Finding aids provide further information for each of MGC’s archival collections. Each will include the following elements:
Collection Summary
Collection Inventory
Rights and Access to each archival collection
Name and folder indexes are available for some of MGC’s archival collections. Name indexes display first, maiden, middle, and last names as well as any notes that may help identify individuals. Folder indexes display the folder title and additional information.
This collection includes the genealogy of four families: Boswell family, Johnson family, Sass family, and Buckner family. The families in the collection are connected to William Wallace (Milliron) Johnson. Each family collection contains family group sheets, and pedigree charts. Accompanying documentation such as military service files, certificates, photographs, and correspondence add details to the charts and forms. The Midwest Genealogy Center received the donation from another library through the Mid-America Library Alliance.
Items in the collection connect Joseph Nesbit and his family to the Hickman Mills School District. Much of the collection pertains to his time as principal or superintendent. The collection is comprised of programs, newspapers, newspaper clippings, histories of the schools, and photographs. Former President Harry S. Truman signed Joseph Nesbit’s copy of the program from the dedication of three schools. The family witnessed the Ruskin Heights tornado in 1957. A photograph of Ruskin High School after the tornado as well as a disaster card filled out by the Nesbit family are among the items in this collection. Other items in the collection relate to the schools that the Nesbit children attended including a private school, Barstow School. The collection is arranged in two series, the first relating to the schools and the second relating to the Hickman Mills area where the family lived.
The family Bible begins with the marriage of Jesse S. Perrine of Lexington, Missouri and his marriage to Sabra Haskell of Camden, Missouri. The family Bible contains names and dates of the Perrine and Abernathy families. Record of births, marriages, and deaths are written on the family record pages of the Bible.
Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Amanda, probably wrote the family record pages pertaining to her parents and siblings. Her brother, Sabert B. Downing of Higginsville, Missouri, probably wrote other pages. Sabert had no children so the family Bible was given to Mary H. Downing Knipmeyer who wrote the note on the inside of the Bible. The family Bible contains names and dates of the Downing family. Record of births, marriages, and deaths are written on the family record pages of the Bible.
Most of the family Bible records are in the same handwriting. The Bible include Caldwell, Cooper, Scott, and Darnell families from Dover, Lafayette, Missouri. Record of births, marriages, and deaths are written on the family record pages of the Bible. Also included on the record sheets are a handwritten epitaph and a handwritten obituary.
The family Bible contains names and dates of the Mitchell family. Primarily following Rebecca Mitchell and her husband, Lycurous Garrett, and their descendants. Record of births, marriages, and deaths are written on the family record pages of the Bible.
This collection primary covers the history of the genealogy branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, which has been located in several buildings in Independence, Missouri over the years. Included in this collection are photographs of staff, events, customers, and buildings. Many of the photographs have been scrapbooked. Other items in the collection are representative of the work done at the library including programs, newsletters, sign-in sheets, and thank you cards.
Items in this collection were found in yearbooks that were donated to the library. The yearbooks have been donated by individuals and the items left were of a personal nature such as photographs, programs from a school event, or a graduation announcements. When possible, the school and year were noted when the item was removed from the yearbook. Items in this collection give a more detailed view of the activities and students who attended a particular high school. Some of the newspaper clippings found in yearbooks have been photocopied, and the photocopies were kept.
The family record sheets begin with the marriage of Jonathan P. Percy and Louise J Meredith. No other marriages are recorded. The births and deaths recorded are only for Jonathan, Louise, and Lillie.
Joyce Cox was involved with various community, school, international, and historical organizations from the early 1970s through 2010. This collection contains rosters and directories from various organizations in the Kansas City, Missouri area. Most rosters contain name, address and phone number of members as well as the organizational leaders. More detailed information such as photos, faculty lists, or spouse’s names are included in a few of the rosters.
This collection consists of the family Bible for the John R. Harding family. This Bible contains the family records for births, marriages, and deaths for John, his wife Mary and their descendants. Also included in this collection is a pedigree chart, and family records that list names and dates of ancestors from as early as the 1600s. Dates were recorded in the family bible as late as the 1950s. The names and dates were written at different times and in various handwriting.
