Jackson County
Historical Society
Archives &
Research Library
Jackson
County, Missouri, history in a nutshell: A
River Runs By It: The Story of Independence and Jackson County, Missouri NEW! Our “wish list”
of books we’d like to acquire! SCROLL TO FIND OUT … … who we are; … what we have to offer you (including personalized,
historical research; also see “Other Products and
Services” below); … why you should consider helping us; … where we’re located; and, … when we’re available. WHO WE ARE: Although local residents were meeting as “The
Jackson County Historical Society” as early as 1909, the first formal
organization was in 1940. The Jackson County Historical Society began
actively collecting artifacts relating to Jackson County, Missouri, history,
in 1958. We’re dedicated
to the future of the past. That means we’re busy making sure that Jackson
County’s history is saved for future generations. To do this, we collect, preserve, and make available to researchers
materials that provide a broad insight into the county’s civic, social,
cultural, economic, and educational development. A more "catchy" way of saying this
*might* be that the Historical Society is SAVING LIVES! Truly! We're saving historical materials that
individually and collectively bring to life the stories of ordinary people
who have made Kansas City and Jackson County an extraordinary place to live
and work and play. People have locked up in their attics and
closets items that document wonderful and colorful stories about our past.
And, if we may continue to encourage donation of selected documents and
photographs, the Historical Society will see that they are properly
preserved...and made available to a wide audience for future generations to
come. We rely on contributions of historical materials as well as financial
donations by people who recognize the importance of saving our heritage ...
and who wish to be remembered for helping keep safe those items that document
our American memory. Through the efforts of many dedicated volunteers and employees, the
Society has managed to save a large quantity of important materials relating
to the county’s illustrious history. WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER YOU: Our records date from 1826 when Jackson County, Missouri, was
formed. These historical and
contemporary documents tell true stories of the daily lives of people who
witnessed the westward traffic during the early trail days ... who suffered
through fierce Civil War battles ... who benefited from Tom Pendergast’s political machinery (or not) ... who cheered
their fellow citizen on to become the 33rd President of the United
States ... who welcomed home their Mormon neighbors after an earlier rift ...
who built towns that grew to cities that have become part of a major
metropolitan area. The original documents of pioneer families, some of which describe the
journey west itself, represent the county’s earliest period. Records of clubs and fine arts
organizations that our citizens have fostered reveal our community’s social
and cultural evolution. Two exciting developing collections include
our Women’s
History and African-American Heritage series. The personal papers of local leaders and
entrepreneurs help document our area’s economic growth. Equally important are corporate records
that document the business activities of the extensive financial empires
founded in Jackson County, Missouri. RECENT
COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS ARCHIVES AND RESEARCH LIBRARY
“City, county,
state historical societies and libraries are a wealth of knowledge,
artifacts, and resources ready to assist in finding your roots,” asserts
Barry J. Ewell in his presentation, Effectively Tapping
in to Local, County, State Historical Societies and Libraries,
which guides you on the ins and outs of working with historical societies and
how they can extend your research success. Thank you to Mr. Ewell for allowing us to post his PowerPoint presentation
in pdf format here. If you prefer the text document
in pdf format, click here. Indeed, the Jackson County (Mo.)
Historical Society’s Archives and Research Library offers a wide range of
primary source material that attracts a variety of researchers (including:
genealogists, students, authors, journalists, and scholars). Full reference services are provided to
researchers visiting the facility. Our Archives and Research Library
maintains these kinds of records: Abstracts
of Title (historical property abstracts)
More
than 4,000 Abstracts of Title have been donated to the Jackson County
Historical Society over the last 40+ years.
Until recent years, the purchaser of a home ordinarily paid a title or
abstract company for an Abstract of Title (abstracts from original
property deed books), which included a chain of title of all property owners
back to when the government sold, or “patented” the land. Our Abstracts number over 4,000, and
describe the transfer of property from the four corners of Jackson County,
Missouri. Abstracts are also useful to genealogists, and we are currently
extracting names from these files to increase patron access. Maybe we have an
abstract that comes close to the property you are seeking? Perhaps you have an Abstract of Title
to donate? Architectural
Drawings & Plans
A
very limited selection; the Western Historical Manuscript Collection is the
best source for commercial renderings, and blue prints for highly notable
Jackson County-area architects and developers. Archives &
Manuscripts: Diaries, Letters, & Journals
Diaries,
correspondence and unpublished research reflecting the lives and activities
of individual Jackson County residents are found in our manuscript
collections. The type and scope of
these holdings is endless, and is currently accessed via finding aids and a
card catalog.
