Archives :: Research :: MSA-St. Louis

The Missouri State Archives - St. Louis research room is open to in-person researchers by appointment only. To request an appointment email [email protected] or call (314) 588-1746.   

Research requests may also be submitted through our online request form or emailed to [email protected]. In an effort to continue to make our records available to researchers, all researchers can temporarily submit up to three requests at a time. 

Missouri State Archives, St. Louis

Employees looking through records at Missouri State Archives in Saint Louis

Located in the Carnahan Courthouse on Market Street, the Missouri State Archives-St. Louis (MSA-St. Louis) began in 1999 as a project partnership between the Missouri State Archives and the St. Louis Circuit Clerk to arrange the court’s historic case files. Legislation authorizing the facility became effective in 2004 and the branch was dedicated in June 2006. MSA-St. Louis is the first branch of the Archives located outside of Jefferson City.

 

MSA-St. Louis primarily houses the 19th century records of the St. Louis Circuit Court. These records are being made available through the St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project. In addition, MSA-St. Louis has hosted a number of National Park Service interns who have generated a number of reports and databases on African American Life in St. Louis, 1804-1865. MSA-St. Louis also holds microfilm of many complementary historical records created in the St. Louis region.

MSA-St. Louis Collections

Federal Grant Projects

  

Reference room at Missouri state archives in Saint Louis

MSA-St. Louis has been the recipient of two National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants. The first preserved court case files are from 1804 to 1830. These files document all aspects of life on the American frontier–social and business relationships; race issues with Indians and both free and enslaved blacks; the fur trade and other commerce. These records provide insight into the lives of everyday people and early St. Louis luminaries such as–Auguste Chouteau, Manuel Lisa, Rufus Easton, Edward Hempstead, John Mullanphy, and William Clark.

The second NEH grant partially supported the preservation of Civil War-era (1861-1868) case files. While the courts continued to rule on routine matters, the war brought on a new set of issues as citizens sued over causes directly attributable to the war such as property confiscated or damaged by troops and bushwhackers. Others contested over their civil rights and liberties. These files also illustrate the growth and importance of St. Louis in westward migration, long distance trade, and associated endeavors. Among the persons of note in these files are–Thomas Fletcher, Hamilton Gamble, Claiborne Jackson, Nathaniel Lyon, Sterling Price, James Eads, and P. T. Barnum

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

For more information on volunteer and internship opportunities contact: Bill Glankler, Supervising Archivist: [email protected].

Contact

Missouri State Archives-St. Louis
Carnahan Courthouse
1114 Market Street
Room 245
St. Louis, MO 63101
Phone: (314) 588-1746
E-mail: [email protected] 

Hours for MSA–St. Louis are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, call ahead to ensure staff availability. Closed on all Federal and State holidays.

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