New on the Midwest Genealogy Center’s microfilm shelves - Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency: Criminal Case Files. Pinkerton’s was in existence for almost 150 years, from 1857-1999. During that time, their private investigators pursued some of the nation’s most notorious criminals. The case files contain correspondence, reports from operatives, mug shots, reward notices, and wanted posters.
The Midwest Genealogy Center has an on-going cooperative project with the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah to digitize many of the MGC’s copyright-free materials.
The Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City’s River Quay area is a true Kansas City gem. I had the honor of visiting this museum last summer, and must say, I was not disappointed.
African-American literature has always been an integral part of American culture—even if it has not always been recognized as such. Here are five African-American writers to read for Black History Month, or any time at all.
When Johnny Comes Marching Home When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah, Hurrah, We'll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah, Hurrah, The men will cheer, the boys will shout, the ladies they will all turn out, And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.
Presenting "The American Civil War Research Database"
Want to know if your ancestor fought in the Civil War? A good place to start is with the American Civil War Research Database. You can find this database in the History databases. This resource can be a wealth of information about your Civil War ancestor. Not only can it help you determine who was involved in the Civil War, but it can also help you find out on which side they were fighting.
If you are an American History buff like me or a student researching historical subjects, do I have a database for you? This database is available online, and is titled American History in Video. It has full length Documentaries, many of which have been broadcast on the History Channel, A&E and PBS. I have spent a small fortune on buying DVDs of many of these documentaries, but here you can watch them as many times as you want for free.
Old cars, historical buildings, and archival maps await you. Take a trip back in time, and check out our May display by Smithville's Historical Society.
Have you ever wondered where Smithville's train depot was located? What about the route of the historic Jefferson highway that meandered through Smithville on its way to Winnipeg? Come take a look. You might even see someone from your family tree seated in an old Model-T or perched atop a wagon.
This year is the beginning of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, and right in the middle of the history of the Civil War in this area is Jesse James. His farm in Excelsior Springs is just a short way from Dearborn, and many other historical sites like Fort Leavenworth and Westport are just a daytrip from here.
