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 contains the family history of Lowell Luttrell and allied families. Other surnames found within this collection include Vancil, Williams, Nash, Hodge, Huffman, Upshaw, Mears, and others. This family history contains photographs, letters, cards, and genealogical research. Also included are photographs and information relating to Denlow history located in Douglas County, Missouri.
This collection consists of items relating to the Sunflower Ordnance Works and then later the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. Collected by Richard B. Stevens, the contents include personal correspondence and a scrapbook. Also included are the entire run of The Sunflower Sentinel, the weekly employee newspaper for the Sunflower Ordnance Works and some editions for the Sunflower Planet, newspaper for the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. There is also one edition of the Lawrence [KS] Journal –World.
This collection contains various newspapers published in the United States. The newspapers found within this collection are original items and were published in the 20th century. Titles include the Daily News, Rosecrans Flyer, Sweet Springs Herald, Baker Orange, The Northeast News, and the Northeast Shopper.
While preparing to move to California, Eva Giles took some papers to her neighbor Carl Guertler in Ogden, Utah to be burned. He saw some old stamps and while looking through the papers, he noticed they had genealogical value. She gave permission for him to keep the papers and they were donated to the Genealogical Society of Utah. The papers were withdrawn from the library and eventually donated to the Midwest Genealogy Center. The papers include some items belonging to Eva’s father, Morgan Hinman and include an account book from 1866, a land patent in Utah, and a muster roll containing his name. Other documents include deeds, bonds, contracts, probate, and other records relating to her ancestors living in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Some of the early documents date back to the late 1700s and early 1800s.
This collection consists of newspapers printed, published, and created by students at various Jackson County, Missouri junior high, high schools and colleges or universities. The schools within this collection include Manual High and Vocation School, Paseo High School, Northeast Junior High School, Northeast High School, Southeast High School all of Kansas City. Truman High School published a monthly school magazine title,The Spirit. Colleges included in the collection are Junior College of Kansas City and the University of Kansas City, now the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Each edition provides a glimpse into the daily lives of students attending each institution as well as the history, culture, and society of the time period.
This collection consists of the Bible donated to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church [Independence, MO] from the “Ladies of Jackson County.” This Bible was published in 1845 in Hartford, Connecticut by St. Andrus & Son Publishing. The main title pages as well as the first pages of the Old Testament are missing. In addition to the Bible, the collection contains a note found within the Bible and a scanned copy of the cover.
The records span the time period from 1640 to the 1800s. The records cover various surnames and family lines. Most records are copies of, or transcriptions of, wills, deeds, marriage bonds, and other materials.
This collection consists of the family Bible for the William Henry Doty Family. This Bible contains the family records for births, marriages, and deaths for William Henry, his wife Virginia McClung Doty, and their children. Also included in this collection is a family unit chart.
This collection consists of the genealogical research that Bernice Burkeholder conducted. Her research follows a number of lines and each folder within this collection represents one researched line. Other surnames found within collection include BURNS, CAGE, EVERETT, GIBSON, MACKERY, STUBBS, TERRELL, WALTNER, WEST, and WOLZ. In addition to the genealogical research, this collection also contains photographs, family histories, and photocopied documents.
This collection contains genealogical research for the Craig Family. This research consists of family history charts, photocopied documents, original research, and more. Ancestors of this family originally resided in the eastern United States, specifically Virginia, before migrating west into Kentucky and Missouri.
This collection consists of photographs, documents, and correspondence relating to the McInteer, Poertner, and Robinson families. These families intermarried and had other interactions. The documents series contains mostly legal items such as a will, real estate contact, and warranty deeds. Photographs are separated into series by surname. Other surnames found within this collection include Burden, Greene, Lock, McMahon, Scheperclaus, Schmidt, Twiehaus, Warren, and Weifcamp.
This collection consists of yearbooks distributed by the Women’s Civic Club. These books provide details on club members, activities, past and current presidents, constitutions and bylaws, and achievements. Each book also states the club collect and flower.
