How to get Missouri Vital Records

Dear Patron:

We have none of our individual courthouse records available on the Internet. Since we have over half a BILLION images on microfilm, it would be physically impossible for us to digitize each and every one of them to put them on a web page. However, we do have a search procedure available to you, for you to request our staff to do searches; our microfilm is also available for purchase, should you wish to do your own research from our microfilm records. Our e-mail policies and procedures are listed below for your information. 

The Missouri State Archives is pleased to offer electronic mail (e-mail) as part of its genealogical and historical research services. In order to offer the best and most equitable services to all patrons, the following procedures have been adopted for the receipt of and response to queries by electronic mail. These procedures are identical to those followed by patrons using regular postal mail:

1. Each e-mail request should include the full name of the patron, e-mail address, and regular postal mail address.

2. Submit only one request and await a reply to that request before submitting others. If multiple requests are received, the first request appearing in the IN box will be answered; all other requests will be deleted, after a notifying the requester by return e-mail. If a letter for "any information" is received, Archives staff will research only the first discernible question; the letter stating this will be sent by return e-mail with any research available to answer the first question.

3. Each genealogical request should contain the following information:
a. Name of one person (or family, in cases of census search).   Ex: Doe, John or John Doe household
b. Name of one Missouri county to be searched
c. Type of record to be searched (marriage, deed, probate, etc.)
d. Ten-year time span to be searched (five-year span for deed searches).

Please request only one census year to be searched; i.e. 1850 or 1860, not 1850-1860.

4. Each historical research question or request for Missouri information should be clearly written with a specific question.

5. Electronic mail is retrieved daily. A paper copy is printed and date-stamped. All electronic mail requests are combined with regular postal mail requests and routed to the appropriate staff researcher.

It generally takes from two to four weeks to receive a reply; military requests take six to eight weeks to research. Electronic mail requests are not given priority or answered before regular postal mail requests.

6. Once the request has been researched, a response will be electronically mailed back to the patron, with information regarding copy fees.

Sincerely,
Reference Staff
Missouri State Archives
P.O. Box 778 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-751-3280
archref@mail.sos.state.mo.us     http://mosl.sos.state.mo.us

These are the records you can request:

TYPE OF RECORD --
Check only one (specify when necessary)
Census Record
Marriage Record
Deed - Grantee (buyer)
Deed - Grantor (seller)
Birth Record (1883-1893 -- varies)
Death Record (1883-1893 -- varies)
County History (printed materials)
Cemetery Transcriptions
Circuit Court Records (criminal or civil -- Divorce, Lawsuit, Naturalization, Debt, etc.)
Probate Records
(Letter of Administration, Inventory, Appraisement, Final Settlement, etc.)
Wills
Probate Estate files
Federal and State Land Records
U.S. Land Sales
French & Spanish Land Grants
Township School Lands
Military Bounty Lands -- War of 1812
Other
Military Records (specify one)
Record of Service
Civil War (Union-Confederate)
Indian Wars: Seminole, Black Hawk, Osage 1832-1838, Heatherly
Other Wars: Iowa War 1839, Mexican War 1847, Mormon War 1838, Spanish-American War 1898
Additional Records
World War 1, 1917-1923
Discharge Cards (Army, Navy & MO National Guard Claims 1922-1923)
War of 1812 (Bounty Land)
Post Civil War County Enrollments 1865-1866
(need name & county)
Muster Rolls (Civil War, Spanish-American War, MO National Guard)
Regt._________ Co.___________
Union Discriptive Rolls -- Regt. ## ________
Regt. Name _______Co. ___________
Confederate
Home/Pension
Hospital Register
Regimental Histories (from Adjutant General Reports and published reports)
War of the Rebellion Series (published War Dept. records)
Other Sources

Missouri began keeping official birth and death records in 1910. {Prior to 1910 a few birth and death records were kept from 1883 to 1893. Exception - St. Louis City began keeping records as early as 1847 (incomplete). These records are on file at the Bureau of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102. There is a statutory search fee including a certified copy of the record of found.

Military service records can also be found at the National Archives, 7th and Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20408

Additional Land Records information can be obtained from the Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States 7450 Boston Blvd., Springfield, VA 22153

Census Records: Federal Census records available from 1830 to 1880 and 1900 throuigh 1920. 1890 population census destroyed by fire. However, for 1890 the special census of Civil War Veterans or their Widows is available. Indexes are available.

Request free the publication, "Guide to County and Municipal Records on Microfilm."