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Finding Aids

Finding Aids are descriptions of collections, often down to the item level, for records kept by the Missouri State Archives. Finding Aids include agency or biographical histories, timelines, and information on related collections when applicable.

Click on a link below for a state agency. If you do not find the Finding Aid you need, contact the Archives at (573) 751-3280 or [email protected]. There are many finding aids drafts the staff can access that are not online.

 

Click on a Record Group below or scroll down to browse.

RG003 Office of the Governor	RG300 Gubernatorial Boards and Committees
RG005 Office of Secretary of State	RG336 Division of Professional Registration
RG101 Office of Administration	RG337 State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts
RG102 Department of Agriculture	RG 338 State Board of Nursing
RG103 Department of Conservation	RG340 Missouri Board of Pharmacy
RG104 Department of Economic Development	RG395 State Capitol Commissions
RG105 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education	RG403 Civil War Centennial Commission of Missouri
RG107 Department of Transportation	RG404 First State Capitol Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee
RG108 Department of Labor and Industrial Relations	RG405 American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Missouri
RG110 Department of Natural Resources	RG550 Missouri General Assembly
RG111 Department of Public Safety	RG552 Legislator Papers
RG112 Department of Revenue	RG561 Joint, Interim and Special Legislative Committees
RG114 Department of Corrections	RG600 Missouri Supreme Court
RG115 Department of Health and Senior Services	RRG601 Eastern District Court of Appeals
RG133 Office of Adjutant General	RG820 Municipal Records
RG151 Missouri School for the Deaf	RG951 U.S. Recorder of Land Titles
RG152 Missouri School for the Blind	RG952 U.S. Surveyor General
RG154 Marshall State School and Hospital	RG960 U.S. Civilian Conservation Corps
RG213 Missouri State Penitentiary	RG998 Manuscripts
RG214 Algoa Intermediate Reformatory

 

RG 003 Office of the Governor

• RG003.06 Lilburn W. Boggs, 1836-1840 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.07 Thomas Reynolds, 1840-1844 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.08 Meredith Miles Marmaduke, 1844 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.09 John Cummins Edwards, 1844-1848 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.10 Austin Augustus King, 1848-1853 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.11 Sterling Price, 1853-1857 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.12 Trusten Polk, 1857 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.13 Hancock Lee Jackson, 1857 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.14 Robert Marcellus Stewart,1857-1861 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.15 Claiborne Fox Jackson,1861 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.16 Hamilton Rowan Gamble, 1861-1864 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.17 Willard Preble Hall,1864-1865 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.18 Thomas Clement Fletcher, 1865-1869 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.19 Joseph Washington McClurg,1869-1871 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.20 Benjamin Gratz Brown, 1871-1873 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.21 Silas B. Woodson, 1873-1875 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.22 Charles Henry Hardin,1875-1877 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.23 John Smith Phelps, 1877-1881 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.24 Thomas Theodore Crittenden, 1881-1885 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.25 John Sappington Marmaduke, 1885-1887 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.26 Albert Pickett Morehouse, 1887-1889 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.27 David Rowland Francis, 1889-1893 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.28 William Joel Stone, 1893-1897 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.29 Lawrence Vest Stephens, 1897-1901 Finding Aid | View Documents
• RG003.30 Alexander Monroe Dockery, 1901-1905
• RG003.31 Joseph Wingate Folk, 1905-1909
• RG003.32 Herbert Spencer Hadley, 1909-1913
• RG003.33 Elliott Woolfolk Major, 1913-1917
• RG003.34 Frederick Dozier Gardner, 1917-1921
• RG003.36 Samuel Aaron Baker, 1925-1929
• RG003.37 Henry Stewart Caulfield, 1929-1933
• RG003.38 Guy Brasfield Park, 1933-1937
• RG003.39 Lloyd Crow Stark, 1937-1941
• RG003.51 Mel Carnahan, 1993-2000
• RG003.53 Bob Holden, 2001-2005
• RG003.54 Matt Blunt, 2005-2009
• RG003.55 Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon, 2009-2016

 

RG 005 Office of Secretary of State

Administrative Rules

• RG000.005 SOS Administrative Rules State Documents Collection

Business Services (includes Commissions)

