Christian

Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service Aerial Photographs, 1938-1979 (P0335)
107.5 linear feet

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Missouri county aerial photographs produced by the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service.

American Revolution Bicentennial, Missouri Committee for Agriculture Papers, 1974-1976 (C4276)
1.2 cubic feet (42 folders), 1 audio tape

 Finding Aid

The papers of the committee contain correspondence, newsletters, reports, updates, events awards programs, lists of elected members, historical information on “Centennial Farms” and “Liberty Trees,” meeting minutes, announcements, newspaper clippings, and audiovisual material for a slide presentation entitled “The Spirit of ’76.”

American Sunday-School Union Records, 1917-1930 (R0565)
0.2 cubic foot (6 folders)

 Finding Aid

The American Sunday-School Union Records are photocopied field work records created by missionaries for the American Sunday-School Union in Christian, Douglas, Howell, Ozark, Texas, Webster, and Wright counties in Missouri.

Lucile Anderson Photograph Collection, 1960 (P0479)
6 photographs

Photos of Christian County monuments and sites.

Battle of Wilson's Creek Memoir, 1934 (C0757)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Memoir of the battle (1861) as told by Mrs. J.J. Bruton of Ozark, MO, to Katherine Brown in 1934.

Billings, Missouri Fair Collection, 1906-1966 (R0717)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

These are eight program booklets for annual street fairs and livestock/agricultural shows at Billings, Christian County, Missouri.

Cassinda Bolin Papers, 1872-1896 (R1388)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Cassinda Bolin Papers contains photocopies of correspondence and inscriptions found in the personal Bible of Cassinda Bolin.

John F. Bradbury, Jr. Postcard Collection, 1889-2022 (R1551)
4 cubic feet (122 folders, 4,432 postcards)

 Finding Aid

The John F. Bradbury, Jr. Postcard Collection contains postcards collected by Bradbury, containing images from the Ozarks and Southern Missouri. The postcards consist of real photograph, commercially printed, and illustrated postcards. The images mainly feature Missouri towns, railroads, Route 66, resorts, and rivers.

Brandt and Grant Family Papers, 1933-2000 (SP0042)
4 cubic feet (74 folders, 208 photographs)

 Finding Aid

The Brandt and Grant Family Papers contains 35 diaries written by Lena K. Grant from 1933 to 1976. They document the travels of her family during her husband’s many deployments, to places like the Philippines, Korea, and Crown Point, Indiana. The collection also contains clippings, pamphlets, a baby book, photographs and other mementos from the family’s life.      

Camp Fire Girls Council of the Ozarks Camp Shawio Collection, 1956 (R0867)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

This is an informational booklet for the 1856 season at Camp Shawio, a resident and day camping facility near Linden in Christian County, Missouri. The camp was owned and operated by the Camp Fire Girls Council of the Ozarks. Shawio stands for Share With Others.

Christian County Baptist Association Records, 1913 (R0922)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

This is a published minute book of the 54th annual session of the Christian County Baptist Association of Missouri. The meeting was held with Smyrna Baptist Church on August 12-14, 1913. D. T. Baucom of Highlandville served as moderator.

Cummins Family Photographs, 1850-1934 (SP0006)
.5 cubic feet (20 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Cummins Family Photographs consist of multiple portraits of adults, children, and candid shots of the family. Also included is some family correspondence, created from 1910 to 1934.   

Finley Building and Loan Association Records, 1899-1920 (R1007)
(1 roll of microfilm)

 Finding Aid

These are the minute books and a cash received ledger of the Finley Building and Loan Association at Ozark in Christian County, Missouri. The records begin with the organization of the association in 1899 and continue through its entry into receivership in 1916 and dissolution in 1920.

Sarah Guitar Collection, no date (C3391)
1.5 cubic feet (5 card files), 2 rolls of microfilm

 Finding Aid

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Nixa, Missouri Records, 1898-1909 (R0602)
(1 roll of microfilm)

 Finding Aid

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Nixa, Missouri Records include microfilm copies of membership registers, roll of officers, and official reports to the state lodge from 1869 to 1931 for the Nixa Lodge No. 561.

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ozark, Missouri Records, 1869-1931 (R0601)
(1 roll of microfilm)

 Finding Aid

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ozark, Missouri Records include microfilm copies of membership registers, roll of officers, and official reports to the state lodge from 1869 to 1931 for the Finley Lodge No. 206.

David A. James Papers, 1790-2008 (C4126)
5 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The research material of a hotel management instructor, whose work resulted in the publication Historic Hotels of Missouri: Hotels, Inns, and Taverns of 19th Century Missouri.

