Cape Girardeau

Missouri Baptist Associations Records, 1912-1980 (R0394)
17 folders microfilmed

 Finding Aid

This collection consists largely of printed minutes of annual meetings of United or Missionary
Baptist associations in southern Missouri. The minutes include the records of annual sessions,
committee reports, and statistical information on the associations and their constituent churches.
Also included are a few miscellaneous Baptist publications.

Missouri Extension Homemakers Association, Inc., Sacred Stones and Stained Glass Windows Project Records, 1977-1980 (C3723)
7.1 cubic feet (334 folders)

 Finding Aid

Statewide documentation of local churches by county. Includes cultural arts reports, church histories, floor plans, architectural details, clippings, slides, photographs, and miscellany.

Missouri Music Teachers Association Records, 1910-2004; bulk 1963-1995 (C4670)
7.0 cubic feet (141 folders) 4 audio tapes

 Finding Aid

The records of the organization include correspondence, financial reports, membership lists, newsletters, board meeting minutes, promotional materials, convention records, publications, audio tapes of original musical compositions, and miscellaneous material.

Missouri Territory. Cape Girardeau Court of Common Pleas List of Cases, 1809 (C1907)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

List of cases for the March term of court.

Samuel Montgomery Papers, 1854-1887 (CG0014)
0.2 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

This collection contains letters, military documents, family genealogy information, and copied pages from published material.

Howard Ramon Morrow Papers, 1914, 1918-1935 (CG0039)
0.2 c. f.

 Finding Aid

The Howard Ramon Morrow Papers includes World War I correspondence to and his parents in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, from 1918 to 1919. This collection also includes six issues of the 320th Infantry's newsletter "The Battalion" Review" from January to February 1919.

Lynn Morrow Papers, 1804-2015 (R1000)
24 cubic feet (1051 folders, 5 oversize folders, 11,170 photographs, 852 negatives)

 Finding Aid

The Lynn Morrow papers contain correspondence and research papers, with an additional significant collection of late twentieth-century promotional and advertising items. The papers reflect major areas of Morrow’s research on the southwest Missouri region; Iron, Shannon, and Washington counties; Theodore Pease Russell and his writings; and the writings of Silas C. Turnbo. The collection also includes a large selection of promotional publications and ephemera associated with late 20th century tourism in Missouri and Arkansas.

Naeter Brothers Publishing Company, "Ten Mile Garden: Cape Rock Drive", 1949 (R0773)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

This booklet describes the Ten Mile Garden, Cape Rock Drive, and Boulder Crest, a nature laboratory, in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. These areas featured decorative plantings and landscaping.

National Audubon Society Four Seasons Chapter Records, 1982-2000 (CG0038)
0.8 c. f.

 Finding Aid

The Four Seasons Audubon Society was a chapter of the National Audubon Society that encompased members of southeast Missouri. The records include meeting minutes, financials, correspondence, and newsletters from 1982-2003.

New Life Evangelistic Center Records, 1949-2022 (S1236)
64.58 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The New Life Evangelistic Center (NLEC) Records contain correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and photographs documenting NLEC’s mission to provide Christian hospitality to the poor through social service programs and spiritual care. The collection is divided into five series: Administration; Larry Rice; Penny Rice; Chronological Files; Publications; Jim Barnes; Photographs; and Scrapbooks. The Chronological Files series consists of materials Larry Rice and his son, Chris Rice, gathered during their research for their five-volume history of NLEC. This series contains Rice’s handwritten drafts of the book, newspaper clippings, meeting minutes, and photographs, arranged chronologically by year. Other series of interest include the publications series, which consists of issues of the ZOA Free Paper, which NLEC published from 1972 to 2005. The materials in this collection date from 1949 to 2019. 

Mary Dalton Newell Collection, 1882, 1904-1944 (P0131)
0.25 linear feet

Items from Mary Dalton Newell's scrapbook, including photos of the Dalton and and Denman families, ca. 1923-1978, the Osage and Niangua rivers, Ha Ha Tonka, Camden County, Lake Taneycomo, Cape Girardeau, and Bennett Springs. Photos of Columbia and the University of Missouri, ca. 1918-1930, include images of May Day, the Farmer's Fair, football, and the Columns. Postcard of bridges, steamboats, and from travels out-of-state.