• RG000.005 Business Services State Documents Collection
• RG005.02 Governor’s Proclamations, 1892-2021
• RG005.03 Oaths of Office, 1843-2021
• RG005.04 Executive Orders, 1943-2022 | View the orders with the State Library
• RG005.05 Writs of Election, 1838-2021
• RG005.06 Gubernatorial Appointments, 1838-2020
• RG005.07 Extraditions, 1857-2022
• RG005.09 Ordinances, 1871-2021
• RG005.10 Deeds and Easements, 1851-2022
• RG005.11 Oaths of State Auditor Examiners, 1912-2022
• RG005.12 Service Awards, 1946-2022
• RG005.13 Historic Preservation Certificates, 2000-2022
• RG005.14 Special Census Enumerations, 1867-2004 | See also the Archives Census Webpage
• RG005.15 Interstate Compacts, 1947-2010
• RG005.16 Absences of the Governor, 1920-2022
• RG005.17 Certificates of Election, 1838-2022
• RG005.20 Pardons, 1836-2021
• RG005.21 Itinerant Vendors' Licenses, 1911-1927
• RG005.29 County Township Boundaries, 1838-2015
• RG005.30 City and County Charters, 1843-2020
• RG005.31 Departmental Plans, 2007-2022
• RG005.34 Remitters of Fines and Bond Forfeitures, 1840-1990
• RG005.50 Register of Civil Proceedings, 1837-1971

Elections

• RG000.005 SOS Elections State Documents Collection
• RG005.18 Presidential Electors, 1872-2020
• RG005.28 Board of State Canvassers Reports, 1948-2022
• RG005.35 Certifications of Candidates and Party Emblems, 1912-2018
• RG005.46 Election Returns, 1836-2022
• RG005.47 Declarations of Candidacy, Certificates of Nomination, Petitions, and Withdrawals, 1890-2022
• RG005.53 Initiative Petitions and Referendums, 1912-2022

Missouri State Library

• RG000.005 SOS Missouri State Library State Documents Collection

Publications

• RG000.005 SOS Publications State Documents Collection
• RG005.033 Official Manual Contest Photograph Collection, 1987-2018
• See also photographs from the Publications Non-Portrait Collection
• See also the Official Manual of the State of Missouri (Blue Book)

Records Services

• RG000.005 SOS Records Services State Documents Collection
• RG005.51 State Records Commission, 1965-2021
• RG005.54 Missouri Board of Geographic Names
• RG005.55 Missouri Historical Records Advisory Board

Secretaries of State

• RG000.005 SOS Administrative State Documents Collection
• RG005.36 Cornelius Roach, 1909-1917
• RG005.37 Dwight H. Brown, 1933-1944
• RG005.38 Wilson Bell, 1945-1947
• RG005.39 Edgar C. Nelson, 1947-1949
• RG005.40 Frances Rodman, 1865-1871
• RG005.41 Charles U. Becker, 1921-1933

Securities

• RG000.005 SOS Securities State Documents Collection

Session Laws

• Session Laws, 1838-2022 | Read the published Laws of Missouri

Special Collections

• RG005.01 Mormon War Papers, 1837-1841 | Mormon War Exhibit
• RG005.32 Missouri-Kansas Border War, 1858-1862

  

RG 101 Office of Administration

• RG101.01 Board of Fund Commissioners
• RG101.02 Ferguson Commission
• RG101.03 Governor's Council on Disability
• RG101.04 Citizen's Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials

 

RG 102 Department of Agriculture

• View the Department of Agriculture Reports
• View the Missouri State Fair Exhibit

Animal Health

• RG102.01 County Brand Books, 1836-1971

 

RG 103 Department of Conservation

• RG000.103 Department of Conservation State Documents Collection
• RG103.01 Department of Conservation
• See also the Photograph Collection

 

RG 104 Department of Economic Development

• See the Division of Tourism Photograph Collection

 

RG 105 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• See the Annual Reports of Public Schools

 

RG 107 Department of Transportation

• Department of Transportation Photograph Collection, 1920-1985

 

RG 108 Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

• See the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (Red Book) Reports

 

RG 110 Department of Natural Resources

• RG110.05 Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
• RG110.06 Soil and Water Conservation Districts Commission
• RG110.07 Clean Water Commission
• RG110.09 Missouri Well Installation Board

