Major strengths of the Chilson Collection

The Herman P. Chilson Collection of Western Americana is the largest book collection in the Archives and Special Collections and is frequently used by researchers interested in regional Native and European-American history. Other strengths of the collections, as stated in a January 1977 The South Dakotan  article, are first editions, special editions, pre-Columbian explorations in America, early religious activities in our region, ornithology books, Norwegian books, S.S. Visher (early geographer) books, Willa Cather books, books about George Custer, and most significantly according to the article, John Neihardt books.

Books in the Chilson Collection can be found using the USD library catalog. This collection is growing with new books purchased every year by the library and added to the Chilson Collection.

Source

Library receives western Americana collection. Finest private library in Dakotas. The South Dakotan vol. 72 no. 1, January 1977, p. 12.