Robert Parkin Collection

The online Robert Parkin Collection consists of research papers focusing on early settlers and founders of St. Louis and Missouri, before and after statehood. Some records include migrating families as well as those left behind in the old country. A few other records include people living in the 1900s.

Use the Search function to find individuals in the Robert Parkin Collection index. Society members may then view, print, and download the actual documents. Some documents include citations, others do not. Proceed cautiously, using those documents as clues to future research. These documents are in PDF file format. Click here to access the Parkin index.

As Mr. Parkin’s last contribution to StLGS and its members, his extensive research files are available for the benefit of current members. StLGS can only provide online what Mr. Parkin personally wrote or compiled. In some cases, the files include additional papers, such as vital records, limited copies of publications by others, maps, census records, and more. Researchers may review these files in person or by contacting the StLGS research room.

Robert Parkin Family Charts

The late genealogist, Robert Parkin, created a series of 112 large family history charts. The charts contain information on a random assortment of families, mostly from the northeast, and pulled from sources that Mr. Parkin used as he researched St. Louis people.

Robert Parkin Index Cards: Original Settlers of St. Louis and Out-State Missouri

To help organize his records, Mr. Parkin compiled index cards for each surname and family. The actual cards have been copied and bound into five books and a three-ring binder that are located in the research room at the StLGS office. The index to these cards contains names, birth/baptismal dates, and deaths. Most of the cards have an abbreviated citation indicating the source of the data. They also show the relationship between one generation and the next using the Henry numbering format. This one-of-a-kind source may lead you to new names and data. Click here to go to the Parkin card index page.

Robert E. Parkin

Mr. Parkin was one of the earliest genealogical researchers in St. Louis. He specialized in, but did not limit himself to, early and pre-statehood Missouri families. Some of the settlers migrated from Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and beyond.

Years ago Mr. Parkin donated his research files to St. Louis Genealogical Society (StLGS). Volunteers contributed endless hours alphabetizing, organizing, filing, and indexing the documents creating the Robert Parkin Collection.

Bob worked full time, and then researched in his personal time. He studied the history of the St. Louis area and wrote one of his first books on the history of Overland in 1956. He also conducted research for clients.

In 1967, two individuals, Robert E. Parkin and Dorothy Amburgey Griffith, formed the St. Louis Genealogical Society with Mr. Parkin becoming the second president of the organization. In his continuing support, he also served as a volunteer, researcher, and constant contributor to genealogical endeavors. He was the author of many family histories and numerous StLGS Quarterly articles.

Last modified: 18-May-2021 11:23