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Brookings History

"Brookings County Courthouse, Brookings, South Dakota."

A Guide to Brookings Collections in the Hilton M. Briggs Library

The Hilton M. Briggs Library contains a variety of materials relating to Brookings, South Dakota and the surrounding area. The following lists include books, maps, directories, and archival collections. Some of these materials are available online.

  • Bell, Fayne D. "The Last Full Measure ..." : A Study of Obituaries in the Brookings Register, 1890-1940. 2000. Print.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL LB2385 .B41254
  • Brookings, Centennial Book Committee. Brookings' Centennial, 1879-1979 : Commemorative Book. Brookings, S.D.: Centennial Book Committee?, 1979. BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 B73 ; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 B73
  • Brookings County History Book Committee. Brookings County History Book. Brookings, S.D.: Brookings County History Book Committee, 1989.: https://explore.digitalsd.org/digital/collection/Regional/id/1025/rec/3; BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL F657.B75 B75 1989; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F657.B75 B75 1989
  • Brookings County, South Dakota in the World War 1917-1918-1919. St. Paul: Buckbee-Mears, 1920.: https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/archives_rare-books/4/ ; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL D570.85.S71 B7 1920
  • Cecil, Chuck. Becoming Someplace Special : Gleanings from the past : The Brookings Story. Brookings, S.D.]: C. Cecil, 2001.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL D769.85.S71 B76 2012; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL D769.85.S71 B76 2012
  • Cecil, Chuck. Here & Far Away : Brookings County and World War II. Brookings, S.D.: Chuck Cecil, 2012. : BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 C42 2001; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 C42 2001
  • Centennial Activity Book : Brookings. Brookings, S.D.: Reynold's Printing, 1988.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F651 .C44 1988
  • Cecil, Chuck. A Brookings Album, 1879-2004 : Celebrating 125 Years. Sioux Falls, S.D.: Pine Hill Press, 2003.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 C43 2003; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 C43 2003
  • Parker, Donald Dean. 75th Anniversary Souvenir Program : A Collection of Pictures, Anecdotes, and Historical Reports of the Early Life and times of Brookings, South Dakota. Brookings, S.D.: Pioneers, Incorporated?], 1954.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 S49 ; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 S49
  • Poindexter, Colleen Zwieg., and Brookings Historic Preservation Commission. Brookings. Images of America. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub., 2010.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 P64 2010; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 P64 2010
  • E. Frank, Peterson, and E.P. Noll Amp Co. Map of Brookings County, South Dakota, Compiled and Drawn from a Special Survey and from Official Records. 1897.
  • Geo. A Ogle Co. Standard Atlas of Brookings County, South Dakota, 1909: https://explore.digitalsd.org/digital/collection/Regional/id/1159/rec/6
  • Map of Brookings County, South Dakota : Compiled and Drawn from a Special Survey and Official Records. Brookings, S.D.: Burgess Map, 1916.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL G4183.B5 1916 .M36
  • Thomas O. Nelson Company. Atlas of Brookings County, South Dakota : Containing Plats of Each Township, a County Road Map, a Rural Directory of Farmers, a New World Atlas and Other Features. Fergus Falls, Minn.: Company, 1953. : ARCHIVES/UPPER LEVEL Oversize G1448.B5 N4 1953
  • Midland Atlas Company. Atlas of Brookings County, South Dakota. Milbank, 1971.: Midland Atlas Company, Milbank, S.D. Atlas of Brookings County, South Dakota. Milbank, S.D.: Company, 1978.: Oversize G1448.B5 M5 1978
  • Merchant Maps. Maps of Brookings & Codington Counties with Brookings and Watertown, South Dakota : Happy to Help You Find Your Way Around! Cincinnati, OH: Mass Marketing, Merchant Maps Division, 1985. : SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL G4183.B5 1985 .M4
  • Midland Atlas Company. Atlas of Brookings County, South Dakota. Milbank, S.D.: Company, 1989. : SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL Oversize G1448.B5 M5 1989
  • Midland Atlas Company. Atlas of Brookings County, South Dakota. Milbank, S.D.: Company, 1993. : SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL Oversize G1448.B5 M5 1993
  • Atlas of Brookings County. Watertown, S.D.: Company, 1997.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL Oversize G1448.B5 A74 1997

Brookings City and Telephone Directories:

