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PILGRIMS, PIONEERS & ALIENS

 

By Diana L. Smith

On The Road Again: The National Archives - Central Plains Region in Kansas City, Missouri

 

Previous articles in this series have discussed the National Archives & Records Administration facility in Washington, D.C.  There are, however, an additional 17 NARA Regional Records Services Facilities around the country.  Most have extensive holdings of National Archives microfilm publications representing some of the records most useful to genealogical researchers.  In addition each has holdings specific to its regional mandate.

 

The Kansas City Regional branch is a modern facility with a small, but extremely knowledgeable and helpful staff.  If you live in the Kansas City area, have occasion to pass through with research time available, or have research interests which are addressed by their specific mandate, don't miss the chance to take advantage of this opportunity. 

 

General Holdings of the Regional Archives Branches

 

The microfilm collection available at most Regional Archives branches includes:

 

There are also microfilm and print publications which have basic outlines of the other information available from the National Archives.

 

Central Plains Region Holdings

The Central Plains Region is the official repository for federal agencies and Federal courts in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.  Some of the areas of particular local interest included are: 

 

 Here is a sampling of some notable holdings at the Kansas City branch [and the record group identification], which may or may not be the same as other branches:

 

Visiting the NARA Central Plains Region

The archives are located at 2312 East Bannister Road, Kansas City, Missouri  64131.  It is easy to reach from I-435 (southeast quadrant of the perimeter), exiting at Bannister Road west.  At the 95th Terrace stoplight, turn right.  Follow the frontage road east about 1/2 mile (just across the railroad tracks) to Brooklyn Street on the left.  Pass the IRS entrances and around the corner beyond to the right into the NARA parking area.  The entrance is at the northeast corner of the building.  The facility is wheelchair accessible.

 

The hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.  The Microform area only opens at 7:30 AM Monday thru Friday, closing at 5:30 on Tuesday and 9 PM on Wednesday.  This area is also open the third Saturday of each month (except December), 9 AM to 4 PM   If coming from a distance, confirm by phone at 816-926-6272, by fax at 816-926-6982, or email archives@kansascity.nara.gov.  The entire facility is closed on all Federal holidays.

 

Upon arrival, pick up a VISITORS sign and place it on your dashboard, then return to the facility to sign in.

 

There are several different places to sign in, depending on your research purpose and resources to be consulted.  If you will be consulting the microform records, sign in at the entrance to the Microform Research Room.  To utilize the original records, there is a sign-in book inside the Textual Research Room.  Court-related researchers have a separate registration process.  

 

If you have not previously researched at this NARA branch, you will need to obtain a researcher identification card prior to utilizing the original records.  This requires completing a form and showing valid photo ID, such as driver's license, passport, or business identification.  The researcher ID card is valid for three years and renewable.  You must be at least age 16 to obtain a researcher ID.  It must be presented during each research visit, and the number is used for identification on call slips for original records 

 

Be aware of the following Textual Research Room Rules (from the sign posted there):

 

Additionally:  

 

In the Microform Room there are several displays of brochures and forms helpful to researchers for reference.  Some helpful publications are also available for purchase.  There are also volunteers available to assist researchers.  The Archives staff are available for consultation if needed, but the volunteers are knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Ask questions, but as always, be prepared with your information first.  When researching in the Textual Research Room, the Archives staff will assist you as needed. 

 

In the Microform Room, there are a large number of microfilm readers (more than 60), plus numerous microfiche readers.  The reader-printers are reserved for those actually making prints ($.30 per page).  Please limit yourself to two rolls of microfilm at a time.  If there is a waiting list for the readers, a one-hour limit may be imposed.  Please be considerate of others - if you are taking a lunch break, sign out so someone else can use the machine during your absence.  The microfilms are in file cabinets with the contents identified.  Photocopies may be made at a cost of $.30 each for microfilm or by the volunteers for $.15 each from paper sources.

 

The Textual Research Room is small, so if you plan to go with others, call ahead to make sure there is not another group coming that day.  There is only space for about 6 people to spread out materials - about 12, if they are not referencing large books.  If you wish to use your computer in the Textual Research Room, it is a good idea to call ahead about that as well, since there are limited power receptacles, as well as the space concern.

 

Original source materials may be photocopied by the staff at a cost of $0.50 per page.  You may be allowed to copy loose pages which will not be damaged by photocopying.  Ask the staff for confirmation and/or assistance.  Pay for copies at the main counter.  Try to do your copying as you go so you don't tie up the staff or equipment when others need copies - and to be sure you do not run out of time - ALL photocopy requests be submitted by one-half hour before closing.  Unless you request otherwise, materials are returned to the stacks so make sure you're finished with them ... and don't forget to have the title page copied and note the full citation of the source!  [Note: there is a wonderful FREE brochure available called Citing Records in the National Archives of the United States.  Get a copy, and USE IT!]

 

Special Services

If you are a parent or teacher in the Kansas City area, ask about the educational programs available.  They have designed several workshops for teachers and for teachers & students (1-4 hours to a full day).  The most popular of these programs offers a program at the school, followed by "homework" at the Archives.    

 

They also offer genealogical workshops and seminars, special workshops in preservation and use of specific resources, and offer a speakers' bureau for organizations in the Kansas City area.

 

The National Archives-Central Plains Region (and most others) cannot perform extensive research for patrons.

 

Acknowledgements

 

My sincere thanks to Marilyn Finke and Diana Duff of the NARA Central Plains Region staff for their assistance in preparing this article.

 

Further Reading (please!)

Web Sites:

NARA Homepage.  http://www.nara.gov

NARA Archival Information Locator (NAIL).  This is a pilot database of selected digitized holdings.  http://www.nara.gov/nara/nail.html

Full Text of Daily Federal Register.   http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html

Online Exhibit Hall.  http://www.nara.gov/exhall/exhibits.html

JFK Assassination Records Collection Database.   http://www.nara.gov/research/jfk/jfk.html

General Reference Inquiries.   inquire@nara.gov

Naturalization Records and NARA.   http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/natural.html

Military Personnel Records.  Extensive guidance on access to the military and civilian personnel and medical records available in St. Louis.   http://ww.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html

Books and Magazine Articles:

Hone, E. Wade.  Land & Property Research in the United States.  Salt Lake City: Ancestry Inc., 1997.

National Archives and Records Administration.  Guide to Records in the National Archives--Central Plains Region, Kansas City, Missouri, Reference Information Paper 87.   Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1994. 

Pfeiffer, Laura Szucs.  Hidden Sources: Family History in Unlikely Places.  Salt Lake City: Ancestry Publishing, 2000.

Szucs, Loretto Dennis, and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking.  The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy.  Revised edition.  Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1997.  

Other Resources:

Repeat Performance (aka AudioTapes.com) records many presentations at national and regional genealogical conferences. These are available on audio cassette for about $8.50 each on-site, through mail order, or through their web site. A search engine also allows you to search for other presentations by title or presenter. http:/www.repeatperformance.com/ or http://www.audiotapes.com  Specifically look for this:

 

 

I am always interested in hearing from readers, so if you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, please email me at:  talkgenealogy@aol.com. However, I regret that I am unable to help readers with specific research.  

 

Happy Hunting!

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© Diana L. Smith, Olmsted Falls, Ohio. 2001. All rights reserved.

Clip art images © Imageline, Inc., International Microcomputer Software Inc., or T/Maker Company/ Broderbund Software, Inc. All rights reserved.

06-Jul-2001