Frontier and Pioneer Life

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Missouri History Scrapbook, 1896 (C1416)
0.04 cubic feet (1 volume)

 Finding Aid

The scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings of miscellaneous early Missouri history and other material.

Missouri Valley Series Papers, 1962-1965 (K0241)
0.05 c.f.

 Finding Aid

Research papers on the history of the Greater Kansas City area written by graduate students and local historians in response to a prize offered by the Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City.

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Marshall, Missouri Centennial Celebration Pamphlet, 1939 (C0744)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

History of Marshall, MO, and tentative plan for a centennial celebration in 1939. Also a list of mayors of Marshall from 1879 to 1939.

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John Montgomery Letter, 1851 (C0544)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

To William Montgomery, Carrollton, Missouri, from Weberville, California, March 11, 1851. Written to his brother by a young miner in the California gold fields, concerning his returning home.

Frederick W. Moody Collection, 1838-1869 (K0347)
0.01 c.f.

 Finding Aid

The collection contains the memoir of Frederick W. Moody. The memoir contains stories regarding his immigration to the United States from England in 1857, his travels to New Mexico, Colorado, and early life in Kansas City and Westport.

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Meredith Tarlton Moore Papers, 1906-1908 (K0202)
0.1 c.f.

 Finding Aid

Notes and transcript reports from interviews with Meredith Tarlton Moore, a soldier in the Mexican War and a trader on the California Trail

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Wick Morgan Journal, 1854 (C3817)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Journal of Wick Morgan describing his trip to California from Dade County, Missouri, with a wagon train. The notes detail the availability of food, the conditions of the roads, and the mileage traveled daily by the group.

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Morrow and Skaggs Families Papers, 1843-1995 (R1520)
3 cubic feet (109 folders, 1,139 photographs, 75 negatives, 5 tin types)

 Finding Aid

The Morrow and Skaggs Families Papers contain materials related to the Morrow and Skaggs families predominantly of Miller County, Missouri. The bulk of the materials is an expansion of Joe Morrow’s genealogical compilation, Ancestors and Descendents [sic] of George & Ethel (Skaggs) Morrow, privately printed, June 1980. The materials include correspondence, family trees, photographs, certificates, and personal documents.

W.I.I. Morrow Papers, 1839, 1852 (C2051)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Positive Photostat copy of a day by day account of the journey of Morrow, attending physician to a party of Cherokee Indians, during the forced migration between c. 20 February-24 March 1839. Two typescript copies of a diary also included. Copy of 1852 letter from Morrow regarding use of liquor among Seneca Indians near Enterprise, Missouri.

Andrew Lopp Murphy Diary, 1849 (C2723)
0.04 cubic feet (2 folders)

 Finding Aid

Detailed diary of overland trip to California from Missouri during the Gold Rush. Describes scenery, weather, and gives number of miles traveled each day.

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Nathan Olive Boone Homestead Committee Collection, 2003 (R0951)
0.02 cubic foot (2 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead Collection contains a First annual Nathan Boone Rendezvous booklet from 1984 and a souvenir booklet for the Twentieth Annual Nathan Boone Homestead Days Festival, held in September 2003 at Ash Grove in Greene County, Missouri.

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Native Sons of Kansas City Scrapbooks, 1820-1960 (K0395)
14 c.f.

Scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, photographs, manuscript materials, publications, and research notes of a variety of Kansas City area events and topics, such a early settlers and civic leaders, built environment, art and culture, education, government, and commercial activities.

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"Navigators of the Old West," John Marion Woolf, no date (C2125)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains mimeographed excerpts from a brochure, giving short biographies of Orson Pratt, Steven Kearny, John C. Fremont, J.N. Nicollet, and Silvestre Escalante.

John H.B. Neill Papers, 1850-1860 (C1778)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Letters to his wife describing his overland journey to California in 1850, military land warrant in the name of Nancy Neill, and document explaining J.H.B. Neill's ownership of certain land, 1860.

Newark, Missouri, History, no date (C0761)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

History of Newark, Knox County, MO, 1836-1932, and typed copy of order of incorporation, 1872.

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Coleman Shelton Newkirk Travel Account, no date (C3166)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains an account of the Newkirk family who moved from Mexico, MO, to the Sacramento River in California in 1862, and eighteen years later moved from Scott's Valley, CA, to Dayton, WA.

