Featured Archival Collections
The Strauss-Peyton Photography Collection
In 1969 the then-owners of Strauss-Peyton Studios approached the Jackson County Historical Society with the offer to donate thousands of negatives taken by the company since its inception in 1900. The Society was told that if they did not want them, they were going to be thrown into a dumpster. They no longer had room for them. Fortunately, Coleman Branton, who was then the President of the historical society had the good sense to accept them.
wILBORN COLLECTION
The Wilborn Collection is the largest and most significant collection of historic photographs of the Kansas City region, including commercial entities, events, built environments, streetscapes, and people.
The collection dates back to 1895 and includes images through 2007. Special subsets include 360-degree panoramic photographs and photograph images or negatives that reflect changes in photographic medium and different dimensions. The vast majority of the collection is in the form of negatives, with some positive prints.
The Veterans History Project
In 2000, the U.S. Congress created the Veterans History Project at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
The Veterans History Project collects audio and video recorded interviews, as well as letters, diaries, photographs, and other personal documents, from veterans who have served in all wars, civilian volunteers, support staff, and war industry workers. Those eligible for the project are all military personnel from all ranks and all branches of service.
In an attempt to help researchers, JCHS began creating finding aids for those who wish to visit our Research Library. The documents are linked through the finding aid titles. Click on the collection title to access the finding aid. Please check back regularly, as we will be adding to this page.
John B. Wornall Collection
The Jackson County Historical Society acquired the John B. Wornall Collection when they purchased the Wornall House from the family in 1962. In the 1990s, the Wornall House became independent, however, the collection remained with JCHS. The collection consists of 13 boxes and contains photographs, scrapbooks, personal correspondence, newspaper articles, magazine articles, newsletters, receipts, invoices, deeds, genealogical information, wills, contracts, proposals, manuals, minutes, yearbooks, brochures, reports, organizational programs, plats, awards, and other miscellaneous documents. These documents are related to the Wornall family, the Wornall family’s friends, organizations and events they were involved in, and the Wornall House restoration project. There is also an extensive amount of information on prominent families the Wornalls married into or had a relationship with, such as Kearney, Ward, Scarritt, Johnson, Harris, Clay, Davis, Mumford, Shivvers, Morris, Rowntree, Fuller, and Kemper families.
Maps, Atlases, and Plats
Pinpoint property in Jackson County, Missouri. We may be able to help you determine the legal description of the property you’re seeking, which is needed when researching land records.
The Pre-Mayoral and Mayoral Papers of Barbara J. Potts On June 27, 2002, the Jackson County Historical Society formally opened papers and other historical materials of Barbara J. Potts, the bulk of which relate to the years 1978-1990 when she served as a city council member and mayor of Independence, Missouri. The materials originated in the period 1963-2002 and are arranged in eighteen series. In addition to textual materials, the collection contains a small number of still photographs.
Jackson County Courthouse Photos
This collection includes the many historical images and photos of both the Independence and Kansas City courthouses.
Warren W. Welch Collection
Warren W. Welch, son of Simeon Welch, was born November 4, 1840, in Lafayette County, MO. During the Civil War, Warren fought for the Confederacy and served under General Sterling Price in General John S. Marmaduke’s Division. He also served as a private in General Joseph Shelby’s Brigade. Welch was honorably discharged after being wounded in Arkansas. Following Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence, Warren joined Quantrill’s guerrillas.
After the Civil War, Warren lived on a farm south of Blue Springs and then moved to Independence in 1899. Around that same time, Warren became one of the organizers of the Quantrill Association, which held annual reunions for the Quantrill guerrillas. He served as secretary of the association until his death on December 21, 1915. Warren had two wives, Elizabeth and Bettie, two sisters, Mattie and Eliza, four brothers, including Pate and Tom, and two sons, Harrison and Isaac.
American Royal Collection 1916-1982
The American Royal Livestock Show began in 1899 as a cattle show in Kansas City, Missouri in the Kansas City Stockyards. Since its inception, the American Royal has expanded to include a horse show, a dairy cattle show, and a rodeo. The Livestock and Horse Show occurred annually in October or November, while the Dairy Cattle Show and Rodeo occurred in the summer. Each year there were special events that led up to the show, including a Coronation Ball with a Queen Contest, and the American Royal Parade.
Junior Service League of Independence Papers
Records of the Junior Service League of Independence from 1945 to 1987 include the annual reports, meeting minutes, newsletters, and other records pertaining to the organization.
The Jackson County Superintendent of Schools Collection 1890-1960
Records of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools for Jackson County, Missouri, were primarily under the administration of LeRoy French Blackburn and Homer Clements. These records pertaining to Jackson County rural school districts include Missouri School Directories; teachers' examination results; applications for state money; grade books; teachers' examination records and evaluation records; district plat books from the 1920s annual reports; teachers' first week and semester reports to County Superintendent; special census of handicapped children; and a large quantity of correspondence. Reports of the District Clerk to County Superintendent, 1909-1962; Reports of the Secretary of the Board to the County Superintendent and State Board of Education, 1930-1962; Teachers Term Reports to the District Clerk and County Superintendent, 1909-1964; and Missouri County School Census Cards, 1950-1964.
Chevis-Samuel Papers, 1854-1864
Judge Thomas Minor Chevis (1806-1864) purchased a trading store from Glenn and Peter Burnett in 1839. Glenn changed it into a tavern which he operated until his death. The tavern was on a route of stage and mail coaches. His daughter, Patsy Ann Chevis (1836-1915) married Manlius Thompson Samuel (1833-1913) and resided in the building, as did their son Robert Lee Samuel (1868-1934) and his wife Mamie Shaw Martin Samuel (1873-1964).
