatomkapa)
Bull Head I, Sr.
Little Wound
Chief Yellow Horse (Kewoyuspata or Tasumkelinzi)
American Horse (Wasicu Tasuenke)
(Mato Watakpe) Jon Grass
Mato Ite or Bear Face
Wakinyan Thunderhawk or Cetanwakinyan
Cangi Wyaka or Crow Feather? Head Chief of the Itazibco
Motognaskinyan or Mad Bear
Iteomagaju or Rain in the Face
Moto Oranko or Swift Bear
Umpangleska (Spotted Elk)
Chief He Dog or Sunka Bloka
Turning Bear or Mato Kaminge
Hump or Canrarake
Itunkasanmato or Weasel Bear
Wanatan or Charger
Wakutenami (Shoots-Walking)
Hollow Horn Bear
Iron Shell or Tuzimaza
Hewanjica or One Horn
Two Strikes or Nump Karpa
Cantepeta or Fire Heart
Magaska or White Swan, Sr.
High Horse or Tasimke Wankatuya
Sicangu (Burnt Thighs or Brules)
Oglala WInter COunt by Makula
The Surrender
After Sitting Bull's Death
Gall (Pizi)
French Indian Biographies from Rolette, Pembina, and Ramsey Counties (Microfilm roll #2399)
Albert Beaudoin, St. John
Robert Charbonneau, Totten Twp., Ramsey County
Joseph Couture, St. John
Michael Davis, Ingebretson Twp.
William Davis, Twp. 162-90
Emile Foussard, St. John
William Fredrick, Couture Twp.
Francis Grenier, Shell Valley Twp.
Charles Guedesse, St. John
Annie Houle, Currie Twp.
Gaspard Jeanotte, St. John
James J. Jollie, Belcourt
Mrs. Rainville Lambert, Gilbert Twp.
Ambrose LaFountaine, Ingebretson Twp.
Louis LaFountaine, Ingebretson Twp.
Canute LaFrance, Twp. 161-70
Joseph LaFrance, Gilbert Twp.
Joseph LaFramboise, Walhalla Twp., Pembina County
Zephurin LaRocque, Pembina County
Albert Laviolette, Twp. 163
Fortunate Matineau, St. John
Fredrick Charles Rolette, Twp. 162-71, Rolette County
Elsie Villeneuve, Neche Twp. Pembina County
Albert Wilke, Couture Twp.
Gabriel Wilke, Couture Twp.
Gregoire Brien, Belcourt, Brien Twp.
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