The Midwest Genealogy Center is part of the Mid-Continent Public Library, “the largest library system in the metropolitan area, operating 35 libraries and serving over 770,000 people in Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties.”

You can visit the Genealogy page for online databases available to library patrons or use the links below for online collections available to the general public.

“In 2006, MCPL acquired property to build the largest, free standing, public genealogy library in the United States. The Midwest Genealogy Center opened on June 21, 2008. The facility is a 52,000 square foot, state-of-the-art library with all the resources and amenities desired by genealogical researchers. The MGC features a significant browsing collection, advanced technology, classes, and available one-on-one appointments.”

Online Collections

• Archival Collections – collections by family or surname, some are digitized and online, all are named
• Digitized Books – includes histories of families, county and local histories, how-to books on genealogy, genealogy magazines and periodicals (including some international), medieval books (including histories and pedigrees), and gazetteers. This is a collaborative and on-going project with Familysearch.
• Family History Forms – including fillable PDFs for family trees, and blank census forms for all US Federal Censuses
• Genealogy Gallery
  • Central Christian Church Collection
  • Titus Family Collection
  • Guy Lee Tinder, Jr correspondence collection
  • Walker/McCann Family diaries
  • Ethel White Earles Scrapbook
  • Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodges of Jackson County, Missouri Collection
  • Herbert C. Roy Photograph Collection
  • Raytown Historical Collection
• Jackson County & Kansas City Plat Books, 1886-1925
• Searchable indexes
  • AFRA Pedigree Tables
  • Book Indexes
  • Independence Examiner Newspapers
  • Local History Indexes
  • Kansas City Social Registers
  • KC Star and KC Times
  • MGC Archive Indexes
  • The Call Newspaper
  • US Railroad Retirement Claim Records – 1.5 million worker claim records
• Tell Me A Story – Oral Histories online

Onsite Collections

The Midwest Genealogy Center has:

• Resources for Genealogy and Family History
• Family History Forms – including fillable PDFs for family trees, and blank census forms for all US Federal Censuses
• Periodical Collections – Much of the information published in genealogical periodicals cannot be found elsewhere. County or state census records, cemetery readings, deeds, probate records, and even birth and marriage records are staple components of periodicals. Some are published by state or county genealogical or historical societies. Lineage societies, special interest groups (including ethnic), family/surname associations, and even for-profit corporations also are included in the list of genealogical periodical publishers.
• Genealogy Assistance – this free program, “Appointment with a Genealogy Consultant,” will have library staff members and selected volunteers set aside time to spend with one person, working on one genealogical question