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St. Louis Genealogy and Local History

Lookup Requests

History and Genealogy will be happy to look up and send copies of records found in indexed sources.

  • Submit look up requests using the online form.
  • You must allow the department to complete a current request before submitting another.
  • Electronic scans will be returned by email at no charge.

Staff will make photocopies of printed material only if the source is indexed or an exact citation is submitted. Designate a specific source. Examples of acceptable requests follow:

  • Check the book "Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files" abstracted by Virgil D. White. Photocopy a listing for John Cessna.
  • Please photocopy the article entitled "Index to the Marriage Records of the First Congregational Church in New Orleans" Louisiana Genealogical Register, Vol. 21, October 1982.
  • Look in the index of "County of Christian, Kentucky" by William Henry Perrin. Please copy any reference in the index to the surname DeWitt.
  • Does St. Louis County Library have this particular book? (Provide the exact title.)
  • What is the address of the National Genealogical Society?
  • Does the St. Louis County Library have this family history in your collection? (Provide the exact title.

The following examples are unacceptable because they are not specific enough:

  • Find a cemetery listing for John Hinch.
  • Do any books on St. Louis mention Zoe Aubuchon?
  • When did John Durant die?

The library is obligated to follow U.S. copyright laws. Please review the library's copyright notice below.

Additional Guidelines

Newspaper obituaries, newspaper articles and city directories on microfilm

  • Obituary sources include the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, St. Louis Republic, Star-Times and Westliche Post (German language). See newspaper holdings list for date coverage.
  • Obituary requests must include a death date for exact citation.
  • Newspaper article requests must include an exact citation.
  • Limit of 3 searches per mailing.
  • City directories in paper format cannot be photocopied because of fragility.

The following newspaper indexes are available on the St. Louis County Library website:

  • Carondelet News, every-name index
  • St. Louis French newspapers, every-name index
  • St. Louis Globe-Democrat, index to deaths
  • St. Louis County Watchman Advocate, every-name index
  • St. Louis Star-Times, title index to local history articles
  • St. Louis Sun obituary index, 1989-1990
  • Westliche Post, index to death notices

An index to obituaries in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is available on the website of the St. Louis (City) Public Library.

Books

  • Limit of three searches per mailing.
  • The book must be indexed unless an exact citation is submitted.

Newsletters and magazines (quarterlies)

  • Limit of one request per mailing.
  • Limit of 30 pages copied from one source.
  • An entire quarterly or book cannot be copied from a single issue.
  • Articles can also be obtained through inter-library-loan. Contact your local library.

Additional research assistance

Additional research help may be available from the St. Louis Genealogical Society. The society also maintains a list of researchers for hire. Contact the society directly:

St. Louis Genealogical Society

4 Sunnen Drive. Suite 140

St. Louis, MO 63143-3814

314-647-8547

office@stlgs.org

Copyright notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One specific condition is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request or later uses a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. In addition, copyright law limits photocopies of journal material to one article per issue and book-length material in one section or chapter or a limit of 30 pages. Journal articles less than five years old are also more restricted than older material. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would violate the copyright law.

FamilySearch affiliate library services

The History and Genealogy Department is an authorized FamilySearch affiliate library. Digitized FamilySearch images that are authorized for viewing in affiliate libraries can be accessed on public computers and over the wireless network.

Interlibrary Loans from the History and Genealogy Collection

Books in the National Genealogical Society Collection and select others are available to researchers at other libraries via interlibrary loan.

  • The St. Louis County Library catalog can be searched online.
  • Books that have call numbers beginning with "R" (R929.3) are reference and not available for interlibrary loans or checkout.
  • Books that have call numbers not beginning with "R" (i.e. 929.3 or Q 929.3) are available for interlibrary loans.
  • To borrow a book not available at your own local library, contact your local library's interlibrary loan department.