The book's coverage spans from several thousand years ago at the time when Native Americans first settled the area that would become present-day North Dakota up through the 20th Century.

[1] Elwyn B. Robinson (1905–1985) was a professor of history at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

At the 75th Anniversary Convocation of UND on November 6, 1958, Robinson presented a speech entitled "The Themes of North Dakota History.

"[2] The speech received great attention and would eventually result in the publication of History of North Dakota in 1966.

The book won the Award of Merit of the American Association for State and Local History.