Normal Chapel, Cape Girardeau, Missouri Collection, 1896 (R0882)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

This is a program for the W. B. Wilson Medal Essay contest held at Normal Chapel in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on June 8, 1896. The subject of the contest was "The Poetry of Edgar Allen Poe."

Old Appleton Mill Deeds Collection, 1903-1972 (CG0060)
0.1 c.f.

 Finding Aid

Seven warranty deeds, two letters, and one legal description of a tract of land related to the sale of property encompassing the former mill at Old Appleton, Missouri

"Old York Chapel, 1824-1965," Anne Blanche Rutledge, no date (C2180)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

History of the Abernathy Settlement and the Old York Chapel, second oldest Methodist organization in the Louisiana Purchase, Perry County and Cape Girardeau County, MO.

Oliver and Oliver Law Firm Records, 1760-2004 (CG0010)
296 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Oliver and Oliver Law Firm Papers contain case files and correspondence of the firm from the 1880s to 1980s. This collection also includes the genealogy of the Oliver and Watkins families, family correspondence, and civic involvements with the Boy Scouts of America, Rotary Club, Sons of the American Revolution, and Presbyterian Church. In addition, this collection contains material related to the Little River Drainage District, Oliver Land and Development Company, and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.

Oliver Family Papers, 1805-1977 (C3731)
18.1 cubic feet (1061 folders)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The papers of a prominent Cape Girardeau, Missouri, family include family and professional correspondence, patriotic organization materials, legal firm records, family financial and legal records, speeches and writings, genealogical materials, information on Missouri State Normal School and First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau, photographs, and miscellany.

Jack L. Oliver Collection, no date (C2932)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains an address and four essays concerning the history and work of the First Presbyterian Church, Cape Girardeau, MO.

Robert Burett Oliver Papers, 1882-1884 (C0379)
0.04 cubic feet (2 folders)

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Accounts and receipts of a Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, resident for taxes, groceries and produce, household goods, and labor.

Ozark Trails Bridge, Cape Girardeau, Missouri Collection, no date (R0772)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

This is a promotional brochure for the Ozark Trails Bridge over the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Although undated, the brochure appears to have been printed in the 1930s.

Quintin Papineau Photographs, 1996-1998 (CG0034)
0.01 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

35 photographs taken by Quintin Papineau of agriculture, buildings, springs, riverboats, and machinery several counties in southeast Missouri, Oregon County, Marion County, and cities in Illinois along the river.

Penninger and Bolin Families Collection, 1823-2023 (R1517)
12.5 cubic feet (358 folders, 1 volume, 13 compact discs, 168 photographs, 6 negatives)

 Finding Aid

The Penninger and Bolin Families Collection contains genealogical research conducted and collected by Linda Marie Penninger Henry on the Penninger and Bolin families, of whose descendants many settled in Christian, Dent, Greene, Howell, Jackson, Phelps, Shannon, and Stone counties in Missouri.

Michael Gene Pfefferkorn Papers, 1976-2001 (S1219)
9.25 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The papers of Michael Gene Pfefferkorn contain correspondence, meeting minutes, newsletters, and speeches concerning the historic preservation of St. Louis landmarks and neighborhoods, including the Major John Stevens Bowen House; the integration of St. Louis City Schools during the 1970s; and the establishment of the American Tax Token Society in 1971. Other topics of interest include the publication of the Missouri Journal of Numismatics, which Pfefferkorn edited from 1976 to 2001. The papers date from 1964 to 1993.

Sandra Jo Pfefferkorn Papers, 1967-1981 (S1220)
0.25 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The papers of Sandra Jo Pfefferkorn contain evaluations, reports, and writings concerning Central High School and the development of its curriculum, student writing abilities, and student and faculty morale at Central High School. Other items of interest include a 1967-1968 annual report published by the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. The papers date from 1967 to 1981.

Marvin E. Proffer Scrapbooks, 1941-1949 (CG0006)
0.2 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Marvin E. Proffer Scrapbooks contain two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, postcards, and other memorabilia related to Proffer.

