The Helen Magee Heritage Room contains valuable information about local families, businesses, events, and organizations of early Hot Springs. Because these materials are ‘one of a kind’ they are for In Library use only. Copies of the materials, for personal use only, can be requested from a librarian for a small copying fee. Every available issue of the Hot Springs Star from 1887-2019 can be accessed on microfilm, physical copies from 2020-present are also available. The Heritage Room is open for research, call ahead to reserve the room and see what our collection has to offer you!
The Heritage Room Collection
The Heritage Room contains over 1,000 books and materials discussing Hot Springs, Fall River County, the Black Hills, and the state of South Dakota through a variety of topics, including many publications by local authors. These books can be viewed in the library catalog by changing the sublocation to “Heritage.”
Click here to view the catalog
The Helen Magee Collection relates to the history and preservation of Hot Springs and the surrounding areas of Fall River County and the Black Hills of South Dakota, with a main focus on Hot Springs and its residents. This collection was given to the Hot Springs Public Library by Barbara Trumbull from the estate of Helen Magee. The materials in this collection were collected by Helen Magee through decades of research. Following Magee’s death, the collection was processed and organized by Barbara Trumbull.
Guide to the Helen Magee Collection
Much of the Helen Magee Collection has been digitized and can be viewed at home at any time.
Databases Accessed At Home or in the Library
The South Dakota State Library has a list of databases and electronic resources for historical and genealogical research that can be accessed online at the library or at home. (Some may be for in library use only, the website will specify).