 

RG 111 Department of Public Safety

• RG111.01 Missouri Horse Racing Commission
  

 

RG 112 Department of Revenue

• RG112.1 State Tax Commission

 

RG 114 Department of Corrections

• (See also RG213 below)
• RG000.114 Department of Corrections State Documents Collection

 

RG 115 Department of Health and Senior Services

• RG000.115 Department of Health and Senior Services State Documents Collection
• RG115.2 Death Certificates, 1910-1972 Finding Aid | Death Certificate Database
• RG115.3 Missouri Women's Health Council

   

RG 133 Office of Adjutant General

• RG133.02 National Guard Records
• RG133.03 Missouri Veterans Home (St. James), 1897-1973 Finding Aid | View the Registers
• RG133.06 Soldiers' Bonus Commission (World War I)
• RG133.10 Civil War Claims Commissions, 1874
• RG133.11 Naval Militia, 1905-1960
• RG133.36 World War I Biography and Service Records
• RG133.38 Spanish American War Biography and Service Records
• RG133.44 Confederate Soldiers Home (Higginsville) and Confederate Pension Records
• Soldiers’ Database

Civil War Regimental Returns

• RG133.30 Citizen Guards Regimental Returns
• RG133.13 Enrolled Missouri Militia Regimental Returns
• RG133.14 Home Guards Regimental Returns
• RG133.35 Invalid and Veterans Reserve Corps Regimental Returns
• RG133.33 Missouri Militia (General Order #3) Regimental Returns
• RG133.34 Missouri Militia (State Convention) Regimental Returns
• RG133.17 Missouri State Militia Regimental Returns
• RG133.18 Artillery, Missouri Volunteers Regimental Returns
• RG133.19 Cavalry, Missouri Volunteers Regimental Returns
• RG133.20 Engineers, Missouri Volunteers Regimental Returns
• RG133.21 Infantry, Missouri Volunteers Regimental Returns
• RG133.23 Organized Missouri Militia Regimental Returns
• RG133.24 Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia Regimental Returns
• RG133.25 Provisional Enrolled Militia (Order 107) Regimental Returns
• RG133.29 Quartermaster General Records
• RG133.26 Six Months Militia Regimental Returns
• RG133.31 United States Colored Troops Regimental Returns
• RG133.27 United States Reserve Corps (Three Months Service) Regimental Returns
• RG133.28 United States Reserve Corps (Three Years Service) Regimental Returns

 

RG 151 Missouri School for the Deaf

• RG 151.01 Missouri School for the Deaf

 

RG 152 Missouri School for the Blind

• RG 152.01 Missouri School for the Blind

 

RG 154 Marshall State School and Hospital

• RG 154.01 Marshall State School and Hospital

 

RG 213 Missouri State Penitentiary

• (See also RG114 above)
• Missouri State Penitentiary, Female Inmate Files, 1890s-1960s
• RG 213.03 Courts Martial Records
• View the Missouri State Penitentiary Inmate Registers

 

RG 214 Algoa Intermediate Reformatory

• (See also RG114 above)
• RG 214.01 Algoa Intermediate Reformatory

 

RG 300 Gubernatorial Boards and Commissions

•  RG 300.03 Spanish American War Trust Fund

 

RG 336 Division of Professional Registration

•  RG 336.1 Missouri Dental Board

 

RG 337 Board of Registration for the Healing Arts

• RG 337.1 Board of Registration for the Healing Arts

 

RG 338 State Board of Nursing

• RG 338.1 State Board of Nursing

 

RG 340 State Board of Pharmacy

• RG 340.1 State Board of Pharmacy

 

RG 395 State Capitol Commissions

• RG395.1 State Capitol Commission Board, 1911-1924 (First Board)
• RG395.1 State Capitol Commission Board Photograph Collection, 1913-1917 (First Board) | View the Capitol Construction images
• RG395.2 Missouri State Capitol Commission, 2002-2015 (Second Board)
• RG395.2 Missouri State Capitol Commission Photograph Collection, 1911-2017 (Second Board)

 

RG 403 Civil War Centennial Commission of Missouri

• Civil War Centennial Commission of Missouri, 1958-1967

 

