Established as the sixth branch of the State Historical Society of Missouri, the Research Center–Cape Girardeau is charged with expanding both the study of the southeast region of the state and the preservation of its history.
The center was formed in partnership with Southeast Missouri State University to provide local residents with convenient access to SHSMO resources.
Located within the Center for Missouri Studies, the Columbia Research Center connects students, researchers, patrons, and genealogists with the collections that the State Historical Society of Missouri holds on their behalf.
The Kansas City Research Center, located on the campus of the University of Missouri–Kansas City, collects, preserves, and makes available for study many unique materials related to the history and culture of the Kansas City metropolitan area, western Missouri, and the Midwest. The Center's approximately 14,000 cubic feet of holdings cover a wide range of topics, including architecture and the built environment, minority communities, municipal government, religion, and transportation, to name a few.
The Research Center–Rolla's collection focuses on the history of southern Missouri and the Ozark Highland. Major collections include the records of the St. Louis-San Francisco "Frisco" Railway Company, the St. Joe Minerals Corporation, and the American Zinc, Lead, and Smelting Company.
In addition, the Research Center–Rolla, located on the Missouri University of Science and Technology campus, holds the papers of individuals and families throughout many generations. These records, along with those relating to the numerous churches, businesses, schools, and social organizations in the region, help paint a more complete picture of the area's history.
Supporting the study of Missouri and the Midwest, the Research Center–St. Louis, located on the University of Missouri–St. Louis campus, focuses on preserving the diverse history of the city and its surrounding area within a statewide context.
The Center's rich holdings trace the evolution of greater St. Louis through unique collections that document important groups ranging from labor organizations to environmental activists. Other primary sources offer a window into minority groups and the many diverse communities that make up the growing metropolis.
The State Historical Society of Missouri and Missouri State University are partners in making SHSMO manuscript, book, and microfilm collections available for use in Springfield.
The Springfield Center collections focus on the history of southern Missouri and the Ozarks. A growing number of resources document the area's unique heritage through family papers, photographs, postcards, and organizational records such as the Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development Council Papers (SP009).
