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.