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Robert J. Offutt Diary, 1898 (C3755)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains an extract from the diary of a Callaway County, MO, man who went to Alaska with a large party to prospect for gold. Entries mention travel, but nothing about the gold fields themselves.

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Old Plainsmen Association Records, 1909-1917 (K0531)
0.08 c.f.

 Finding Aid

Minute book and other documents relating to an association of men and women who had crossed the American Plains. Also includes "old settlers", early settlers in Jackson County, MO.

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Overland Mail Centennial Scrapbook, 1958 (C3457)
1 volume

 Finding Aid

Clippings, photographs, brochures, and miscellaneous records which marked the hundredth anniversary of the first overland stage route in the U.S.

Overland Trail to California Panorama Notice, 1850 (C2857)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Notice of panorama exhibition of scenes of the overland route to California by the south pass of the Rocky Mountains. OVERSIZE.

"Ozark Towns," Nancy Nance, no date (C2101)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Article about the origin of names of Ozark towns and villages, submitted to the MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW for publication.

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Palestine Cemetery Research Collection, 2014-2019 (KA2608)
0.30 cubic feet, 2.11 GB

 Finding Aid

The Palestine Cemetery Research Collection contains project materials compiled by Lou Austin and Becky Grady concerning Palestine Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. The purpose of the project was to determine if the cemetery was used by pioneers heading west along the Santa Fe Trail.

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John Patee Deed, 1860 (C1868)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Deed of John Patee to Bela M. Hughes of the Pony Express stable sites in St. Joseph, MO, May 5, 1860. From the Buchanan County, MO, recorder's office.

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"Patsy the Pioneer," Edith S. Burris, no date (C2947)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Life of Rebecca Gregg, Missouri pioneer. Impact of War of 1812 and Civil War, and incidents of pioneer life.

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Patton-Scott Family Papers, 1836-1983 (C3710)
1.2 cubic feet

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Correspondence, financial and legal documents, genealogy, poetry, prose, and miscellaneous volumes of the Patton and Scott families. Describes agriculture, economic conditions, overland travel, daily life, family activities, and tragedies. Firsthand accounts of the Civil War's influence on civilian life in Missouri, Mississippi, and Indiana.

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Richmond and Elizabeth A. Pearson Warranty Deed, 1873 (C1577)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains a warranty deed to land in Audrain County sold to Amos Ladd, Audrain County, MO, for $15,000.

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Adam Perkins Papers, 1861-1871 (R1335)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Adam Perkins Papers contain a typescript copy of Adam Perkins' journal, a farmer from Bollinger County, Missouri, is dated from January 1861 through December 1871. The journal was discovered in 1990 in Plainfield, Illinois. It was then typescript by Jean Scott of Orlando, Florida and sent to Lorena S. Eaker of Bollinger, Missouri for editing.

Phillips Family Papers, 1863-1935 (R0169)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Phillips Family Papers contain photocopies of miscellaneous personal papers of the Phillips family of New Madrid County, Missouri. Included are the inventory and sales records of the estate of Shapley R. Phillips and a letter from Robert E. Lee concerning the attendance of Murray Phillips at Washington College in Lexington, Virginia.

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George B. Phillips Papers, 1850 (R0082)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The George B. Phillips Papers contain photocopies and typescripts of letters written by George Phillips to his sister, Mary E. Phillips in Cortlandville, New York. The letters describes his life in Fairfax County, Virginia.

John Phillips Letter, 1793 (C0534)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Letter from John Phillips of Boston to Samuel Gray dated November 28, 1793. The letter concerns a deed for land purchased by Jeremiah Clark, Jr.

Z. Pike Account, 1812 (C2776)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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An account for $36 for transportation of baggage from Washington to New York.

Samuel C. Plummer Papers, 1850 (C2750)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Excerpts from letters written by Samuel C. Plummer, physician, on an overland trip to California. Conditions on trail and business endeavors in Placerville, CA. Letter from Samuel C. Plummer, II, describes his father's return from California.

E.W. Pomeroy Letter, 1847 (C2042)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains a letter to Robert Aull, Mexico, MO, from E.W. Pomeroy, Santa Fe, May 29, 1847. The letter discusses Doniphan's expedition and Santa Fe trade.

