Local History

Focusing predominantly on Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, New York, and towns and cities in North Carolina this resource presents multiple aspects of the African American community through pamphlets, newspapers and periodicals, correspondence, official records, reports and in-depth oral histories, revealing the prevalent challenges of racism, discrimination and integration, and a unique African American culture and identity.

Drawing on myriad sources and assembled with the guidance of leading librarians, this database gives voice to the African American experience from its African origins to the present day. This vast and accessible database covers history, biographies, literature, arts, music, popular culture, folklore, business, slavery, the struggle for civil rights, politics, sports, education, science, and other themes.

Unlock your family’s story with sources like censuses, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents, directories, photos, and maps.

Travel back in time with this historical collection of fire insurance maps. You'll find more than 1,400 detailed Sanborn insurance maps of 376 Missouri towns and cities. Covers the years 1867-1970.

Fire Insurance Maps Online (FIMo) provides access to digitized fire insurance maps, including publications by Sanborn, Perris, Hexamer, Whipple, Baist, Bromley, Hopkins, and others. These maps offer detailed historical representations of urban areas, originally created for fire insurance purposes. They document building footprints, construction materials, and street layouts. FIMo is a valuable resource for researchers, historians, genealogists, and property owners seeking to explore the past development and infrastructure of cities. Discover the evolution of St. Louis neighborhoods and buildings through these meticulously detailed maps from a variety of historical mapmakers.

Fold3 provides convenient access to U.S. military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. Original records at Fold3 help you discover and share stories about these everyday heroes, forgotten soldiers, and the families that supported them.  Includes special archives collections: African American, American Revolution, Native American, U.S. Bureau of Investigation Case File, and World War II. Fold3’s social networking aspect allows you to combine original historical documents and records found on the site with what you have in your own albums and shoeboxes to create an online memorial for someone who served.

Access to issues of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1874-2003).

The St. Louis Public Library presents "Maps of Missouri" illustrating the many ways maps convey times, places, and events. Approximately 100 maps of Missouri cities, towns, counties and the state are included in the exhibit.

The Missouri Remembers portal documents visual artists who were active in Missouri through 1951. Use this resource to learn about the artists, exhibitions, and institutions that have defined the state's artistic culture. New Missouri artists are being added to this resource regularly, so please visit again.

Newspaper articles from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Kansas City Star, and the full-text from more than 1,000 newspapers in the US and around the world. This product is protected by copyright. For use by individual cardholders only.

Explore this extensive online database of historical newspapers from the early 1700s into the early 2000s. It contains a diverse blend of well-known regional and local newspapers in the US and other countries, including the St. Louis Globe Democrat. Date ranges vary by publication.

Explore research guides created by SLPL staff on topics ranging from St. Louis Obituaries and the World's Fair to our Zine collection.

St. Louis Public Library's Digital Collections contain photographs, maps, stereograph cards, illustrations, and other documents from the Library's holdings. Items are being scanned and added on a routine basis. The current digital collection is only a small fraction of the total available materials, and is growing all the time.

Search, sort, view, and print Company Profiles and Prospect Lists from Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City databases of the Sorkins Directory.

Access issues of The St. Louis American newspaper from 1949 to 2010. As a leading voice of the St. Louis African American community, The St. Louis American has been in continuous publication since 1928. This valuable digital resource offers insight into the history, culture, and experiences of the African American community in St. Louis.

Browse and search the latest editions of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and issues dating back to 1988.