The Midwest Genealogy Center receives donations relating to family history and genealogy. Folders that don’t fit into existing collection become a part of the ephemeral collection. Folders can include unidentified photographs, pamphlets, programs, and more. Also included are items found in donated books.
This collection contains issues of The Researcher, an in-house publication provided for employees at Research Medical Hospital. As a monthly publication, The Researcher provided hospital news, events, and humor. Also found within the collection is brief history of Research Medical Hospital.
Most of the collection consists of the family records of various interrelated families, including the Allen, Britt, Carroll, Chastain, Morgan, Moseley, Poore, and Parker families, with the Chastain family being a particular focus. Photographs of some families are included as are portraits. Also included are various miscellaneous documents and Civil War-era military records.
This collection contains a scrapbook detailing Clay County, Missouri marriages in the 1822-1875. Printed in the Liberty Chronicle [Liberty, MO] during the 1930s, this information contains names, dates, and more from the early days of Clay County. The information was compiled by the Alexander Doniphan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
This collection contains the genealogy research and personal papers for Margery Lee Cunningham and her aunt, Margery Adeline Ford. Other surnames found within this collection include English, Morehead, Morlock, and Wharton. The genealogy research contains photographs, obituaries, family charts, a family history, and vital records among other items. The personal papers include correspondence and legal documents.
This collection contains the genealogical research done by Stella Strickler Tharp. Stella focused on her
maternal and paternal lines as well as her husband’s maternal and paternal lines. These surnames
include Botts, Newson, Strickler, and Tharp. Each surname has family history and genealogy research in
addition to photographs, ephemera, and vital record information. There is also biographical information
complied by the donor as well as a photograph album for the Strickler family.
This collection consists of the family Bible for the Robert McMillin Family. This Bible contains the family records for births for Robert, his wife Jane Ramsay, and their children. There is also dates for Jane Ramsay McMillin’s parents as well as William and Mary Coulthard. Also included in this collection is a McMillin family unit chart.
This collection contains genealogical research for Howard and Lane families in Ohio, Montana, and Iowa as well as other locations. Surnames such as Sulgrove, Saylor, Gray, Hiatt, Sullins, and Norris in addition to others are found within this collection. Also included in this collection are genealogy charts, correspondence, obituaries, family histories, and miscellaneous research. This research contains items such as transcribed wills, vital records, biographies, as well as information from various books.
This collection consists of the genealogy research of Helen Clements. The completed work from this research is titled Clements Family Records and was finished in 1972. Within this work are genealogy charts, family history, and transcribed records. Also found within this collection are photographs, correspondence, Bible records, genealogy charts, and miscellaneous family histories.
This collection consists of the family Bible for the David Magill Family. This Bible contains the family records for births, marriages, and deaths for David, his wife Sarah Frame Magill, and their children. Also included in this collection is a family unit chart.
The correspondence from William C. Coleman is mainly business and includes orders, receipts, and other letters related to his wool sock business in Sabetha Kansas. The correspondence to Reverend Chester Coleman is personal letters from family members.
This collection consists of personal items and photographs from John B. Moritz. The personal items include correspondence and memorial books for John and his mother, Nora. The rest of the collection is photographs; both loose and photo album pages.
This collection contains the genealogical research, family photographs, and correspondence of Arthur Krebs. The genealogy research contains census, military, land, vital, and other miscellaneous records. In addition, there are numerous family unit charts as well as other genealogy research. There is also a family history of one of Arthur Krebs’ ancestors, John Hiram Ingrum. Also contained within this collection are records in German that relate to Arthur’s genealogy research.
The collection consists of documents pertaining to the Shepherd family and extended relations. It is organized into 4 series. Series 1 contains a great number of genealogical queries submitted by Ina over several years, as well as several personal correspondences. This series is divided into 2 subseries, one for genealogical queries and the other for personal correspondence. Series 2 contains several miscellaneous documents. Series 3 are documents pertaining to specific branches of the extended Shepherd family. The series is divided into 2 subseries, arranged by family name and then by state. Series 4 contains oversized documents, stored separately from the rest of the collection
