Genealogy Quick Look Collections
The following collections have been indexed in the Genealogy Quick Look. Many more resources are available through the Midwest Genealogy Center.
AFRA Pedigree Tables
Between 1990-1992, the American Family Records Association (AFRA), published their members’ ahnentafel charts in six volumes entitled AFRA Pedigree Tables. When AFRA, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, disbanded they gave Mid-Continent Public Library permission to scan these charts and make them accessible digitally. Please note that no effort has been made to update member information and the addresses may be inaccurate.
Pedigree charts from the Missouri State Genealogical Association, Periman Pathways Family Association, and others are also included in this collection.
View All Pedigree Tables
Book Indexes
Volunteers and staff at the Midwest Genealogy Center have provided indexes to some of the books on our shelves.
Independence Examiner Newspapers
Years Indexed: 1900-1959
The Examiner is the daily newspaper of eastern Jackson County, Missouri, including Independence, Blue Springs, and Grain Valley. The Examiner was started by Col. William Southern in 1898 and ran weekly until 1905. On May 16, 1905, the newspaper became a daily publication entitled The Independence Examiner as well as a weekly publication named the Jackson Examiner. The Genealogy Quick Look includes birth, death, marriage, divorce, and other records from the newspaper primarily from 1900 through 1959. Years 1901-1910 are incomplete. Years 1919-1940s are complete. The collection is an every name index listing all names mentioned in the article.
Kansas City Social Registers Blue Books
Years Indexed: 1910-11, 1924-62
The Social Registers contained names of the most prominent householders in Kansas City, Missouri. This collection compiles the records of Kansas City social directories intermittently for the years 1910 to 1911 and 1924 to 1962. Most entries include the names of their children and the maiden names of wives, thus making these books an excellent genealogy resource.
Kansas City Star and Kansas City Times Newspapers
Years Indexed: 1975-2006
The Kansas City Star, originally called the Kansas City Evening Star, was founded in 1880 and changed to the Kansas City Star in 1885. The Kansas City Times was a morning newspaper published from 1867 to 1990, when it was purchased by the Kansas City Star and then discontinued. Some obituary records from the Kansas City Star and the Kansas City Times are indexed through the Genealogy Quick Look. The obituary index for 1975 to 1978 on Genealogy Quick Look is complete; records from 1981-2006 are incomplete.
For Kansas City Star obituaries from within the last year, visit Legacy.com. Fees apply for obituaries not within the last year.
The full text of the Kansas City Star from 1880-current and the full text of the Kansas City Times 1921-1990 are available online through NewsBank for MCPL Access Pass/Library Card holders.
The Midwest Genealogy Center also has the Kansas City Star / Kansas City Times on microfilm from Aug 20, 1871 through the current year.
Meramec Valley Obituary Collection
Years Indexed: 1900-2018
The Meramec Valley Genealogical & Historical Society was formed in 1986. Members of the Society began collecting obituaries, funeral home information, and other death notices ranging from 1900 through 2018. Some of these obituaries are not sourced but may be helpful to genealogists.
Midwest Genealogy Center Archival Indexes
Volunteers and staff at the Midwest Genealogy Center have created indexes to in house archival collections. Included in these archival indexes are Bible records, cemeteries listings, family research, and more.
MGC Archival Index
Missouri County Patron Directories
Years Indexed: 1875-1925
Early county atlas or plat books are well known for discovery of land owner names. However, these atlas books also list “patrons” who would pay to have their name listed in the Directory or add biographical material that was paid for by the patron. Rich nuggets of genealogical information might include: business, township or village, post office, year of birth, nativity, or when they came to the county. This collection lists almost 40,000 names of Missourians in 80 books published before 1925.
Saints' Herald
Years Indexed: 1860-1968
Herald (formerly The True Latter Day Saints' Herald and The Saints' Herald), the official periodical of the Community of Christ, is published monthly in English in Independence, Missouri, by Herald House Publishing. Founded in 1860 as The True Latter Day Saints' Herald (later shortened to Saints' Herald), the Herald is the oldest continuously published Mormon periodical. For generations the Herald has created community by connecting members in branches scattered across the globe.
The True Latter Day Saints' Herald was first published in January 1860, at Cincinnati, Ohio, as the official newspaper of the newly organized Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS church). Its editor was Isaac Sheen. In March 1863, publication moved to Plano, Illinois, and in November 1881 to Lamoni, Iowa. In May 1921, the publication moved to its current location in Independence, Missouri, the church's world headquarters.
These files were created and shared by the Library-Archives of Community of Christ, Independence, MO.
The Call Newspaper
Years Indexed: 1988-2001
The first issue of the Kansas City Call was published by Chester Franklin on May 6, 1919. After his death in 1955, his wife, Ada Franklin, and Lucile Bluford continued publication of the weekly newspaper. The Call is one of the most widely-circulated black newspapers in the United States and includes coverage of events in the African American community in Kansas City and the nation, news of local churches, sports, graduations, marriages, and deaths. The current publisher and editor is Donna Stewart. Obituaries and Remembrances published between 1988 and 2001 are indexed on Genealogy Quick Look. The collection is an every name index listing all names mentioned in the article.
U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Pension Claims
Years Indexed: 1936-2010
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board administers a federal retirement benefits program covering the nation’s railroad workers. This collection is a searchable index of the Inactive Claim Folders that may contain information of interest to genealogists and historical researchers. The Inactive Claim Folders deal primarily with the administration and payment of Railroad Retirement Board Pension Claims of deceased workers. The Railroad Retirement Board continues to retain ownership of claim files deemed to be active. This physical collection of documents is housed at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) at Atlanta and was transferred from the NARA Great Lakes Region.
The Inactive Claim Folders are only on persons whose employers were covered under the Railroad Retirement Act. Employers such as streetcar, interurban, or suburban electric railways are not covered under this Act.
Zion's Ensign Index
Years Indexed: 1898-1932
Zion’s Ensign was a weekly religious newspaper, initiated on 3 January, 1891 by John A. Robinson and Frederick G. Pitt in Independence, Missouri and was eventually taken over by the Board of Publication of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, concluding on 29 September, 1932. In addition to the Saints’ Herald, it reported on sermons, letters, testimonies, religious news, especially of the RLDS church, and also included congregational reports of births, blessings, marriages, death notices and obituaries.
This index was compiled and shared by the Community of Christ Library-Archives. It includes:
ZION’S ENSIGN BIRTHS AND BLESSINGS INDEX, 1898-1916
Prepared by Barbara Hands Bernauer
Typescripted January 1989, Reentered by Iris Harris, January 1996
Entered by Barbara J. Bernauer for RLDS Library & Archives
ZION‘S ENSIGN MARRIAGES INDEX, 1891 - 1916, VOLUMES 1 – 27
Prepared by Barbara Hands Bernauer, 1989
ZION‘S ENSIGN OBITUARIES INDEX, 1891 - 1932, VOLUMES 1 – 44
Entered by Barbara J. Hands Bernauer, 12-31-1988