RG 404 First State Capitol Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee

• First State Capitol Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee, 1963-1973

 

RG 405 American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Missouri

• American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Missouri, 1969-1976

 

RG 550 Missouri General Assembly

Session Records

• (see also RG005 above for Session Laws)
• (see also RG561 below)
• RG550.90-2 General Assembly, 2000
• RG550.91-1 General Assembly, 2001
• RG550.91-2 General Assembly, 2002
• RG550.92-1 General Assembly, 2003
• RG550.92-2 General Assembly, 2004
• RG550.93-1 General Assembly, 2005
• RG550.93-2 General Assembly, 2006
• RG550.94-1 General Assembly, 2007
• RG550.94-2 General Assembly, 2008
• RG550.95-1 General Assembly, 2009
• RG550.95-2 General Assembly, 2010
• RG550.96-1 General Assembly, 2011
• RG550.96-2 General Assembly, 2012
• RG550.97-1 General Assembly, 2013
• RG550.97-2 General Assembly, 2014
• RG550.98-1 General Assembly, 2015
• RG550.98-2 General Assembly, 2016
• RG550.99-1 General Assembly, 2017
• RG550.99-2 General Assembly, 2018
• RG550.100-1 General Assembly, 2019
• RG550.100-2 General Assembly, 2020
• RG550.101-1 General Assembly, 2021
• RG550.101-2 General Assembly, 2022

House Communications

• RG550.01 House Communications Collections, 1895-2002

House and Senate Journals

• Read the Missouri House and Senate Journals

 

RG 552 Legislator Papers

• RG552.01 Thomas D. Graham, 1951-1973
• RG552.02 Martin (Bubs) Hohulin, 1991-2003
• RG552.03 Carl M. Vogel, 1991-2003
• RG552.04 Bill Boucher, 1992-2003
• RG552.05 Michael J. Reid, 1991-1993
• RG552.06 Sidney Johnson, 1991-2003
• RG552.07 Randall Relford, 1996-2003
• RG552.08 James L. Mathewson, 1975-2005
• RG552.09 John W. Cauthorn, 2001-2007
• RG552.10 Jerry T. Howard, 1973-1977, 1987-1999
• RG552.11 Bill I. Foster, 1993-2005
• RG552.12 Ken Legan, 1981-2002
• RG552.13 Bill Skaggs, 1983-2003
• RG552.14 Tim Van Zandt, 1995-2001
• RG552.15 Elizabeth Long, 1990-2001
• RG552.16 James V. Froelker, 1989-2003
• RG552.17 Mary L. Gant, 1967-1981
• RG552.18 Albert M. Spradling, 1953-1976
• RG552.19 Emory Melton, 1973-1997
• RG552.20 Thomas B. Littlejohn, 1921-1922
• RG552.21 Morris Westfall, 1971-2003
• RG552.22 Mary Groves Bland, 1981-2005
• RG522.23 Christopher Graham, 1983-1990
• RG552.24 Wayne Goode, 1962-2005
• RG552.26 Fred Spearman, 1925-1955

 

RG 561 Joint, Interim and Special Legislative Committees

• RG561.01 Joint, Interim, and Special Committees, 1842-2019
• RG561.02 Joint Committee on Corrections, 1959-2014
• RG561.03 Missouri Atomic Energy Commission, 1961-1982
• RG561.4 Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement

 

RG 600 Missouri Supreme Court

• See the Supreme Court Case Files

 

RG 601 Eastern District Court of Appeals

• RG601.01 Eastern District Court of Appeals

 

RG 820 Municipal Records

• RG820 Kansas City Parks and Recreation

 

RG 951 U.S. Recorder of Land Titles

• RG951.01 First Board Papers of Original Claimants, 1777-1851
• RG951.02 Second Board Papers of Original Claimants, 1785-1857
• RG951.03 New Madrid Claims, 1815-1855

 

RG 952 U.S. Surveyor General

• RG952.01 New Madrid Claims, 1816-1856

 

RG 960 U.S. Civilian Conservation Corps

• RG960.1 U.S. Civilian Conservation Corps

 

RG 998 Manuscripts

These are posted on a separate page. Click HERE to access our manuscript finding aids.