Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society

Portals to the Past

by David W. Jackson

KC Getting Treasure-Trove of National History

The Kansas City area is rich in historical and genealogical resources. Last year, the Midwest Genealogy Center opened in Independence. And, on May 22, 2009, the National Archives at Kansas City will open in the Crossroads District adjacent to Union Station (relocating from the Bannister Road Federal Complex in the southland, where it has been since 1969).

The National Archives at Kansas City is one of 13 regional archives across the country. Here, they preserve Federal records from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, along with select material from Minnesota and the Dakotas. Among its holdings are original records of the U.S. District Courts, U.S.  Attorneys, Bureau of Prisons, Steamboat Inspection Service, Bureau of Indians Affairs, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, National Parks Service, and microfilm publications of many of the nation’s most significant records. Treasures of the Central Plains Region include records relating to the milestone Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision, Wild West showman “Buffalo Bill” Cody, President Ulysses S. Grant, and Walt Disney which are among the 50,000 cubic feet of records in its holdings.

It is fitting that an historical agency with so much to offer to the public, makes its home in an historic building. The General Services Administration has spent months and not a little money restoring the former Adams Express Building, which will be leased to the archives. The Adams Express Building was constructed between 1912-1914 after designs drawn by Jarvis Hunt, who also conceived of Union Station Kansas City, elegantly restored in recent memory and the Kansas City Star building. The Adams Express Building is just north behind the Induction Services Building (Liberty Lofts) along Pershing, and directly west of the recently renovated Railway Express Building, where the United States Postal Service has “stamped” out 160,000 square feet of office space.

“This new facility offers easy public access in the heart of Kansas City. It is also an opportunity for the National Archives, working in partnership with the community, to highlight our extensive research services,” said former Archivist of the United States, Professor Allen Weinstein.

Three separate public spaces will launch simultaneous exhibits: The 1,000 sq/ft. Welcome Center answers the question, “What is the National Archives?” with interactive exhibits and audio-visual presentations including, “Take a Ride Through History,” “Democracy Starts Here,” and “Name Dropping,” featuring signatures of famous folks from historical documents. Another 1,000 sq/ft. Regional History Gallery opens with the Kansas-Nebraska Act, on loan from Washington D.C. And, a third, 3,000 sq/ft. Concourse Gallery focuses on temporary, national exhibits, starting with, “It’s Big: 75^th Anniversary of the National Archives,” featuring big documents, big ideas, big personalities, and big events from our region. All exhibits showcase documents, maps, and photographs from the archives holdings that tell stories of human and historical interest.

State-of-the-art textual and microfilm research rooms using the latest computer tools will support the work of historians and genealogists, educators and other researchers. National Archives staff are also busy with public programs, lectures, author talks, as well as specific activities geared towards children and educators.  For example, a week-long education workshop, Primarily Teaching (July 13-17, 2009), will showcase how to use primary sources in their everyday classroom teaching. These spaces will accommodate approximately 150 people. But, what you don’t see is the massive 5,000 square feet of “behind the scenes” stacks where approximately half of the historical materials are stored under state-of-the-art environmental conditions. The balance of the historical records are stored offsite in leased storage space in area caves in Lee’s Summit, MO and Lenexa, KS.

The Kansas City Star under an agreement with the National Archives will operate The Kansas City Store at the National Archives gift shop. Visitors will have the opportunity to take home souvenirs like books, publications and other history-themed items about the region and this unique facility.

Further information about the National Archives at Kansas City can be found online at http://www.archives.gov/central-plains/kansas-city/. Beginning March 17, 2009, the research rooms at the new facility, 400 West Pershing, Kansas City MO, are available free from T-F, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. The gift shop will open in late April. Contact Regional Administrator Reed Whitaker at 816-268-8000.

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