Jefferson city, Missouri - This December, I am reminded that so much of the joy of the holiday season comes from being in the company of family and friends. I remember our family piling into the car for the annual trip to my grandparents' house. We would load up the station wagon with presents and all the supplies needed to survive the long car ride, and we would make the long trip even if there were two feet of snow on the ground. Maybe you remember your grandmother's cooking, or your uncle who always gave you a sweater. Whatever your family traditions, they are made special by the people around you.
As we think about our loved ones this holiday season, I encourage you to take advantage of a valuable service offered by the Missouri State Archives that can provide people with links to their family's past. With nothing more than a name, you can use the resources of the Archives to learn the story of the life of a family member.
Throughout our lives, we leave behind a paper trail charting our history. Many of these records are available at the Archives, where our experienced staff responds to over 50,000 requests for information per year, mostly from people hoping to discover more about their family heritage. Birth and death certificates from 1883-1893 can be researched online, and death certificates from 1910-1955 are currently being added (www.sos.mo.gov/archives/). In addition, if certificates from those years are not yet online, a photocopy can be requested. These documents reveal valuable information, like the person's occupation, birthplace, parents and marital status.
Other records, like marriage licenses, are equally revealing. Land records can show where your ancestors lived. They might even include the geographical features of their property, like a pond where they might have gone swimming or details about the size and appearance of their home. Circuit court and probate records might tell you that your ancestor worked on a steamboat or was injured in a train crash. And military records can provide evidence of a relative's service to his country, the unit with which he fought, and maybe some of the battles in which he was engaged.
I invite you to use the resources at the Missouri State Archives to learn more about your family heritage. You might even find some interesting stories to share during next year's holiday gatherings. Most importantly, I hope you and your loved ones make memories this holiday season that can be passed on to later generations. |
