The collecting scope of the State Archives entails aspects of life and development in the area that is now North Dakota. The focus is on the history of North Dakota, encompassing natural history, exploration, fur trade, military, transportation, homesteading, agriculture, commerce, and the politics, social life, and culture of peoples in the northern Great Plains region from the earliest times to the present.
Use WorldCat to search for publications held within the collections of the State Archives.
Books: Approximately 115,000 items have been accessioned, cataloged, and are findable through WorldCat.
Maps: The map collection shows the development of Dakota Territory and North Dakota from the early 1800s forward.
Periodicals: The periodical holdings comprise over 2,000 titles which includes rare items published in the early days of the state and territory as well as later publications dealing with history, archaeology, and preservation.
This index shows the city directories and telephone books available to view in the State Archives' Orin G. Libby Reading Room. Some of the city directories listed are available on microfilm through interlibrary loan.
The State Archives has city directories of larger North Dakota communities going back as far as 1879 for Bismarck, although most are not before the 1930s.
The State Archives has telephone directories of North Dakota communities going back as far as 1903 for Minot, although most are not before the 1930s. Some variations in years indicate books published by different phone companies, not duplicate issues. Some towns are located in more than one local or regional directory. Towns and cities included in regions may differ between publishers, as regions are determined by each individual telephone company.
We are always interested in expanding the city directory collection, so if you have some you would like to donate that would fill in gaps, please let us know.
Atlases and county plat books date from 1884 and show the ownership of land by township in the county.
The State Archives has been a full state depository library since the North Dakota State Depository Program's inception, and a partial federal depository library since 1907. The federal serial set is one of the most extensive between the Mississippi River and the West Coast from the 1790s to the present. Both federal and state publications are findable through WorldCat.
Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
State Museum and Store: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
We are closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. We are closed at noon Christmas Eve if it falls on Mon.-Thurs. and are closed all day if it falls on Fri.-Sun.
State Archives: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F, except state holidays; 2nd Sat. of each month, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 701.328.2091 or archives@nd.gov.
State Historical Society offices: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F, except state holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: 701.328.2666
email: history@nd.gov
Social Media:
See all social media accounts
