Resources for Family & Community History
Introduction
Rubie, Audrey, Janett, and James Stanbrough celebrate Audrey's graduation from Wayne State University, 1958
The Missouri State Archives is the repository for state records of historical value. Currently, the Archives holds more than 336 million pages of paper; 400,000 photographs; 9,000 maps; 61,000 reels of microfilm, 560 cubic feet of published state documents and 1,000 audio/video items.
These records include:
- Missouri's history under French & Spanish colonial rule, as a U.S. territory, and during early statehood
- Journals of the House and Senate
- Supreme Court case files
- State agency records
- State government publications
- Military records of Missourians from the War of 1812 through World War I, including more than 9 million pages related to the Civil War
- Federal census schedules for Missouri from 1830 to 1920
- County and municipal records on microfilm
Highlights among manuscripts and original documents in the Archives are:
- French & Spanish land grants
- Testimony concerning the New Madrid earthquake of 1811-1812
- Documents concerning Frank and Jesse James
- Maps of Missouri's first surveyed roads
- Material pertaining to Harry S. Truman
Within this variety and abundance of materials is a wealth of information for the genealogist, historian, and scholar. This website is a brief introduction to some of the more popular Archives collections for those researching family or community history. We hope you find our records and services helpful, and wish you luck in your search.