The Ray County Library has a small collection of local city, county, and state historical materials. The collection includes materials in monograph print, serial, bound folio, and microfilm formats. The topics covered include family histories, marriage records, cemetery gravesite information, funeral home records, and census records. Many of these materials are available in the adult reference section. Materials that need to be handled with care are housed in a temperature-controlled environment and are available for in-library use upon request.
Microfilm Collection
The special collection materials include a variety of local historical newspapers. Microfilm rolls are available for viewing onsite on the library’s microfilm reader. Users will be required to complete a research request form.
Materials on Microfilm:
- Federal Census of the United States (1790)
- Missouri Census (1840-1880)
- Ray County Census (1920)
- Daily News (1983-1999)
- Hardin News (1901-1953)
- Lawson Review (1902-1992)
- Orrick Newspaper (1896-1967)
- Ray County Conservator (1861-1914, 1953-1982)
- Richmond Democrat (1884-1888)
- Richmond Herald (1852)
- Richmond Mirror (1853-1858)
- Richmond Missourian (1901-1946)
Research Assistance
The library will assist users with historical research requests. If researchers are not able to visit the library in person, they can submit a research request form to receive assistance from library staff. Research request forms can be submitted via email to rclibraryservices@gmail.com or postal mail at PO Box 644, Richmond, MO 64085. For some services fees will apply.