31 December 2019

StLGS Surname Files Index Updated and Online


(Thanks to Judy Belford, our Reference Room librarian, for contributing this week's blog post.)

The St. Louis Genealogical Society Surname Files Index is back online! The index has been down for several months as we inventoried the surname folders in our office, sorted them, and reassessed the collection. The files are made up of a wide variety of material that has been donated to the society over many years by members and friends. We currently have folders on nearly 2,700 surnames. Each surname is listed only once in the index and may refer to a single postcard or to multiple folders of the same or different families.

You can access the Surname Files Index on our website. Since this is such a long index, be sure you select the “Show More Results” link at the end of each screen to see all of the names.

The contents in each file can vary widely, but may contain items such as:
  • Pedigree charts
  • Family group sheets
  • Correspondence
  • Newspaper articles
  • Photocopies from books or journals
  • Research notes
Neither the files nor their contents may be removed from the office, but anyone coming into the office to use the files may make paper copies as desired for a nominal fee. Or, if you bring your smart phone or camera, you are welcome to take photographs.

Because of the inconsistent nature of materials in the files, we recommend that you contact the reference room librarian to learn the contents of a file before coming into the office.

We are once again accepting new material for surname files. Donations must be genealogical in nature (no photograph albums, scrapbooks, baby books, or personal memorabilia) and have some connection to St. Louis. The StLGS librarian reserves the right to edit the contents of donated surname material before adding anything to our collection. For more information or if you have questions about what or how to donate, please send an email to library@stlgs.org or call the office at 314-647-8547 during office hours and ask for the reference room librarian.

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