Repositories-Jefferson County Library

Jefferson County Library

The Jefferson County Library Special Collection at the Northwest Branch supports two major areas of activity: genealogy & local history. The genealogy collection supports genealogical research in Missouri as well as other states and other counties. Local history offers a historical look at Jefferson County and its people. Materials available include genealogical books, maps, genealogical CDs & microfilm. Local history also includes photographs of the area, local cemetery transcriptions, and historical newspapers of Jefferson County.

 The Jefferson County Library website at www.jeffersoncountylibrary.org contains a page on “Genealogy Services” which includes Jefferson County newspaper indexes from 1866 to 1940. This is not an every name index. However, page by page the newspaper has been searched for birth, marriage and death (obituary) announcements, and other important genealogy related articles.

The section also has hundreds of rolls of microfilm on Jefferson County newspapers, probate files, marriage records, circuit court records, land deeds, plus some limited merchant and tax lists. Since the county is just south of St. Louis, they have St. Louis City and County directories. In addition the library has limited microfilm of St. Louis County & City marriages.

Below is just a brief listing of some of the Jefferson County records and their time period:

• Circuit Court 1819–1952 (including naturalizations)
• Naturalization 1910–1937
• Taxes 1857–1884
• Original Land Entry Book I & II
• Index to Deeds 1818–1885
• Deeds 1819–1898
• Marriage Records 1825–1947
• Probate Records, early to l930s
• Myrtle Gunderson Genealogical Collection
• St. Louis City Directories 1863–1955
• St. Lois County Directories 1881–1955
• St. Louis Marriages 1877–1881
• St. Louis County Marriages 1871–1933

The special collection also has a manuscript collection, containing hundreds of photos and documents on Jefferson County. This includes notes, articles, and many items that individuals have donated throughout the years. Della Lang, the local historian, has donated many items to the manuscript collection. In addition, the library is always looking for additional acquisitions. As of current, the list of holdings of the manuscript collection is not online. It is the hope of the department that one day the list will be available on the Web. However, over 300 photographs from the manuscript collection are available online through Flickr. Visit the library home page or
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffersoncountylibrary/sets/.

Staff can perform searches of up to five names in any indexed genealogy materials held by the Northwest Branch for a $10 non-refundable fee. This fee, which must be paid at the time of the request, includes the cost of copies and postage. Make check payable to Jefferson County Library. For staff to conduct research by mail, a specific book or microfilm must be specified.
Submit requests in writing to:
Genealogy Department
Jefferson County Library, Northwest Branch
5680 State Road PP
High Ridge, MO 63049
Researchers are always welcome to visit the library, use our materials, and make their own copies. Black and white copies are 20¢ per page, color copies are 75¢ per page.

Repositories-Jefferson County Library