Books
Nearly 2,000 volumes document the history of Jackson County and
metropolitan Kansas City area. The
bookshelves include many rare titles, and reflect the rich history found
throughout the communities of Jackson County.
These books do not circulate, and must be used in the Research
Library. Consider adding to our Research Library by checking out our current “wish list” of desired
books. Whether you have a book to donate, or would like to provide us
with the funds to purchase a desired book, there’s an opportunity for us to
improve what we have to offer to the public. Business
Ledgers & Records
Ledgers of selected area
business and industries, describing the daily activities of many early
Jackson County businesses date back to mid-1850s. Census Enumeration indexes of Jackson
County in U.S. Census, 1830-1870; and, statistical data for Jackson County,
Missouri, and her municipalities. A fairly complete collection
of city directories that list businesses and individuals residing in Kansas
City and surrounding communities starting in 1859. Other information in these directories
includes business and home addresses, occupations, spouses’ names, cross
index to street names, classified advertisers, and sometimes death dates of
individuals. City directories
complement telephone directories (see below). County and City Records Selected record
series no longer retained by Jackson County and Independence, Missouri.
County records include but are not limited to: election records; early
Jackson County Circuit Court records [in process of being organized and
indexed; therefore, limited access presently]; and, Jackson County Probate
Records. City of Independence records include, but are not limited to: tax
records; community development records; and property assessment records. Genealogical Indexes to Vital
Statistics
We have access to Jackson County, Missouri,
genealogical-related indexes including: marriages, 1827-present;
African-American marriages, 1865-present; early pioneer cemetery tombstone
inscriptions; births, 1883-1895; deaths, 1874-1895, and 1910-1956; wills and
administrations, 1860-1870; and land deeds, 1827-1836. Plats,
Printed
Maps and Atlases & Jackson
County Highway Maps A variety of printed maps
and atlases, as well as Jackson County Assessment Department plat maps detail
property in Jackson County, Missouri.
Some maps include landowners’ names, and others also reveal the
location and shape of buildings on a property. We may be able to help you determine the
legal description of a parcel of land you are researching, which is necessary
when looking into land records. (We
also offer for sale a booklet on how to
research the history of your house in Jackson County.) Newspapers
A variety of newspapers are available, including
a nearly complete run of the Independence Examiner, and its
predecessor, the Jackson Examiner.
Newspapers are not usually indexed, and if the date of an event is not
known, you must resort to searching day-by-day. One alternative is to
research our Subject Files (described below). Periodicals
Complementing the book
collection is the Library’s core collection of serials, including several
periodicals, journals, and newsletters devoted to local history, including
the Historical Society’s JOURNAL. If
you are affiliated with a Jackson County, Missouri, business or non-profit
organization that produces a newsletter or regular publication, consider
adding the Jackson County Historical Society to your distribution list so
that copies may be preserved and made available to researchers into the
future. Photographic and Audio/Visual
Collections
The photograph and slide
collection contains roughly 10,000 images, dating primarily from the 1850s to
1960s, that depict a variety of local scenic views, portraits, events, and
structures. Another 10,000 images comprise a set of glass plate negatives
from the illustrious Strauss-Peyton Photo Studio (dating from 1900-1950s),
which captured the likenesses of prominent and not-so-prominent Kansas City
residents . . . even early motion picture stars and entertainers who visited
Kansas City in the 1920s. Our audio/visual collection consists of more than
1,075 oral history interviews of local veterans and civilians who
participated in wartime, as part of the Veterans History Project, promulgated
by the Library of Congress. Post Cards
A fine collection of post
cards depicting views from Jackson County, Missouri, sites, structures, and
tourist destinations. The Jackson County Historical Society is always
interested in acquiring views of local scenes, so please consider the Society
as a repository for postcards you may have, and want to make available to a
wider audience for viewing, research, and education. School Records
Teachers’ Reports and
census and report cards for students attending various Jackson County school
districts (excepting Kansas City schools) date from the early 1900s to the
1950s. There may be restrictions to access to portions on these collections. Scrapbooks
Scrapbooks, when dated and indexed, are helpful
in discovering the activities of an individual or organization. Scrapbooks present a challenge to
preservationists, however, because they are usually created with very poor
