St. Louis City, Missouri Genealogy

United States Missouri  St. Louis City

History
St. Louis City predates the state of Missouri which was admitted to the union in 1821. St. Louis was the capital of the St. Louis district of the Louisiana Territory from 1805-1812 and the capital of St. Louis County of the Missouri Territory from 1812 to 1821.

On August 22, 1876 St. Louis City voted to separate from St. Louis County and became an independent city in early 1877. Since St. Louis had been the county seat up until that point, it maintains records prior to separation for both the county and city. Records for the County starting in 1877 are maintained by St. Louis County.


 * All records for St. Louis City (1805-present) are maintained by the City of St. Louis.
 * All records for St. Louis County (1805-1876) are also maintained by the city.

For a more detailed explanation see St. Louis City and County Split.

Many of these records are available at both the St. Louis Public Library (City) and the St. Louis County Library.

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of historical Missouri boundary changes at N2Genealogy.

Places/Localities

 * The Ramsay Place Names File (State Historical Society of Missouri) has information on historical place names in the city of St. Louis. Places from St. Louis City and County are listed together under St. Louis County.

Neighboring Counties

 * St. Louis – north, south, and west
 * Madison (Illinois) – northeast
 * St. Clair (Illinois) – southeast

Archives and Libraries

 * St. Louis Public Library (St. Louis City) owns a large collection of books, periodicals, maps, and other miscellaneous materials that deal with the history of St. Louis City, and Library staff have indexed many previously unindexed books and materials on that topic. They also own a large local history card file, and a large vertical file consisting of articles clipped from local newspapers and other local publications. St. Louis Public Library Local History Indexes and Bibliographies


 * St. Louis County Library has a large collection of genealogical records for St. Louis City in its Special Collections Department located at its main headquarters. The collection includes holdings from the St. Louis Genealogical Society as well as parish records from the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In addition to its holdings, the staff of the Special Collections Department has created indexes for many records including St. Louis newspapers as well as birth, naturalization, probate, and some church records.


 * Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center has a collection of books, manuscripts, periodicals, newspapers, maps, and photographs including: Biographies, yearbooks, business and trade catalogs and military records. Their website has a searchable genealogy index that covers many of these collections.

Cemeteries

 * Search the Archdiocese of St. Louis Cemetery records for burials in seventeen Catholic cemeteries from the St. Louis area.

- See St. Louis County for additional St. Louis area cemetery resources.

Catholic

 * The St. Louis County Library has a page that lists its available Catholic resources including a list of Catholic priests * that served in St. Louis from 1841-1900.
 * St. Louis County Library's Catholic records collection is large. They have published a 348 page guide Guide to St. Louis Catholic Archdiocesan Parish Records detailing their holdings.

Lutheran

 * The St. Louis County Library has a page that lists its available Lutheran resources including an index to some Immanuel Lutheran and St. Paul's Lutheran Church records.

Evangelical and United Church of Christ

 * The St. Louis County Library has a page that lists its available Evangelical resources including a list of Evangelical priests * that served from 1834-2005.

* With the priests name from a civil marriage record, this list can be used to locate a church marriage record which often contains more family information.

City Directories

 * Green's 1845 St. Louis Directory is available on Google Books.
 * Kennedy's 1857 St. Louis City Directory is available on Google Books.
 * Kennedy’s 1860 St. Louis City Directory (transcribed) is available online -- Courtesy of Bob Doerr.
 * Fold3.com ($) has St. Louis City Directories 1863-1923 (only 3 yrs. missing) available online. Fold3 is free at some libraries including St. Louis County Library.
 * St. Louis County Library has St. Louis City Directories 1857-1942 available in their Special Collections Department. They also have other years available spanning 1821-1980.

Probate

 * St. Louis County Library has an index to St. Louis City Will Books (1877-1904).


 * Missouri State Archives - Online access to St. Louis Probate records (original documents)

Naturalization

 * St. Louis County Library has created an Index to Naturalizations. Site provides information on the various naturalization records from the U.S. Circuit Court and U.S. District Court.

Military History and Records

 * Fold3.com ($) has Civil War and other military records available online. Some libraries including the St. Louis County Library provide free access to this database.

Civil War
Civil War records for both the city and county of St. Louis are maintained by the city.

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Newspapers

 * The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1874 to date) is available at the St. Louis County Library. The St. Louis City Public Library has created an obituary index for various years.
 * The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1874-1922) is available online for St. Louis County Library cardholders.
 * The Westliche Post (1857-1938), a German language newspaper, is available at the St. Louis County Library in its Special Collections Department. They have created an obituary index for the years 1879-1890.

Vital Records (Civil)
See St. Louis City, Missouri Vital Records for information on St. Louis City vital records and their indexes.

Societies / Museums
St. Louis Genealogical Society.

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Online St. Louis Death Records and Indexes
 * St. Louis Genealogy Resources
 * Genealogy in St. Louis
 * Genealogy in St. Louis