Coroner's Inquest Database
The Coroner’s Inquest Database is an abstract of records
that have been indexed and are available for online research. The original records
are available on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives. The database contains
records from various counties, the City of St. Louis, and the St. Louis Medical
Examiner.
In Missouri, the coroner is a county official, usually elected, who investigates
and creates records for deaths that occur under accidental, questionable, unusual,
or suspicious circumstances. Coroner’s records contain unique information
about the men and women who died in Missouri. Though initially produced for the
purpose of studying a particular cause of death, the information recorded can be
analyzed for genealogical facts. Use of the Coroner’s Inquest Database can
provide specific information about an ancestor’s death, as well as interesting
insights into Missouri’s past. Researchers can also use the database to locate
original records for the study of such topics as public health, social violence,
ethnic communities, and urban development.
In addition, details in the coroner’s records often point to records for additional
genealogical and historiographic research. For instance, the inquest testimony and
reports can imply relationships that are not otherwise specified. Friends and family
often offered sworn statements. If the inquest interview is conducted with a translator,
it could indicate immigrant status, leading to a search of naturalization records
for citizenship status. If a criminal investigation is suggested or inquest verdict
given, researchers may want to consult circuit court records or penitentiary/prison
records for additional information.
The database search engine allows searches by county, name of deceased, cause of
death, and/or year of death (or range of years). A keyword search function is also
available. The database offers the following information abstracted from the original
records:
- Case number
- Name of deceased
- Age or date of birth
- Race
- Gender
- Date of death
- Cause of death
- Location of death
- Microfilm reel number
- Box and file number for original record
The Coroner’s Inquest Database project is ongoing; additional
counties will be added to the database as completed. To request copies of records,
please email the citation for the record you want to the Missouri State Archives
at [email protected]. The record will be
located, the number of pages counted, and you will be notified by email of the cost
of the copies. Upon receipt of a check, the copies will be made and mailed to you.
Search the Missouri Coroner's Inquest Database