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South Dakota Celebrates Archives Month in October

Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed October as Archives Month in South Dakota.  

“There are numerous county, municipal, university, and private archives in addition to the South Dakota State Historical Society-State Archives in South Dakota, which cooperate in the preservation and accessibility of the state's documentary heritage,” noted Governor Noem in the proclamation.  

Archives Month is celebrated nationally every year in October as a time to highlight the importance of archives.  

State Archivist Chelle Somsen said, “History happens every day and archives in South Dakota collect, preserve, and make accessible the records that document these events.”  

The South Dakota State Archives, located at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre, is sponsoring several events that highlight historical records this month, including: 

Friday Fun with History 
Visit the State Archives website at history.sd.gov/archives and click the “Archives Month 2020” link every Friday in October for a new family-friendly history activity. Activities include quizzes, jigsaw puzzles, coloring pages, and more.  

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT: #AskAnArchivist Day  
#AskAnArchivist Day is a national event sponsored by the Society of American Archivists. Follow the Twitter conversation using #AskAnArchivist and send questions to @SDArchives 

Saturday, Oct. 10: Electronic Records Day  
Oct. 10 is designated as "Electronic Records Day" by the Council of State Archivists. Electronic files are much more fragile than paper records, and their long-term survival requires attention and planning. Watch the State Archives Facebook page on Electronic Records Day for tips on preserving and managing electronic files. 

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 12 p.m. CDT: Photo Essay: Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Bridge, Pierre/Fort Pierre 
Take a photo-by-photo journey, with images from the South Dakota State Archives, showing the construction of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Bridge across the Missouri River between Pierre and Fort Pierre. This presentation is free and will be offered online through Zoom. Contact archref@state.sd.us for more information. 

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 12 p.m. CDT: Genealogy Q&A 
Free event on Facebook where expert genealogist and Archives staff member Virginia Hanson answers your family history research questions. Please send your questions to archref@state.sd.us, then tune in to hear the answers live.  

For more information on South Dakota Archives Month, please call 605-773-3804. 

About the South Dakota State Historical Society 
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution since 2013, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing, and administrative/development offices. Call 605-773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call 605-394-1936 for more information.