Kansas City's Archives and Resources to Uncover Your Family Story

Libraries. We often think of the local library as a dusty, musty place with stacks of books and stern ladies always with a finger to their lips whispering, “Shhhh!” And while it is true that libraries house mounds of books and they do appreciate your consideration of others and use of a "library voice," today's libraries offer much, much more! Three terrific facilities in Kansas City are home to rich resources to help you uncover your family history through collections of thousands of documents, maps, photographs and records that tell your family story.

While most Kansas City area libraries are quite similar, one in particular stands out among the rest and makes it worthy of an extra special visit. The Central Library of the Kansas City Public Library (14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, MO. Hours: Mon.-Wed., 9:00-9:00; Thu.-Fri. 9:00-5:00; Sat., 10:00-5:00; Sun., 1:00-5:00), housed in the former First National Bank of Kansas City, is one of the city's most beautiful "best kept secrets." The library is home to fabulous research departments, in particular the fifth-floor Missouri Valley Room, with an archive of special historical collections, including the Missouri Valley Collection (local history), Ramos Collection (African American history) and Western expansion materials. The Missouri Valley Special Collections (MVSC) consist of the non-circulating local history and genealogy resources. You will find maps, books, documents and photographs to piece together your history.  The Missouri Valley Room is staffed with research librarians who are there to help with your projects and answer questions.

In addition to the Missouri Valley Room, the Central Library is an architectural masterpiece with reading rooms, research areas, a cafe and a rooftop view of the city skyline, complete with a giant life-size chess set! But, the most special section of the library for families is the Children's Department. Enter through the pages of a book to where kids will discover a wonderful reading area organized by ages and interests and offering many hands-on activities as well.

Parking Tip: The Central Library parking garage is located directly west of the Central Library building on the northwest corner of 10th & Baltimore. Parking is FREE on weekends and free for the first hour, Mon.-Fri., with library validation and $1 for every 20 minutes thereafter with an $8/day maximum. The garage is one of Kansas City's most unique landmarks as it is styled after a giant bookcase of famous literature.

Unlike traditional libraries, the National Archives at Kansas City (400 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO—just west of Union Station. 816.268.8000. Exhibits open: Tue.-Sat., 9:00-5:00. Research: Tue.-Sat., 8:00-4:00) is a research library specializing in historic documents and information. In addition, the archives features two outstanding exhibit halls with interactive exhibits, perfect for children in upper-elementary through high school and adults AND it is FREE!

The National Archives at Kansas City is one of 13 regional archives. It houses historical documents, artifacts and records from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The archival records include photos, journals, maps, drawings and artifacts from nearly 100 federal agencies. The records are preserved and maintained as a research location for genealogists, teachers, students, journalists and private citizens. More than 50,000 cubic feet of records are stored at the archives.

If you want to learn more about your family, the archives are the perfect place to begin. Did your ancestor file for bankruptcy? Was one a defendant in a criminal case? Looking for military records? Property records? Newspaper resources? The archives offers free genealogy classes and research programs for the public, and staff members are available to help you uncover the past about your family. Learn more about what you can find at the National Archives and how to begin your research through their free public programs on their website http://www.Archives.gov/Central-Plains/.

You may also visit the archives to learn through their FREE hands-on history exhibits. Through Feb. 23, you enjoy the exhibit “School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents.” Learn about U.S. presidents, their education and how it influenced their worldviews. Some graduated from public school, others studied in rural classrooms and others in private schools. Learn about their extracurricular activities and achievements through archival material, museum objects and photographs, as well as audio and visual material.

Tip: In order to protect the historic artifacts housed in the archives, the exhibits are 65-68 degrees at all times. You might want to bring a jacket for this outing.

The Midwest Genealogy Center (3440 S. Lee's Summit Rd., Independence, MO, 816.252.7228, www.MyMCPL.org. Hours: Mon.-Thu., 9:00-9:00; Fri., 9:00-6:00; Sat., 9:00-5:00; Sun., 1:00-5:00), part of the Mid-Continent Public Library, is one of the best resources to research family history in the nation. The facility houses nearly three-quarters of a million on-site materials. With microfilm reader-printers, giant databases and new technology available all the time, the facility is a wonderful place to research family history. The library offers a tremendous collection of materials for research, but more than that, the facility is staffed with research librarians and experts who are there to help you with your projects. If the materials you need are not in the library, you will find more than 17,000 genealogy and local history books available on interlibrary loan to researchers nationwide through local libraries.

One of Kristina Light’s favorite places to spend an afternoon is the Central Library, a true gem in the heart of downtown.