MATERIALS AT THE SOCIETY
The Reference Library collections include
many kinds of resources useful in historical and genealogical research, such as county
histories and atlases, city directories, cemetery inscriptions, and compiled family
histories. Though we have no original records of births, deaths, marriages, or probate and
circuit court proceedings, we do have some privately published indexes to, abstracts of,
and transcriptions of some county records. The State Historical Society of Missouri has no
published catalog of its holdings.
The Newspaper
Library has Missouri newspapers dating from 1808 to the present--the largest
collection of state newspapers in the nation, now mostly on microfilm. A few early
newspapers are indexed. A large collection of microfilm of federal population censuses,
and printed indexes to some of them, are also housed in the Newspaper Library.
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL ASSISTANCE
The staff is available to assist any patron
visiting the Society to find the materials needed for research. The State Historical
Society of Missouri does not charge a user fee.
Each day the Society's small staff receives
by mail many requests for genealogical and historical research. When a specific inquiry is
received which includes a full name, with pertinent dates and places in Missouri, the
staff may be able to supply some needed information from indexed sources. The State
Historical Society does not charge for any basic reference services provided
to Missouri residents. However, if
extensive research is needed, the staff suggests ways patrons can do this
research themselves, by visiting the Society or other libraries or archives, or by
borrowing the materials on inter library loan. If patrons cannot do the research
themselves, they may wish to employ a private researcher to do this more extensive work.
Any postal inquiry sent to the Society should be accompanied by a long,
self-addresses stamped envelope (SASE). There is a fee for
out-of-state, nonmember research requests.
EMPLOYING RESEARCHERS
The Society maintains a list of genealogists,
who are not members of the Society staff but have expressed an interest in conducting
genealogical and historical research for a fee. The list is available upon request. Please
include a SASE. The Society can neither recommend these persons nor assume any
responsibility for their work.
Microfilm of books, journals, periodicals,
plat books, and Missouri newspapers may be borrowed on interlibrary loan through any
public or college library. Residents of Missouri may borrow most microfilm of federal
census records available in the collection. The Society lends two microfilm reels for two
weeks use, with the borrowing library paying postage and transaction fees.
|
