Missouri Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is in This Collection?
Name index to birth, baptism and christening records from the state of Missouri. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later.This is an electronic index for the years 1827 to 1935. It is not complete for any particular place, region or time period. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name of the child
 * Gender
 * Names of the parents
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Christening date (if the source is a church record)
 * Father's birthplace
 * Mother's birthplace

Coverage Table
A coverage table for this collection is available in the wiki article Missouri Births and Christenings, Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The name of a relative or date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Look at an image of the original record, if possible. The original may contain information that was not recorded in the index
 * Use the information to find other records such as marriage, death, or census records
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname, unless the surname is a common surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives that can be verified by records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing any original indexes to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames, middles name, or an abbreviation of their given name

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Missouri.
 * Missouri Guided Research
 * Missouri Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Missouri Births, 1817-1939

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * prepared by the Missouri Historical Records Survey, Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration. Guide to public vital statistics records in Missouri.St. Louis, Missouri : Historical Records Survey, 1941
 * compiled by Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry. Bible records of Missouri 8 volumes. (Typescript)

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.