  • 1901: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 B7
  • 1909: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL HE8841 .B69 1909
  • 1914-2020: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL HE8841 .B7
  • Barari, Assad., and South Dakota Geological Survey. Ground-water Investigation for the City of Brookings, South Dakota. Special Report (South Dakota Geological Survey) ; 45. Vermillion: Science Center, University of South Dakota, 1968. BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL TD224.S8 A3 no. 45; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL TD224.S8 A3 no. 45
  • Brookings. Annual Report of the City of Brookings, South Dakota.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL JS626.B78 A3
  • Brookings Economic Development Corporation. Annual Report, 2000.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL HC108.B7 B76
  • Brookings . City Council. Code of Ordinances, City of Brookings, South Dakota.: Non-current: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL JS626.B78 A5
  • Brookings, S.D. City Council, and Brookings Commercial Club. Publicity Committee. Brookings, the Educational Center of South Dakota. Brookings, S.D.]: Club, 1919.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B76 B76
  • Brookings . City Finance Office. Budget. Non-current: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL HJ9316.B76 B76
  • Brookings Chamber of Commerce, and Brookings Convention Bureau. Brookings, South Dakota : Someplace Special. Brookings, S.D.: Chamber of Commerce, Convention/Visitors' Bureau, 1991.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 B746 1991 ; Hilton M. Briggs Library SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 B746 1991
  • Brookings County Press. The City of Brookings. 1896.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL Oversize F659.B71 B72
  • Hogan, Edward Patrick. Brookings, South Dakota : The Growth Center of Eastern South Dakota. Rev. April 1984. ed. Brookings, S.D.: Author], 1984.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL HB3527.B7 H63 1984
  • League of Women Voters. This Is Your Town. Brookings, S.D.]: League, 1950: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 L4t ; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL F659.B71 L4t
  • Municipal Directory, Brookings, South Dakota., 1980.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL JS451.S83 B7
  • Northwest Associated Consultants Inc, and Brookings County Planning Commission. Comprehensive Joint Jurisdiction Plan : Brookings County and the City of Brookings, South Dakota. Minneapolis, Mn.: Northwest Associated Consultants, 1982.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL HC107.B7 C61
  • South Dakota. Dept. of Transportation, Kirkham Michael Consulting Engineers, and Felsburg Holt & Ullevig. South Dakota Interstate Corridor Study : Phase II Report. Technical Appendix, East River : Mitchell, North Sioux City, Brookings, Watertown. Omaha, Neb.]: Kirkham Michael Consulting Engineers, 2001.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER
  • Bennett, Frank., United States. Bureau of Soils, and South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Soil Survey of the Brookings Area, South Dakota. Washington, D.C.: G. P. O., 1904.: GOVT DOC/LOWER LEVEL A 26.5/a:B 791; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL A 26.5/a:B 791
  • Brannan, Lisa M. Emergency and Disaster Services in Brookings County, South Dakota. 1986.: ARCHIVES/UPPER LEVEL LB2385 .B7352; BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL LB2385 .B7352
  • Campbell, Thomas W. Brookings County Handbook. Brookings, S.D.: Project, 1973.:BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL JS451.S89 B76; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL JS451.S89 B76
  • Carlson, Lawrence A. A School District Reorganization Plan for Brookings County, South Dakota. 1962.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL LB2385 .C1967
  • Elgethun, Stuart V., Larry F. Fredrickson, South Dakota. Division of Wildlife, and Pittman-Robertson Project. Wetlands Inventory : Brookings County. Pierre, S. D.: Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Forestry, Division of Wildlife, 1978. BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL QH541.5.M3 E53 1978 ; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL QH541.5.M3 E53 1978
  • Hamilton, Louis J., Geological Survey, Brookings County, and South Dakota. East Dakota Water Development District. Major Aquifers in Brookings County, South Dakota. Information Pamphlet (South Dakota Geological Survey) ; No. 40. Vermillion, S.D.: Science Center, University of South Dakota, 1988.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL GB1199.3.S8 H2 ; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL GB1199.3.S8 H2
  • Henningson, Durham & Richardson, South Dakota. Dept. of Transportation, and United States. Federal Highway Administration. Brookings Area Master Transportation Plan. Sioux Falls, S.D.: HDR Sioux Falls Office, 2011.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL HE356.5 .B76 B76 2011; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL HE356.5 .B76 B76 2011
  • Hillestad, Linda K. The Changing Impact of Natural Disasters in Brookings County, South Dakota. 1982.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL LB2385 H5568
  • Lee, K. Y. Geology and Shallow Ground Water Resources of Brookings Area : Brookings County, South Dakota. Report of Investigations (South Dakota Geological Survey) ; No. 84. Vermillion: University of South Dakota, 1958.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL TN24 .S8 S6r no. 84; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL TN24 .S8 S6r no. 84
  • Larson, Adlowe Lyle. Trends of Property Taxes in Brookings County and in South Dakota from 1915 to 1932. 1934.: https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1936/; BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL LB2385 .L324
  • Nelson, Terry A. The Rural Nonfarm Population of Three South Dakota Townships : A Geographic Analysis. 1993.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL LB2385 .N3368
  • Salonen, Debra Robson. Taking Hold : A Study of Land Acquisition, Land Ownership, and Community Development in Northeast Brookings County (1870-1916). 1977.; BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL LB2385 .Sa36
  • Schaefer, Walter T., South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, and United States. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Soil Survey of Brookings County, South Dakota. Washington, D.C.]: Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2005. GOVT DOC/LOWER LEVEL A 57.38/41:B 79; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL Doc. A 57.38/41:B 79
  • South Dakota. Department of Transportation, and United States. Federal Highway Administration. Brookings County Master Transportation Plan for FHWA, SDDOT, Brookings County. 2013.
  • Summary of the Master Plan of School District Reorganization for Brookings County, South Dakota. Brookings, S.D.: [Brookings County Board of Education], 1961.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL LB2801.S6 B69s; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL LB2801.S6 B69s
  • Tomhave, Dennis W., East Dakota Water Development District, Geological Survey, and South Dakota. Dept. of Transportation. Sand and Gravel Resources in Brookings County, South Dakota. Information Pamphlet (South Dakota Geological Survey) ; No. 38. Vermillion, S.D.: Science Center, University of South Dakota, 1988.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL TN939 .T65 1988
  • Westin, Frederick C, Westin, F C, and South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Soil Survey, Brookings County, South Dakota. United States. Soil Conservation Service. Soil Survey, Ser. 1955, No. 3. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off.], 1959.; PERIODICALS/LOWER LEVEL 630.7 So87.12, no. 468; ARCHIVES/UPPER LEVEL 630.7 So87.12, no. 468
  • The Brookings register: 1892-2019: MICROFILM-PERIODICALS/LOWER LEV. 071 B792
  • The Individual, 1893-1904. MICROFILM-PERIODICALS/LOWER LEV. 071 B963

