University of Missouri System

Western Historical Manuscript Collection

The University of Missouri created the Western Historical Manuscript Collection in 1943 with the mission to collect, preserve, and make available to prospective users records that illuminate the history of Missouri and the broader region to which it belongs. In active cooperation with the State Historical Society of Missouri, a constantly growing collection of sources has been assembled to document all aspects of life in Missouri and the Midwest. In addition to the more traditional political, military, and diplomatic records, users will find information on religion, the arts, education, the professions, ethnic and social groupings and movements, all aspects of the economy, and data on the lives of both famous and obscure individuals that in totality illustrate the experience and culture of the region.

With the expansion of the University into a four-campus system, and in keeping with the scholarly ideal of sharing all existing records with those who may be interested, the Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla and St. Louis campuses have joined in the cooperative effort with the State Historical Society to make the Western Historical Manuscript Collection a truly statewide resource readily available to faculties, students, visiting scholars, and citizens. In doing so, the Collection serves a major function of universities: the preservation and dissemination of knowledge of our past. All citizens interested in this goal are invited to join in furthering its advancement.