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De Soto Public Library

Genealogy Resources

Resources to use for genealogy and local history research.

The library has an extensive collection of local genealogy materials available for use in researching your family tree.

Browse our microfilm collection, click here.

Materials available
  • Cemetery records
  • Marriage records
  • Funeral home records
  • Census records
  • Family histories
  • School yearbooks
  • Obituaries
  • De Soto Press Newspaper
  • Jefferson Republic Newspaper
  • The Leader Newspaper

We also have…

  • a collection of photos and DVDs about De Soto and Jefferson County
  • De Soto history books
  • Jefferson County history books
  • Missouri history books
  • Native American history books
  • books about Genealogy

A Library Card Number is Required to Access Outside the Library

Ancestry Logo
*In house use only* 
Discover your family history and start your family tree. Billions of genealogy records, including census, SSDI and military service data are available for you to discover and explore. 

HeritageQuest Button
A comprehensive database of American genealogical and historical sources, dating back to the 1700s, including primary sources, local and family histories, and finding aids.

Newspaper Source Button
Newspaper Source provides cover-to-cover full-text for over 400 regional (U.S.), national (U.S.), and international newspapers, and full-text transcripts from television & radio news shows.

Freely Available Online

Chronicling America Button
A database of digitized historic American newspapers from 1777-1963 that cover a wide range of languages and ethnicities from each state. The US Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present database holds information about American newspapers published since 1690.

Find a Grave Button
Search or browse cemeteries and grave records for ancestors and famous persons from around the world. Find details about cemeteries and individual memorials for many people buried in those cemeteries. Memorials generally include birth, death and burial information and may include pictures, biographies, family information and more.

Missouri Digital Heritage Button
A collaborative collection of information about Missouri history online from the Missouri State Archives, the Missouri State Library, and institutions across the state. Provided curricula enable educators and students to develop a greater appreciation for the rich heritage of Missouri.

Missouri Digital Newspaper Project Button
A growing collection of digitized historic newspapers from around the state of Missouri dating from the 1800s-1900s that are keyword-searchable. Maintained by The State Historical Society of Missouri.

National Archives Button
Resources for beginner and experienced genealogists. Includes collections of census, military, immigration, naturalization, and land records, as well as information on how to search and access records relevant to the researcher.

State Historical Society of Missouri Button
A center that collects, preserves, and makes public information about Missouri history. Its online collections include an extensive newspaper archive, Missouri manuscripts, oral histories, and thousands of maps and photographs.