South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections has some brand-new additions to its collection: More than 70 South Dakota brand books and other items from the history of branding in the state.
Brands are marks that identify who owns what livestock, be it cattle, horses, mules, buffalo or sheep. They’re usually a simple combination of letters, numbers and symbols. These emblems of the Old West are used not only to recognize stray livestock but also to deter theft.
Since the 19th century, all brands and their owners across the state have been published in books. The brand books—one of the most comprehensive collections in the state—arrived in the SDSU Archives and Special Collections at Hilton M. Briggs Library thanks to SDSU graduate Myron Sonne.