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Pony Express Commemorative Envelope, 1950 (C1883)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Envelope addressed to Floyd C. Shoemaker on the 90th anniversary of the Pony Express, St. Joseph to Sacramento.

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Elizabeth Lar Pope Letter, 1875 (C1627)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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To Daniel Sullivan, St. Joseph, MO, from Plattsburg, MO, Aug. 16, 1875. Mrs. Pope regretted she could not attend the Old Settlers' reunion. Sketch of her life; early settlers in Kentucky; Daniel Boone and Abraham Lincoln; and Indian difficulties in Kentucky.

Clyde H. Porter Collection, 1958 (K0526)
0.1 c.f.

 Finding Aid

Research notes and papers of Porter and his wife Mae Reed Porter, regarding families engaged in the fur trade in the Kansas City area, and the American West. Included are files on the Chouteau Family of Kansas City, the Charbonneau Family, Moses "Black" Harris, and the Thomas Vasquez Family.

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Justus Post Letter, 1817 (C1976)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

To John Post, Addison, VT, from St. Louis, MO, Dec. 5, 1817.

Land speculation, weather, and crops. Encourages brother to move to Missouri.

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Justus Post Letters, 1816 (C0388)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Photostat copies of letters from St. Louis, Missouri Territory, to his brother John Post in Vermont commenting on land prices, condition and availability.

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William Powell Letters, 1839-1840 (C2035)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Letters written by William Powell of Huntsville, MO, to his brother, Henry A. Powell, in Yanceyville, NC. Prices of land, food, grain crops and livestock; abundance of wild game; and richness of the land. Begs the rest of the family to join them in Missouri.

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Zula R. Price, "Bear Creek Community" Collection, 1980 (R0024)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains a typescript of Zula R. Price's, "Bear Creek Community." The reminiscence and history of Bear Creek, Cedar County, Missouri. The village was originally named Paynterville.

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William R. Prince Papers, 1850-1851 (C2691)
1 volume

 Finding Aid

Three letters from Sacramento, CA, to Charlotte Prince and Mrs. L.D. Foot of Flushing, NY, describing gold mines and Sutter's Fort, and one express company receipt for 37 ounces of placer gold.

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Patrick J. Quirk Diary, 1865 (C3943)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The diary of Patrick J. Quirk relates the details of a trip made in 1865 by railroad and steamboat from Springfield, Massachusetts, to Yankton, South Dakota, on the way to the Montana Territory.

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Peter Goodman Rea Papers, 1838-1899 (C0152)
0.12 cubic feet (6 folders)

 Finding Aid

Letters to a pioneer Presbyterian minister, containing early church history, and autobiography giving account of a trip on horseback to Texas in 1849-1850. Originals are in the possession of the donor.

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William Rector and Angus L. Langham Document, 1819 (C1631)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Instrument signed in St. Louis, Missouri Territory, 3 May 1819. States that William Rector and Angus L. Langham sold land for a town at the confluence of the Osage and Missouri rivers to Thomas C. Rector and Richard Gentry.

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Mabel Reed Collection, 1847-1872 (R0044)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Mabel Reed Collection contains letters of the Dace family in Missouri from relatives in Texas and Wisconsin.

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"Reminiscences," James Bumgardner Jr., no date (C1061)
0.03 cubic feet (1 volume)

 Finding Aid

Reminiscences of life in Virginia, Kentucky, and Clinton County, MO.

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"Research on Boone's Lick," Lewis Saum, 1962 (C2185)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Description of nineteenth-century salt-making processes and the Boone's Lick Salt Works.

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S.P. Reynolds Collection, 1806-1810 (C0927)
2 oversize items

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Plats of village of Little Prairie, New Madrid District, 1806, and of town of New Madrid, 1810.

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Edwin Stanton Rice Papers, 1851-1947 (C0397)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

John Dubois' membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, April 7, 1851; Little Miami and Columbus and Xenia Railroad Company, freight ticket, 1863; letter, 1900, concerning Springfield, MO, freight office; and letter to a Springfield daily newspaper from Rice, 1947, with early Missouri historical notes.

William A. Richards Letters, 1841-1854 (C1759)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Letters from Missouri to his brothers in Richmond, VA, and New York City.

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