PIERRE CITY DIRECTORY 1890-91. COMPRISING AN ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED LIST OF BUSINESS FIRMS AND PRIVATE CITIZENS - A MISCELLANEOUS DIRECTORY, CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, BANKS, INCORPORATED INSTITUTIONS, SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. AND A COMPLETE CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Sioux Falls: Chas. Pettibone & Co., [1890].. 107pp. Original printed orange boards, rebacked in brown paper. Edges worn, small paper remnant on front board, hinges crudely repaired. Embossed institutional blind stamp on titlepage, ink stamp on front free endpaper, old ink library shelf mark on Preface. Textblock moderately tanned and a bit brittle, bottom corner of titlepage chipped, last handful of leaves partially or wholly detached. Good. The first full business directory for the city of Pierre, South Dakota, founded in 1880, following a small city directory published in 1883. In the 1890 census Pierre boasted around 3,200 residents - a number which did not increase appreciably until around 1940. Interestingly, the directory mentions the census numbers, lamenting that the census has not accurately recorded the grand population of the place, which really ought to be counted closer to 4,000 or more. Moreover, the publishers claim Pierre to be ideally situated and drawing the best citizens from all corners: "Pierre is fortunate in having attracted to herself a population comprising the very cream of Eastern brain and brawn, before whose enterprise and broad liberality no difficulties can stand."

The Preface begins: "The publishers of this first volume of the city directory of 'Peerless Pierre' desire to take the first opportunity of thanking the stirring, energetic citizens and business men for the patronage and assistance which alone render such a publication possible." As the subtitle attests, the directory covers private citizens; businesses; state, county, and local officials; public and Private Schools; banks; churches; and "secret" and benevolent societies, as well as a "complete classified business directory." The businesses advertising here include hotels, real estate agents, the Pierre DAILY CAPITAL and Pierre FREE PRESS newspapers, several brick contractors and suppliers, and many other businesses listed alphabetically by type.

OCLC records just two copies of this foundational South Dakota city directory, at Yale and Minnesota Historical. OCLC 54304115, 20953387.