Meeting Ancestors In St. Louis Takes A Little Knowledge Of Area’s History

In case you ever doubted genealogy and history go handin-hand, consider what one needs to know to effectively search in St. Louis, Mo.:

Missouri was admitted to the Union in 1821 as the 24th state with a population of nearly 66,000. The previous year, the state constitutional convention had met at what would become St. Louis. In fact, the city was incorporated by the Missouri State Legislature on Dec. 9, 1822.

Missouri’s first state capitol was St. Charles, across the Missouri River from St. Louis - and it remained there until 1826, when it was transferred to Jefferson City.

But, by the time St. Louis was officially incorporated, it had been a thriving settlement for more than 50 years, established in 1764 by Pierre Laclede, a French fur trader from New Orleans.

So - the city of St. Louis has been a place for our ancestors to live for 231 years. Think how many records have been created and kept in 231 years!

In 1876, St. Louis the city and St. Louis the county were separated as two independent political entities.

This date is important when trying to determine the location of records pertaining to a St. Louis ancestor. Prior to 1876, all records for the city and the county are maintained in the city offices; after that date the county kept separate records.

In the city of St. Louis, death records date from 1850, and births from July 12, 1870. However, only about 60 percent of the births and deaths that occurred during this period was recorded. These early records can be requested by writing to St. Louis City Vital Records, P.O. Box 14702, St. Louis, MO, 63178. The fee is $10.

In 1883, Missouri passed a state law requiring births and deaths be recorded at the county level. Compliance, however, was poor and the law was inadvertently repealed 10 years later.

“A Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Missouri” (deaths) was published in the Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal in the fall of 1984. (I’m seeking to document an ancestor’s death in St. Louis about 1865. Any help would be welcome!)

Marriage records are held by the county recorder of deeds. Prior to June 26, 1881, marriage licenses were not required and marriages were recorded at any convenient courthouse. Marriage records date back to 1766, as do land, probate and court records.

Early census records covering St. Louis are sparse. Censuses for the years 1810 and 1820 are lost for all districts. Although Missouri conducted a number of state censuses, most individual schedules are lost and only the statistical abstracts remain.

The state did compile a census corresponding to the 1840 U.S. census, but only nine of those enumerations survived the 1911 fire of the capitol building.

From 1850 on, however, the city of St. Louis is well represented in the U.S. censuses.

St. Louis’ Roman Catholic heritage began with the founding of the city. The first parish was established in 1770 when the city’s first log chapel was dedicated to St. Louis IX; the cathedral was begun in 1831. The first Catholic baptism was recorded in 1766. St. Louis has the second-largest Catholic population in America, after Boston.

The archdiocese address is 4140 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108. Before writing to inquire about records the diocese holds, you must know the parish where your ancestor attended church.

The Lutheran church presence in St. Louis dates back to 1840. The Concordia Historical Institute is the repository for materials of the Lutheran church, Missouri Synod. Their address is 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63105.

The first Episcopal service was held in St. Louis in 1819, and grew to nearly 20 parishes by 1900. Their address is Archives of the Diocese of Missouri, 1210 Locust Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63101.

The St. Louis Public Library is the most complete single source of published genealogical material in the metropolitan area. Their genealogical collection, begun in 1902, has swelled to more than 45,000 volumes. the library will answer genealogical letters with specific questions, and assistants will give brief answers over the telephone. Their address is 1301 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63101; telephone, (314) 241-2288.

Compilation of St. Louis city directories began in 1821, and continued to 1980. They are on open shelves in the St. Louis library, but the directories have also been microfilmed and are available through the Family History Library.

Newspapers appeared in St. Louis in 1808, and dozens came and went during the 19th century. Many newspapers were for German-speaking people, who were arriving in great numbers. Inquire at the St. Louis Genealogical Society or the Missouri State Historical Society about availability of these newspapers on microfilm.

Other helpful addresses for doing research in the St. Louis are:

The State Historical Society of Missouri, 1020 Lowry St., Columbia, MO, 65201

The St. Charles County Historical Society and Archives, 101 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO, 63301

The Missouri State Archives, Records and Management Center, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, MO, 65101 (write for their research request form).

To my mind, the most helpful resource in the St. Louis area is the St. Louis Genealogical Society, 9011 Manchester Road, Suite 3, St. Louis, MO, 63144, (314) 968-2763.

This group offers printed guides to St. Louis records and has published many records in their periodical, “The St. Louis Genealogical Society Quarterly.”

One is “A Guide to Genealogical Research in St. Louis,” which sells for $12, postpaid. This 68-page guide proved very helpful as I searched for Catharina Goss’ death in St. Louis around 1865, and I recommend it to you.

The society also sponsors an annual conference with an emphasis on local genealogy.

I’d suggest you write them when you first begin your St. Louis work.

The Genealogical Section of the downtown Spokane Public Library has a good collection of St. Louis records, both for the city and county.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review