Keystone View Company Photograph Collection, circa 1914 (R1099)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

This is a stereoscopic photographic view of apple harvesting in the Ozark region of Missouri published by the Keystone View Company of Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Liberty School Christian County, Missouri Records, 1896-1920 (R1005)
(1 roll of mircrofilm)

 Finding Aid

This is the district clerk's record book of Christian County School District No. 10 (originally District No. 1). The record book contains minutes of annual and speical meetings of the district and meetings of the school board, circa June 1896 - October 5, 1920, annual enumerations 1900-1918, and records of warrants issued.

William Henry Lynch Papers, 1859-1905 (R0202)
(3 rolls of microfilm)

 Finding Aid

The William Henry Lynch Papers contain microfilm copies of the diaries and personal papers of an educator in southern Missouri. Lynch was a native of Houston, Texas County, Missouri. He served in the 32nd Missouri Infantry during the Civil War, and was principal of schools in Steelville, St. James, Salem, West Plains, and Mountain Grove, Missouri, following the war.

Mark Twain National Forest Local History Collection, 1930s-1980s (R0471)
(4 rolls of mircofilm)

 Finding Aid

This collection was selected from unofficial files on miscellaneous historical topics, including local histories, the CCC, the YCC, the "Irish Wilderness," and the Eleven Point River. There are transcriptions of interviews with older members of the community and Forest Service retirees.

R. J. Martin Papers, 1946-1955 (SP0095)
4 cubic feet (103 folders, 1 oversize folder, 60 photographs)

 Finding Aid

The R. J. Martin Papers contain records, correspondence, contracts, and photographs from Ralph Joseph “Joe” Martin’s tenure as Missouri-Arkansas representative for the United States Department of the Interior Southwest Power Association office in Springfield, Missouri.

T. Thistle McKinney Travel Logs, 1928-1929 (C4263)
0.2 cubic feet (2 folders)

 Finding Aid

The collection consists of two travel logs kept by T. Thistle McKinney, one of an automobile trip taken in 1928 through the northeastern states, Canada, and the eastern states. The other was made in 1929, through parts of northeast Missouri and into some Ozark counties. The volumes include numerous postcards and some photographs of places McKinney visited.

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 Department of Resources, "The White River Country" Collection, no date (R0324)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Missouri Department of Resources, “The White River Country” Collection contains a map of the White River watershed encompassing all or parts of eleven counties in southern Missouri. Topographic features and recreational sites are shown, as are mills, mines, bridges, fords, schools, and churches.

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 Federation of Women's Clubs, Sixth District Records, 1932-1943 (R1175)
(1 volume)

 Finding Aid

These are the secretary's minutes of the annual meetings of the Sixth District, Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs. The record book includes minutes of the twenty-ninth through fortieth annual meetings, 1932-1943.

Missouri. Infantry, 21st Regiment, Volunteers Papers, 1861-1969 (C4255)
0.5 cubic feet (17 folders)

 Finding Aid

The papers contain copies of pension records, military records, and memoirs of members of the Missouri Infantry, 21st Regiment, Volunteers, and other material pertaining to Civil War soldiers.

Modern Woodmen of America, Ozark Camp No. 5111, Ozark, Missouri Records, 1913-1920 (R1002)
(1 roll of microfilm)

 Finding Aid

This is the record book of the Modern Woodmen of America camp at Ozark in Christian County, Missouri. The volume includes minutes of meetings, 1913-1919, and a record of benefit certificates issued to members.

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.

"The Old Springfield Road," J.V. Cooper, 1962 (C2130)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains a description of the history and importance of the Old Springfield Road in southwest Missouri.

Ozark Area Amateur Film Collection, 1957-1964 (SP0021)
0.5 cubic foot (14 reels)

 Finding Aid

The Ozarks Area Amateur Film Collection contains fourteen reels of home movie footage featuring the Ozarks including Springfield, Nixa, Table Rock Dam, and St. John’s School of Nursing. 

Ozark Playgrounds Association Collection, 1929-1955 (R0854)
0.2 cubic foot (2 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Ozark Playgrounds Association Records contains booklets and pamphlets published by the Ozark Playgrounds Association to promote the "Playgrounds of the Ozarks," encompassing the Ozarks regions in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The booklets include geographical listings, maps, and lists of restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions.

