Finding Aid for the Midwest Genealogy Center Collection · Genealogy Gallery

Title

Finding Aid for the Midwest Genealogy Center Collection

Description

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.

Subject

Genealogy
Family history

Creator

Jolene Clark, Archivist, Midwest Genealogy Center

Publisher

Midwest Genealogy Center, Mid-Continent Public Library, Independence, Missouri

Date

2018; updated 2020

Rights

Rights Information

Format

Portable Document File Format; 538 KB; 4 pages.

Language

English

Type

Text

Identifier

midwest genealogy center collection.pdf

Contributor

Sarah McCumber, Archivist, Midwest Genealogy Center

extracted text

Collection Summary
Title
Midwest Genealogy Center Collection
Date
1927 - Current
Extent
9 archival boxes, 1 oversized tube
Name and Location of Repository
Midwest Genealogy Center, Independence (Mo.)
Reference code: MGC 1067-MGCC
Processed by: Jolene Clark, 2018; finding aid created by Jolene Clark, 2018
Name of Creator
Midwest Genealogy Center staff

Biographical History
The Midwest Genealogy Center (MGC) is one of the United States' preeminent resources for family
history, providing access to almost three-quarters of a million on-site materials. MGC features 52,000
square feet of space that houses all of the free resources needed to research your family history.
MGC’s collections offer resources for genealogy research that span the United States and countries
around the world. MGC also houses a uniquely expansive circulating collection and almost completely
open stacks. You’ll find access to databases, scanning and digitization stations, oral history recording
kits, microfilm reader scanners, and more.
MGC is part of the Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL) system which has a long history of providing
outstanding genealogy resources. In 1971, MCPL acquired a collection of Missouri county histories, and
the "Missouri Room" was opened at the Independence Branch to accommodate patrons pursuing local
historical information. By the mid-1970s, the North Independence Branch became the home of MCPL’s
genealogy collection. This collection was moved to the lower level of the North Independence building
in 1996 and became known as the Genealogy and Local History Branch. In June 2008, MGC opened at
3440 S. Lee's Summit Road in Independence, Missouri.
MGC’s circulating collection is donation based and began with contributions from genealogy
organizations such as American Family Records Association (AFRA), the Missouri State Genealogical
Association (MoSGA), the Heart of America Genealogical Society (HAGS), and the Gann Historical Society
& Library, Inc.

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Scope and Content
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.

Collection Inventory
System of Arrangement
These records are arranged in 5 series.
Box 1
Item 1, Scrapbook, 1988 to 2001
Item 2, Scrapbook, undated pages circa 2002
Item 3, Scrapbook, 2004 to 2006
Item 4, Haiku, 2008
Box 2
Item 5, Scrapbook, 1927 to 2001
Item 6, Scrapbook, Annette Curtis Retirement, 2001
Box 3
Item 7, Scrapbook, Midwest Genealogy Center, Ground Breaking, Construction, and
Grand Opening, 2006 to 2008—Some loose scrapbook pages from Midwest
Genealogy Center
Box 4
Item 8, Scrapbook, 2002-2007
Item 9, Scrapbook, 2004-2011
Box 5
Series 2, History
Folder 1, MGC information packets
Folder 2, News Bytes (Newsletter) (2005-2012)
Folder 3, Thank you cards
Folder 4, Access Guide
Folder 5, Beyond the Books
Folder 6, Genealogy branch suggestion box (1977-1984)
Folder 7, Family History Contest for Students (2004)
Folder 8, MGC Outreach and misc. programs
Folder 9, Marketing flyers for MGC programs and events
Folder 10, Marketing flyers, misc.
Folder 11, Library Journal, January 1993 (Librarian of the Year 1992, John W. Ferguson)
Folder 12, Volunteer dinner program and photos (2010)
Folder 13, Annual Workshop program (2009)
Folder 14, Annual Workshop program (2010)
Folder 15, Ancestry Day program (2013)
Box 6
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Folder 16, Wooden book marker for books kept in warehouse
Folder 17, MCPL History
Folder 18, Staff memories
Folder 19, Newspaper clippings
Folder 20, Roots of a Nation Docents Training Handbook
Folder 21, Guest Sign-In Sheets from events
Folder 22, Famous Missourian trading cards
Folder 23, Misc. history
Folder 24, MGC Community hall groundbreaking
Series 3, Photographs
Folder 1, Negatives
Folder 2, MCPL-various branches
Folder 3, MCPL-North and South Independence
Folder 4, Genealogy at North Independence
Box 7
Folder 5, Groundbreaking—New Genealogy Wing at North Independence
Folder 6, Janice Schultz’s Retirement Party
Folder 7, MGC Staff
Series 4, Topical and collection guides
Folder 1, African-American Genealogy Sources
Folder 2, Antebellum Southern Plantations Guide
Folder 3, Census Records on Microfilm
Folder 4, Biographies and Manuscripts on Microform
Folder 5, Early Virginia Genealogical Resources
Folder 6, Genealogy from the Heartland (catalog of titles in the genealogy circulating
collection)
Folder 7, German, Austrian & Swiss Genealogical Resources
Folder 8, Interlibrary Loan Sources
Folder 9, Jackson County Missouri Records on Microform
Folder 10, Jewish Genealogy Resources
Folder 11, Microfilm and microfiche records
Box 8
Folder 12, Military Records and Sources
Folder 13, Missouri State & County Records on Microform
Folder 14, Native American Genealogy Resources
Folder 15, Newspapers on Microform
Folder 16, Passenger Lists on Microform
Folder 17, State County & International Records on Microform (excluding Missiouri)
Folder 18, Misc. Research Guides
Box 9
Series 5, Oversized
Item 1, Framed Photo of Senior Administrative Staff (2010) [oversized]
Item 2, 50th Anniversary Newspaper Advertising Supplement (2 copies) [oversized]
Item 3, MGC groundbreaking poster, 2007 [oversized]
Oversized Tube
Item 4, MCPL 50 year anniversary banner [Oversized Tube]

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Rights and Access
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use by appointment.
Physical Access
Most records within this collection are housed in archival boxes and file folders
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Languages and Scripts of the Material
Materials in the collection are entirely in English.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was created from items from the Midwest Genealogy Center and Mid-Continent Public
Library.
Accruals
Accruals are expected for this collection.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals owned by the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Notes
The following sources were consulted during the preparation of the biographical history:
“About the Midwest Genealogy Center.” Mid-Continent Public Library,
www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/mgc-information/about-mgc.

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