The Archives preserve more than 10,000 books, periodicals, documents, and photos pertaining to the local heritage, which is primarily German and Scandinavian in origin. The major cultural groups are Hutterite, Low German, and Swiss Mennonites, and, to a lesser degree, Heilbronn, Schwäbisch, and Kassler. Two 17th century Luther translations of the Bible, and a 1780 German edition of the Martyr’s Mirror are priceless documents.
Available for public reference are digitized photographs and a growing collection of CD-ROMs with genealogy material. Recent additions include a computer, printer, and scanner provided by a grant from the Mary Chilton Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, through the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation of Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Archives are open from the second Sunday of May to the second Sunday of October on Wednesdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Or by appointment at 605-925-4237.
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Interior of the Archives |
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Bible |
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“Schreibbuch von Jacob Thomas” dated 1788. It appears to be a copy book for practicing penmanship. |