Ozark Public School Collection, 1909-1913 (R0791)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The two publications in this collection describe the course of study for the Ozark Public School at Ozark in Christian County, Missouri, for the years 1900-1910 and 1913-1914. William H. Lynch was principal in 1909 and Felix J. Appleby was superintendent in 1913.

Ozark Reorganized School Collection, 1955 (R1127)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

This is a bulletin of information for patrons, students, and faculty for the Ozark Reorganized School at Ozark in Christian County, Missouri, for the school year 1955-1956. Clyde W. McConnell was superintendent of the school district.

Ozarks Steam Engine Association Collection, 1964-1974 (R0795)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

These are souvenir program booklets from the Ozarks Steam Engine Association's annual reunions near Billings, Missouri. These events featured working live steam tractors and other agricultural steam engines.

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.

John Smith Phelps Receipt, 1864 (R0562)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The John Smith Phelps Receipt is a receipt given by John S. Phelps at Ozark, Christian County, Missouri, to Jesse Jennings, administrator of the estate of George Yocum.

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.

Ranslow and Burger Families Papers, 1862-1939 (SP0089)
0.5 cubic foot (7 folders, 19 photographs)

 Finding Aid

The Ranslow and Burger Families Papers consist of correspondence, photographs, and personal papers of the Ranslow and Burger families of Christian and Taney counties in Missouri.

Roller Family Papers, 1866-1871 (R0310)
0.04 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Roller Family Papers contain photocopies and typescripts of papers, mostly correspondence, of the Roller family of Christian and Douglas counties in Missouri and Scott County, Virginia. With one exception the letters are addressed to Jacob Roller, in Virginia, from his relatives in Missouri. The exception is a letter from General R. Johnson, an in-law to the Rollers, of Douglas County, to his mother, Sarah (Bowen) Johnson.

Edward Martin Shepard Lantern Slide Collection, no date (R1184)
0.25 cubic foot (41 lantern slides)

 Finding Aid

These are lantern slides showing springs, natural bridges, and caves in the Ozarks region of Missouri. They were produced for teaching purposes by Edward M. Shepard, a professor of geology at Drury College in Springfield, Missouri.

Southwest Bethel Association of Missionary Baptists Records, 1880-1885 (R0519)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Southwest Bethel Association of Missionary Baptists Records are photocopied minutes of three annual meetings of the Southwest Bethel Association of Missionary Baptists, which was composed of churches in Christian, Stone, and Taney counties in Missouri.

Southwest Missouri Library Service, Inc., Records, 1957-1982 (SP0084)
1.5 cubic feet (37 folders, 2 photographs)

 Finding Aid

The Southwest Missouri Library Service, Inc., Records contain the by-laws, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial records, and membership papers of Southwest Missouri Library Service, Inc., headquartered in Bolivar, Missouri.

Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development Records, 1964-2011 (SP0009)
28 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The records consist of the financial documents, correspondence, project notes and publications pertaining to the operation of the non-profit environmental organization known as Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development. 

Southwest Missouri Collection, 1864-2014 (SP0017)
1 cubic foot (43 folders, 34 photographs)

 Finding Aid

The Southwest Missouri Collection is an artificial collection combining miscellaneous small acquisitions related to southwest Missouri individuals, places, organizations, and events. Material continues to be added to the collection.

Springfield-Branson, Missouri, Metropolitan Area, Photograph Collection, 1884-1965 (P1109)

An artificial collection of photographs of Christian, Dallas, Greene, Polk, Webster, Stone, and Taney Counties.

St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company Promotional Booklet Collection, 1925 (R0816)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

These are "Dairying in the Ozarks" and "Fruit Growing in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas along the Frisco Lines", published by the St. Louis-San Francisco "Frisco" Railway company to promote economic development along its routes in southern Missouri and northern Arknasas.

St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company Records, 1859-1980 (R0362)
(178 cubic feet)

 Finding Aid

These are corporate minutes and financial account books, and other records of the St. Louis-San Francisco ("Frisco") Railway Company (1916-1980) and predecessor, subsidiary, and constituent companies, most notably the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway (1876-1896) and the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad (1896-1916). The "Frisco" operated in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. It became part of the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1980. Also of note are four architectural drawing boxes that include the blueprints for structures along the St. Louis-San Francisco Line. A detailed inventory of the drawings is included in each of the four boxes.

Lon Vest Stephens Papers, 1897 (C1725)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Five letters and petitions to the governor of Missouri from T.J. Delaney, Judge W.D. Hubbard, members of the Springfield bar, and citizens of Christian County, MO, asking for commutation of the sentences of Amos Jones and William Stanley, convicted bald knobbers.