Research Room

The Missouri State Archives is the repository for state records of historical value.  Highlights among manuscripts and original documents in the Archives include French & Spanish land grants, testimony concerning the New Madrid earthquake of 1811-1812, maps of Missouri's first surveyed roads, Missouri's Ordinance Abolishing Slavery, and material pertaining to Harry S. Truman.

Currently, the Archives holds more than 336 million pages of paper; 770,000 photographs; 9,000 maps; 66,000 reels of microfilm, 900 cubic feet of published state documents and 1,000 audio/video items.  These records include:

• Census Records 1752-1940
• County and Municipal Records
• Judicial Records
• Land Records
• Legislative records
• Manuscript Collection
• Military records of Missourians from the War of 1812 through World War I, including more than 9 million pages related to the Civil War.
• Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
• Missouri’s history under French & Spanish colonial rule, as a U.S. territory, and during early statehood
• Photographs
• Resources for Family & Community History
• State agency records
• State government publications

Online Resources

• Archives' Online Catalog
• Birth & Death Records Database, pre-1910
• Civil War Provost Marshal Index Database
• Coroner's Inquest Database
• County and Municipal Records on Microfilm
• Death Certificates, 1910 – 1968
• Elected Officials Website Archives
• Finding Aids
• Judicial Records
• Land Records Database
• Local Records Inventory Database
• Missouri Digital Heritage
• Missouri State Penitentiary Database
• Naturalization Records Database
• Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I
• Supreme Court Historical Database

Featured Collections

• Civil War Resources
• Lewis and Clark Expedition
• Provost Marshal/United States Colored Troops PDF images
• The Missouri Mormon War
• Martha Casto's Story: As Featured on TLC's Who Do You Think You Are?
• St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project

Guides to the Collection

• Guide to African American History at the Missouri State Archives
• Guide to Civil War Resources at the Missouri State Archives

Access to the Collections

Access to the Missouri State Archives collections is provided through the Archives Research Room. Information regarding records and use may be obtained from reference staff. Patrons must read and comply with the Researcher Agreement before beginning research activity.

The Missouri State Archives collections are non-circulating. Permanent state government records housed in the Missouri State Archives stacks area are available for use in the Archives Research Room. Advance request must be made for use of records from the stacks on Thursday evenings, Saturdays, and holidays. Microfilm and a limited selection of printed works are available in the Archives Research Room to researchers at all times.

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact Information
• Hours and Directions

Procedures For Requesting Research

Missouri State Archives staff does limited research for patrons who are unable to visit in person at no cost. Patrons may request information via telephone, e-mail, online request form, or postal mail.

Copy Fees

Copies may be obtained of most records; archivists will determine whether the original records may be copied due to fragility.

The minimum fee for all copy requests is $1.00.  This covers 2 microfilm/microfiche copies or 10 photocopies.  

• Additional microfilm/microfiche copies are 25 cents per page for continuous pages from the same file
• Additional photocopies are 10 cents per page. 

Please provide a #10 Business sized self-addressed stamped envelope for copy requests.  Postage will be charged when an envelope is not provided or the number of copies will not fit in the envelope provided. 

• 1-10 pages: $1.00
• 11-39 pages: $2.00
• 40-75 pages: $3.00
• 76-500 pages
  • Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee: $6.50
  • Anywhere else in continental United States: $8.00
• A quote will be provided for copies sent to Hawaii, Alaska, for international postage, or for requests greater than 500 pages. 

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The Missouri State Archives has been named as one of the 101 Best Websites for Genealogy in the September 2018 issue of Family Tree Magazine.