quality paper, and either glue or adhesive tape is used to attach items. Obtain a copy of our booklet on Practical
Preservation to discover how you can better organize and preserve your
personal or organizational belongings. Subject Files
For a number of years our
staff has been clipping articles from newspapers that relate to local
history, and filing them by general subject headings. Other “miscellaneous” items also get filed,
so you never know what you might find in the subject files. Telephone
Directories
Telephone books complement
the city directories, and are helpful in locating individual and business
addresses. School annuals for schools and colleges in
Jackson County provide valuable visual images of students and their
curricular and extracurricular activities. BOOKSHOP
Nearly 1,000
book titles relating to local history are for sale in the Society’s bookshop. Visit the Bookshop in person, or browse all
available titles online in our virtual
bookshop. OTHER SERVICES AND PRODUCTS Personalized
historical research Researcher’s
Forum (Can you provide information to help answer these unanswered
research queries?) Encapsulation (document preservation) Special ordering of books Photocopying and
photograph reproduction Basic preservation advice
and supplies (folders, boxes, etc.) Consulting in archives management A Brief
Timeline of Jackson County History A
lending library of materials specializing in the conservation of archival
and museum collections Researching Your
House History Speaker’s Bureau
with topics on local history, and its preservation Society members may also receive discounts on certain products and
services. Ask about fees when contacting us with extensive research
questions. WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER
HELPING US: Most all of our holdings have come from generous donations, which is
why we continually ask visitors, members, businesses, and other interested
parties to consider donating to our holdings.
The Jackson County Historical Society Archives and Research Library welcomes donations of historical materials that relate to
the creation and development of Jackson County and its citizens. The Society
also welcomes bequests and monetary gifts, which help us vigorously
pursue our mission. These bequeaths,
along with annual membership dues, are our primary sources of income. All
gifts, donations, and contributions to the Society are tax deductible. Contact our Executive Director, Steve Noll,
personally (via e-mail snoll “@” jchs.org (see NOTE
at bottom), or by calling 816.461.1897) for more information about how you
may make a lasting gift. We would not be as effective in reaching our goals and objectives if
it were not for the dedication and service of the men and women who
voluntarily give their time and talent each day of the week. If you are looking for volunteer or internship
opportunities, consider joining us.
There are a variety of exciting tasks that you may undertake,
depending on your availability and interests. WHERE WE’RE LOCATED: The Jackson
County Historical Society invites you to visit its Archives, Research Library
& Bookshop located in the heart of Independence, Missouri. Our surface
mailing address: Archives
Research Library, and Bookshop Jackson 112 W
Lexington Ave, Ste 103 Independence, Driving Directions: From I-70, take Noland
Road north 4 miles to Truman Road; the square is one block west to Main
Street and south one block. From I-435, take Truman Road east 4 miles to Main
Street and south one block. WHEN WE’RE AVAILABLE: Our Archives,
Research Library and Bookshop are available to the public by advanced appointment
only.
Generally, we may schedule appointments Tuesday through Friday. So that our staff and volunteers may enjoy a
mid-winter vacation, our Archives, Research Library and Bookshop will be closed
and unavailable March 1 through 15. We will return on Tuesday, March 16,
2010. Thank you for your understanding. NOTE: The building in
which our Archives, Research Library and Bookshop is located is undergoing
renovations and is locked at all times. Pre-scheduled appointments,
therefore, are required. Also, it should be noted that at this time there are
no restroom facilities on site. Thank you for your patience and
understanding. We are pleased to announce that our antiquated card catalog is in the
process of being retrospectively converted to an electronic, online database.
To facilitate research access into the card catalog while this process is
taking place, we have microfilmed our card catalog for patron use.
In the interim, this step of using the microfilmed card catalog increases
research time significantly, and precludes multiple patron access. Patron access
to collections in the Archives and Research Library is $10 per visit for each
non-member. Society
members who support the mission of our nonprofit organization
enjoy many benefits, including FREE admission to all
sites, subscriptions to the JCHS JOURNAL and newsletters, purchase discounts,
special invitations and more. Become
a member of the Jackson County Historical Society NOW!! Contact us if you
have any questions or comments using the appropriate link posted here. |
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