Reading Room

Reference Materials at the Office



The Society maintains a small Reading Room at its office location. Genealogical materials in the Reading Room are primarily for use by office staff and the walk-in researcher with an interest in St. Louis area records or records pertaining to the area’s ethnic origins. Visitors are reminded that our main research collection is housed at the Society’s Library, located in the Special Collections Department of the St. Louis County Library Headquarters.


What’s Here


The books and other materials in the Reading Room focus on the Missouri and Illinois counties surrounding St. Louis, as well as selected titles of ethnic groups who settled in St. Louis, and some general “how to” books.

Materials in the Reading Room generally fall into these categories:

Geographic: Materials for the St. Louis Metropolitan Area—specifically:
  • In Missouri: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and the near counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Perry, St. Charles, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Warren, and Washington
  • In Illinois: the near counties of Calhoun, Jackson, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Perry, Randolph, and St. Clair

Ethnic: Materials of major ethnic interest for the St. Louis Metropolitan Area—especially German, Irish, Italian, Jewish, and African American

Methodology: Materials addressing genealogical research methodologies


Accessibility



The Reading Room is a reference and research facility. None of the materials in the Reading Room may be checked out.