This collection consists of correspondence between Shela S. Fretwell and various contributors to the research of the Fretwell genealogy. This research has been complied and is available at www.fretwell-family.com. These materials relate to Other Fretwell Family Trees webpage and are separated into two categories; Born in England and Found in America. Folders are titled with the name of the individual who corresponded with Ms. Fretwell. Genealogical research, trees, and other miscellaneous information can be found within the correspondence.
This collection contains the genealogical research and personal papers of Mayme Gazlay Laycox. Ms. Laycox researched her family history for a number of years and created two separate histories. One followed her father’s line, the Laycoxs, and one followed her mother’s line, the Gazlays. The Laycox genealogical information also includes a folder of photographs. In addition to the genealogy research, this collection also contains a scrapbook created by Ms. Laycox. The scrapbook contains genealogical information as well as photographs, memorabilia, and newspaper clippings.
This collection consists of correspondence and school memorabilia from Eleanor Shane’s early life. Cards and letters illustrate Eleanor’s social life while the school items showcase her education and activities as an elementary school student through college. In addition to the various school items, there are also two memory books in which Eleanor recorded aspects of her time as a student at Mt. Washington School.
This collection consists of a scrapbook compiled by Ethel White Earles from items clipped from the Liberty [MO] Tribune newspaper. These clippings range from the 1940s to 1950s. The contents include Clay County Cemeteries, Memoirs of Mrs. Melonda Estes, Old Folks Tales by Robert Withers, Recollections of Life in Liberty by W.F. Carpenter, My Scrapbook by H.H. King, Mt. Memorial Cemetery at William Jewell College, and Graves in Price Cemetery.
This collection consists of the genealogical research for the Brown Family and families who married Brown descendants. Surnames included are as follows: Brown, Congden, Dynes, McClellan, Mitchell, Ross, and Stackhouse. This research contains family group sheets, original documents, photographs, copies documents, and more. Also contained within this collection are family histories, journals, correspondence, and cards.
There is also content in this collection provided by Jane Campbell. Her additions include information from e-mail correspondence regarding genealogy surname research.
This collection consists of diaries written by members of the Joel M. Walker and Charles R. McCann families. These diaries describe the lives of farmers and their families. In addition to recording family life, these diaries also recorded historical events happening around Iowa and the United States. All diaries were written in Cedar and Muscatine counties in Iowa.
This collection consists of the photographs and ephemera of Lois C. Golden. The photographs cover the late 1800s through 2000s. Also found within this collection are memorabilia from Lois’ high school and subsequent reunions. There is also correspondence between Lois and her daughter Patricia.
This collection consists of a scrapbook from Velna Crabtree’s time as President of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Independence. There is also a scrapbook and ephemera belonging to Margaret Crabtree Lauderdale.
This collection consists of transcribed gravestone markings from Sibley and Webb cemeteries. The gravestone markings range from the mid-1800s to mid-1900s. The Webb Cemetery records were transcribed by Francis A. Miller.
This collection contains the genealogical research of Joann Mericle. The research focuses upon Mericle’s Rector family line. From this family, the children of John Jacob Rector and John Rector encompass the majority of the collection. Other family surnames included within this collection are Breeding, Green, Glasscock, Harris, and Hieronymus.
Within this collection are many different types of documents including family group sheets, letters, vital records, and more. The surnames found within this collection are as follows: Benning, Berry, Boulware, Blaser, Dabney, Gaines, Pendleton, Strother, Dumas, Emery, Ewing, Garnett, Hardin, Harris, Jones, Little, Mann, Marsh, Moon, Perkins, Plunkett, Smith, Stark, Stork, Waggoner, Walker, Watkins, Willis, and Via.
This collection consists of the genealogical research of Gaynelle Moore. Moore researched the following family surnames: Berry, Bond, Boone, Hanks, Hart, Henley, Hinds, Jenkins, Lincoln, Rowe, and Shipley. Some of the geographic locations for these families include Missouri, Illinois, and Virginia. Also within this collection is correspondence between Moore and various researchers including Patty Smith Hake. In addition there are also periodical articles on the Berry family and issues of the Eldon Advertiser.