Donald R. Hale Collection
The Donald R. Hale Papers document the history of Lee's Summit, Missouri, and surrounding communities in Jackson County, Missouri. This voluminous collection includes the donor's personal collection of Lee's Summit history and memorabilia assembled over his lifetime and includes: various original and reproduced documents; photographs; postcards; topically arranged newspaper clippings; scrapbooks; newspapers and city directories on microfilm; original maps and published atlases; periodicals of area historical organizations; Abstracts of Title; local history-related research papers; monographs; and, records gathered that pertain to community initiatives in which Hale was a participant. Of particular note is a sizable selection of original papers from the William B. Howard estate. Rounding off this important local history collection is a complete set of books authored by Mr. Hale during his lengthy career in documenting Lee's Summit's rich history, and educating the need for its preservation.
Historic Kansas City Foundation (HKCF) - Liberty Memorial Restoration Project Collection
The Historic Kansas City Foundation was founded in 1974 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Kansas City area’s historic environment. The organization regularly serves as an advocate for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings and neighborhoods and is financed through memberships, corporate and foundation gifts, and public grants.
By 1994 the Liberty Memorial was closed to the public because of safety concerns. There was significant deterioration of the underlying supports of the buildings. The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department has responsibility for the Liberty Memorial site (Kansas City owns the buildings and the land) and coordinated the planning as well as the construction work for the necessary repairs. In 1998 an eighteen-month sales tax for the restoration of the Memorial and the creation of an endowment for the memorial and the museum was approved by Kansas City voters. When the tax expired in 2000, it had raised $45.5 million dollars for the Memorial. Additional funds came from the State of Missouri and the federal government with an estimated total of $102,000,000 raised for the project. While the restoration of the existing Memorial was a focus of the Parks Board plan, it also included a significant expansion of the space for the Liberty Memorial Museum.
William T. Kemper Sr. Scrapbook Collection
Each scrapbook is generally divided into these sections: banking, financial, political, railroads, and personal (including items about himself, Mrs. Lottie Crosby Kemper, and their three sons, James M., R. Crosby, and William, Jr.). There are 34 different scrapbooks. The 1924 scrapbook titled, "National Committeeman Scrapbook," is devoted to personal and party activities during the time Kemper was National Democratic committeeman from Missouri from 16 April 1924 until 1936. The 1918 scrapbook has a "war activities" section detailing the end of World War I and welcoming home of Kansas City boys. A detailed, searchable, topical finding aid is available for the 34 scrapbooks.
1859 Jackson County Jail Records
Ledgers, letters and photographs pertaining to the history of the 1859 Jackson County Jail located at 217 N. Main Street in Independence, Missouri. Records are from the jail’s operation and operation as a museum under the Jackson County Historical Society since 1959.
Other Collections Available for Researchers
40 Years Ago Club Records, [1945] 1956-
A. J. Bundschu Company Records, Independence, Missouri, 1917-1942
A. L. Wilson Lumber Company Records
Aaron Flint Sawyer Papers, 1876-1902
Adrienne Tinker Christopher Papers
Abstract Collection
Albert N. Doerschuk Papers
Alternate Tuesday Club Record
Barbara J. Potts Collection
Church Women United Records, Independence Chapter
Circuit Court Records
General Archives Collections
Henry Marnett Postcard Collection
Historic Kansas City Foundation - Liberty Memorial Project Collection
Independence Young Matrons 1941 -
Jackson County Rose Collection
Juno Investment Club Collection
Lioness Club of Red Bridge Records, 1983-2013
Miss Cammie Johnston Collection
National Society U.S. Daughters of 1812
Ott and Mitchell Funeral Home
Papers of JoAnn Meierhoff
Papers of John Hambright
Roger T. Sermon Sr. Collection
Ruby Short McKim Papers
Scrapbook Collection
The Fred Lee/Joanne Eakin Collection
Vicki Beck Papers
W. Howard Adams Papers
W. W. Cowherd Collection, 1839-1905
Wallace & Walter Gregg
Warren Washington Welch Collection 1860-1959
Watkins Mill Collection
Westport Ballet Theater Records
Westport Chapter of IAAP Collection
Whittier School Collection
William A. Brannock Family Papers, 1837-1914
William Botts Family Collection, 1852-1968
William Clarke Quantrill Society Records, 2003-present
William Coleman Branton Collection of Jackson County Capital Improvement Co
William H. Kent Papers, 1890-1930
William Henry Twyman Family Papers, 1744-1950
William J. "Bill" and Annette (Wegner) Curtis Collection
William L. Kimsey Collection
William T. Kemper (1866-1938) Scrapbook Collection, 1918-1938
William W. Richards Andrew Drumm Institute Collection
William Wood Hobbs, M.D., Papers
Willis Chandler Family Papers
Witten McDonald Collection, 1863-1935
William Joseph Randall Family Papers Collection
Woman's Athletic Club Records, -2010
Women in Communications, Inc. (Theta Sigma Phi), Greater Kansas City Chapt
Youree Douglas Adair Family Papers, 1823-1974
Photograph Collections
Hickman Mills C-1 School District Records, 1902-2002
La Sertoma Collection
1859 Jail Museum Collection
Albert Schoenberg Realty & Investment Company Records, 1908-1965
Applegate Family Collection
Barbara J. Potts Collection
City of Independence Tourism Department
Dorothy Pierson Butler Collection
Gilda Manning Papers
Hazelle Hedges Rollins Collection
Helping Hands Institute
Jackson County Sport Authority
Laird Papers: Landon & Mary Graham Minor-Laird
McGee Family Photo Album
The Jaycees Collection
The LeRoy Weiss Collection
Westport Chapter of the IAAP Collection
Women in Communication Records