Rainwater Family Papers, 1863-1939 (R0227)
0.02 cubic foot (2 folders)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The Rainwater Family Papers contain photocopies of the Civil War letters of Major Charles C. Rainwater, a Confederate officer, to his wife, Sarah Fowler Rainwater, at Cole Camp, Benton County, Missouri. The letters mention fighting at Hartville and Cape Girardeau, and Rainwater’s disabilities from wounds. There are also genealogical data on Samuel Fowler and his family, and biographical sketches of Sarah Fowler Rainwater.

Ramsay Place Names File, 1928-1945 (C2366)
6 cubic feet (12 boxes), 4 rolls of microfilm

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Card file of origins of Missouri place names, compiled by students of Robert L. Ramsay, University of Missouri professor of English. Cards are in alphabetical order by place name.

Rebekah Assembly of Missouri Collection, 1932-1990 (R0616)
(8 rolls of microfilm)

 Finding Aid

The Rebekah Assembly of Missouri Collection contains microfilm copies of printed minutes of the annual meetings of the Rebekah Assembly of Missouri. The minutes include lists of state officials, delegates and alternates, financial information and committee reports, matters concerning the Odd Fellows Home in Liberty, Missouri, and a listing of the names and local addresses of all Rebekah lodges in Missouri.

Regenhardt Family Papers, 1809-1980 (CG0036)
1.2 c. f.

 Finding Aid

The Regenhardt Family Papers include Civil War muster rolls of the 56th Enrolled Missouri Militia, McNeely family Bible records, Regenhardt Construction Company papers related to the building of Academic Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, and postcards of Academic Hall.

Philip A. Reilly Papers, 1858-1863 (R0084)
0.04 cubic foot (4 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Philip A. Reilly Papers contains photocopies and annotated typescripts for the Civil War letters written by Philip A. Reilly and Dr. Samuel M. McAnally. Reilly served in operations at Jackson and Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was captured at Ringgold, Georgia. Dr. Samuel M. McAnally describes conditions in southeast Missouri in 1870.

Renfrow Retirement Scrapbook, 1918, 1945-1958 (CG0067)
0.5 c.f.

 Finding Aid

A scrapbook created by Louis H. Renfrow with various documents related to the retirement of Renfrow from his position as the civilian Deputy Director of the Selective Service. The scrapbook contains correspondence from friends and colleagues discussing his retirement. Additionally, there are photographs from colleges and special events. There is additional documentation of Renfrow’s career in the form of newspaper and magazine articles.

Reynolds Family Papers, 1875-1997 (CG0007)
2.6 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Reynolds Family Papers contain photographs, correspondence, reel to reel films, and other papers related to the Reynolds family of Morehouse, Missouri from 1875-1997.

"The Rise of Higher Education in the Missouri Valley, 1818-1900," Earl Leon Heck, 1965 (C2914)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Histories of academics, colleges, and universities in the Missouri Valley.

Rodney Family Papers, 1854-1874 (R1329)
0.1 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Rodney Family papers consist of legal documents related to the probate of various estates within the inter-related families of Rodney, Garrett, Ramsey, Walls and Whitelaw of Cape Girardeau and Mississippi Counties, Missouri.

Rolla, Missouri, Home Rule Charter Commission Collection, 1981-1982 (R1350)
0.25 cubic foot (6 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Rolla Home Rule Charter Commission, Papers, documents the issue of whether or not the city of Rolla, Missouri, should adopt a home rule charter.

Rotary Club International District 6060 Records, 1946-2021 (S0233)
11 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

This collection contains correspondence, memos, yearbooks, directories, anniversary programs, and conference materials documenting Rotary District 6060's mission to support local rotary clubs through club visits and organizing yearly district conferences. Organized in 1910 with the founding of the St. Louis Rotary Club, District 6060 is an administrative body that oversees Rotary Clubs in the Eastern part of Missouri, from Hannibal to the Missouri Bootheel.

Rotary International District 6060, Jerry W. McClanahan Records, 1951, 1983-2012 (CG0043)
3.0 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Rotary International District 6060, Jerry W. McClanahan Records contains records from Rotary International District 6060 and the individual clubs within its jurisdiction. It includes meeting minutes, individual club newsletters, correspondence, directories, membership information, conference materials, and promotional resources.

George R. Roussell Photographs, 1944-1967 (CG0023)
0.02 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

Photographs and awards relating to George R. Roussell during his time of service in the Navy during World War I, Korean, and Vietnam Wars.