Brookings City & County Government Center

  • Brookings City & County Government Center. Brookings, S.D.]: Brookings Register, 2012.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL  JS451.S89 B75 2012  

Brookings Public Library

  • Brookings Public Library. Program of Dedication, Brookings Public Library, November 21, 1976, 2:30 P.m. S.l.: S.n.], 1976.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   Z733.B76 B7

Dimmette, Celia Puhr

  • Dimmette, Celia Puhr. Take Me Home : Life on the Family Farm. Francestown, N.H.: Marshall Jones, 1979.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL PS3507.I617 T34

Kiwanis Club of Brookings

  • Kiwanis Club of Brookings, South Dakota. Brookings, S.D.: Kiwanis Club, 1972.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL   F659.B71 K5; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   F659.B71 K5   

Fischback, Horace

  • Horace Fishback, 1857-1929 : A Tribute. Brookings, S.D.: S.n., 1929.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL   F651.5.F5 H6; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   F651.5.F5 H6 

First Lutheran Church A.L.C.

  • Seventy-seventh Anniversary, 1880-1957, First Lutheran Church, Brookings, South Dakota. 1957.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX8076.B76 F58 1957 

  • First Lutheran Church A.L.C. Brookings, South Dakota. 1972.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX8076.B76 F585 1972 

First Methodist Episcopal Church

  • Fifty Years of Service : First Methodist Episcopal Church, 1879-1880 [to] 1929-1930. Brookings, S.D.: Burris Printery, 1930.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX8481.B7 B7 

First United Methodist Church

  • First United Methodist Church. Centennial History, 1879-1979, First United Methodist Church, Brookings, S.D. Brookings, S.D.: Church, 1979.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL   BX8481.B7 F57; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX8481.B7 F5

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church

  • Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. Dedication Services of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Brookings South Dakota, Sunday, January 20, 1952. Brookings, S.D.: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 1952.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX8076.B76 M68 1952; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   F659.B71 C43 2003 

Nick's Hamburger Shop

  • Cecil, Chuck. Nick's Hamburger Shop. Sioux Falls, SD: Pine Hill Press, 2007. BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL   TX945.5.N52 C42 2007; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   TX945.5.N52 C42 2007 

Pioneer Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argo Township

  • Parker, Donald Dean. History of the Pioneer Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argo Township, Brookings County, 1884-1959. Brookings]: South Dakota State College, 1960.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX8054 .P3h 

Ross, Phyllis Dokken

  • Ross, Phyllis Dokken. A Daughter's Story : Growing up in a Family of Eight in South Dakota during the Depression. Medford, Or.: Blue Moorea Press, 1999.: BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL   F656 .R69 1999 ; SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   F656 .R69 1999 

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

  • Young, Gertrude Stickney. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brookings, South Dakota, 1893-1947. Brookings, S.D.?: S.n., 1947.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX5980.B76 S3 

  • Dunn, Douglas Robert, and Gertrude Stickney. Young. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brookings, South Dakota, 1947-1978. Brookings, S.D.: D. R. Dunn, 1978.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX5980.B76 S32 

St. Thomas More Catholic Parish

  • Kelzenberg, Elly. 100 Years of Faith : St. Thomas More Catholic Parish, Brookings, South Dakota, 1904 to 2004. Brookings, S.D.: St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2004.: SOUTH DAKOTA COLLECTION/UPPER LEVEL   BX4603.B795 K44 2004 

George and Evelyn Norby Collection

Housed with in the SDSU Archives and Special Collections, the George & Evelyn Norby Collection contains a wealth of information and images about Brookings. The Norby's collected newspapers, photographs, and ephemera. They also researched various aspects of Brookings history and compiled lists of information regarding businesses, churches, schools, cemeteries, and people.

Below are links to the collection inventory, the digitized photographs, and business listings by year and street address.

Other Archival Collections

The SDSU Archives and Special Collections maintains several archival collections with information specifically about Brookings and the surrounding area. Below are links to the inventories for these collections.


If you know of a resource that should be added, please contact Michele Christian.