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Field Trip to St. Louis |
Both of my field trips to St. Louis involved research at the St. Louis County Library "Special Collections". The first visit in 1998 introduced me to the excellent staff and their fine collection of materials. It was rewarding to return in 2001 and see how the collection has grown - both in terms of space and resources. Joyce Loving and the library staff have built a collection that is both extensive and diversified. And it continues to grow. Compliments to the County Library system for the commitment they have made to genealogical research. Visiting the "Special Collections" Some Key Features "Special Collections" Web SiteFirst stop for research at the "Special Collections": a visit to their web site. The Special Collections Web Page offers a variety of information from Security Procedures within the library to updates of Major Additions. You will find direct links to items such as alphabetical/numerical listings of the library's genealogical CD collection, as well as additional web sites that can help you with your research. I would have been much better prepared for my 2001 visit had I spent time at this site well in advance of my actual visit. You will find the major holdings of the St. Louis Genealogical Society here at the county library, along with materials specific to St. Louis history and genealogy. However the facility is not simply devoted to St. Louis and Missouri research. As mentioned earlier the collection is quite diversified, and the staff continues to expand the resources available. By exploring the web site you will begin to get some idea of the variety of materials available to you. From basic aids such as "Catholic Priests of St. Louis As Listed in City Directories of 1870-1900" to World War I Draft Registration Cards, from Missouri Lutheran Church Records to free access for some online databases. A "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) page is also available from the web site. Give special attention to the Finding Aids link. This page provides a wealth of information. Clicking on the Archdiocese of St. Louis (map), under Catholic church resources, eventually led me to the Archdiocese web pages and a map of the parishes of the City of St. Louis. Helping you make the most of the Archdiocese records is a new publication by the Friends of the St. Louis County Library, "Guide to St. Louis Catholic Archdiocesan Parish Records", compiled by Christine Hughes, a member of the Special Collections' staff. The book lists all parishes, provides years that church records are available, indicates whether they are indexed, and gives you the drawer, reel and item number for locating the microfilm, as well as the corresponding FHC identification number. Christine Hughes has also provided a brief history of each parish, years in operation, ethnicity and other pertinent information. The book is available for purchase. Use the"Search the Special Collections" page to track down keywords specific to your own research. Entering the word "newspapers" brought up several links, including one page that lists the library's historical newspaper holdings, by city, name of publication and years available. With one search you know immediately whether the library has any St. Louis newspapers published in the year 1867 and thus the prospect of locating a death notice for your great-great-grandfather who died in 1867. A search for the "Church of the Holy Ghost" leads to a link to the Microfilms of Evangelical and United Church of Christ Information. These are the microfilm records of Eden Archives. This search provides an listing of the churches, lets you know the microfilm is stored in drawers 76 and 77, indicates what years the records cover, and provides the microfilm Reel#, among other things. Take your time visiting here. A quick glance will not reveal the extent of the library's holdings. This is the kind of site where you are likely to notice new things each time you visit. |
Visiting the "Special Collections"The St. Louis County Library is located at 1640 South Lindbergh Blvd., near Clayton Road. The "Special Collections" is on the top floor of the library, otherwise known as the 5th Tier. On this floor you will find the bulk of the collection. There are ample tables and chairs for your convenience, as well as microfilm readers, computers, change machines, and copiers. The facility is designed for everyone, both the experienced genealogist as well as someone just beginning their research. The collections actually include portions of the 4th Tier as well, as you will find newspaper microfilm and additional microfilm readers on that level. You can sign up for Internet access on this level as well as in the library Reference Room. You do not need to have a library card in order to access the Internet. The security lockers are located on the 4th Tier. As with many facilities, they recently adopted a new security procedure to protect the collection. You will find an explanation of the policy on their web site. I visited on a Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday. I used the readers on the 4th Tier. Friday afternoon was the only time I needed to relinquish a reader. Thirty minutes later I was able to sign on again to use a machine. Day of the week and time of day obviously affect the availability of equipment. If a reader is temporarily not available there are volumes of books, indexes, and maps available, as well as the online databases. The library has a number of "Special Finding Aids" reference notebooks that are particularly useful. They are located on a table adjacent to the microfilm drawers. Some of the titles include "St. Louis County Probate Case Files Prior to 1877" (which also includes the City of St. Louis), St. Louis City Coroner's Records, 1846-30 March 1900". You will also find a copy of "Guide to St. Louis Catholic Archdiocesan Parish Records" on this table. The staff was very approachable and easy to talk with. Do not hesitate to ask questions, whether it is about the facility itself and where to find things, or questions about St. Louis genealogy. For an idea of one person's research at the "Special Collections" visit the 1998 and 2001 field trip summaries. Some Key FeaturesThe St. Louis County Library Special Collections contains many of the standard genealogy resources, such as census microfilm, census indexes, etc. In addition, you will find resources here that are unavailable elsewhere, or may be difficult to locate elsewhere. Following are some of the resources that are available. Records accessible to the public only at the "Special Collections" [as of June 2001]:
The "Special Collections" has the following records which are otherwise only available to you from a few sources [as of June 2001]:
Family Tree Maker CD-Rom Collection
Ancestry.com
Genealogy Library.com Remember - You can research these online services in advance of your actual visit. The following web sites provide information about the services and let you search their databases to determine in advance what records are available and may apply to your research. |
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