Joseph William Russell Letter, 1847 (C1640)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains a letter to Mary L. Russell, Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, MO, from Chicago, [IL], July 4, 1847. Russell, at a convention in Chicago as a member of the Cape Girardeau delegation, wrote his wife about the convention, the crowds, American House, and Chicago, and listed the Cape Girardeau delegates.

Sailer Family Papers, 1833-1939 (R1405)
0.04 cubic foot (4 folders, 25 negatives)

 Finding Aid

The Sailer Family Papers contain copies of the personal papers and photographs of the Sailer family of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This collection includes images of the Sailer family and extended family, correspondence, newspaper articles, land records, birth records, and local history research for Cape Girardeau and Rolla, Missouri.

Sailer-Holmes Family Papers, 1865-2006 (CG0069)
0.2 c.f.

 Finding Aid

The Sailer-Holmes Family Papers contains personal papers, correspondence, and photographs collected by three generations of the family mainly in the cities of Cape Girardeau and Rolla, Missouri.

Sainte Genevieve Telephone Company Records, 1899-1906 (R0339)
0.5 cubic foot (8 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Ste. Genevieve Telephone Company Records contain bills for various goods and services rendered to the Ste. Genevieve Telephone Company. John Tlapek and Henry L. Rozier organized the company, which later became part of the Bell system.

Dorothy Fulbright Schaper Genealogical Papers, 1905-1999 (CG0031)
2.0 c.f.

 Finding Aid

Genealogy family charts, correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings related to the Fulbright family of Cape Girardeau County.

Attie Zelpha Mitchell Shanks Genealogical Collection, 1890-1960 (R0061)
0.03 cubic foot (3 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Attie Zelpha Mitchell Shanks Genealogy Collection contains a photocopy of genealogical materials for southeastern Missouri compiled by Attie Shanks. The records cover the ‘Upper Hog Creek’ area of eastern Bollinger and western Cape Girardeau counties.

Casper Shell Papers, 1832-1849 (R0243)
0.3 cubic foot (3 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Casper Shell Papers contain the journal and personal papers of Casper Shell Jr., a blacksmith and justice of the peace who lived near Lutesville in what was then Cape Girardeau County, now Bollinger County, Missouri. The collection pertains to Shell’s trade as a blacksmith as well as his official duties. A transcript, prepared by the donor, is available.

George W. Shinn Papers, 1861 (CG0015)
0.11 cubic feet

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

This is a collection of six letters written by Private George W. Shinn, a Union soldier in the American Civil War, which also includes transcriptions and other information gathered by the donor about Shinn.

A seventh letter, written by Solomon Kittrell on May 19, 1861 in Butler County, Missouri, shares his current situation as a farmer, river levels, soldiers’ movements, and the transport of African Americans through the region.

Sikes Family Papers, 1845-1859 (CG0019)
0.02 cubic feet

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The Sikes Family Papers contain eight enslaved bills of sale to William Sikes of New Madrid County, Missouri. These documents reflect the name, age, and price of each enslaved person. Three additional documents show land transfers and a tax assessment of personal property.

Nancy K. Smith Postcard Collection, 1900-1970 (P0029)
268 postcards

Postcards, all views of hospitals and clinics and some sanitariums across Missouri.

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, William T. Stewart Camp No. 14 Records, 1920-1929 (R1287)
(1 volume)

 Finding Aid

This is a 152-page minute book Auxiliary No. 7 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the United States of America, William T. Stewart Camp No. 14 of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The volume contains minutes of the fortnightly meetings of the SV Auxiliary No. 7 from 1920 through 1929.

Mary Ann Sorrell Papers, 1863 (R1455)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Mary Ann Sorrell Papers contains a handwritten letter from Mary Ann Sorrell to her daughter. The letter is dated September 10, 1863, and was written in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mary Ann Sorrell discusses her housing situation, the health of her children, and the living arrangements of her various children.

Southeast Missouri District Fair Association Collection, 1949-1976 (R0925)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

These are a program, premium list and catalog and a souvenir booklet (1976) for the Southeast Missouri distric fair which was sponsored by the Southeast Missourui District Fair Association and held on September 12-17, 1976 at Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Included are schedules of events, admission prices, and advertisements for area businesses.