Research the Dakota Territorial era and South Dakota from its early statehood through the 21st century through the family papers, political collections, photographs, and oral histories that document this pivotal region. Local histories, including the papers of individuals and organizational records, especially of those in Vermillion and the surrounding area, are among the strengths of our collections.

The American Indian Research Project (AIRP) of the South Dakota Oral History Center reflects the university’s role in documenting Indigenous histories of the Northern Great Plains and its ongoing efforts to respectfully curate the Native voices and stories found in the AIRP oral histories, the papers of individuals, and records of organizations serving Tribal Nations. The University Libraries is committed to balancing access to these histories with the recognition of tribal sovereignty that includes information and data and thus works closely with the USD Director of Tribal Outreach.

Holding more than 4,800 books, periodicals, pamphlets, and ephemera, the Mahoney Music Collection is one of the most complete collections in the United States pertaining to stringed instruments, particularly the violin family of instruments.

Launched in 2020, the Civil War & Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi (CWRGM) is a digital scholarly edition that provides free online access to over 20,000 historical documents sent to Mississippi's governors during the secession crisis, U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction era from 1859-1882.