National Archives Central Plains branch on Bannister
Mid-Continent Genealogy Center in Independence branch -- consistently considered a U.S. Top Five genealogy site
Kansas City Public, particularly the main branch downtown
seven LDS Family Centers on both sides of the state line
near to the state facilities in both capitols of Topeka and Jefferson City

Research Facility Basics

When going to a library, archives, court house, town hall or any other facility housing genealogical records do the following before arriving:

Know what records are available at the facility – types, date ranges, etc.
Know if any costs are required, including photocopying and if a membership is necessary
Know the hours that the facility and its materials are available to the public
Know whether the library has an “open stack” or “closed stack” policy for obtaining books
Bring any reference materials you may need while at the facility
Bring a detailed list of what you are expecting to find, including all necessary documentation
Bring a wish list of what you would like to find
Bring any personal items you might need: reading glasses, magnifying glass, paper clips, stapler, folders, etc.

Libraries

Many libraries allow you to do research on their web sites.

Missouri, Missouri State Library, 600 W. Main St., PO Box 387, Jefferson City, MO 65101, 573-751-3615, www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/resources.asp
Kansas, Kansas State Library, State Capitol Building, Topeka, KS 66612-1593, 785-296-3296, 800-432-3919, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/
other U.S. state libraries: for a list of their web sites visit www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dlcl/pld/statelib.html

Mid-Continent Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee's Summit, Independence, MO 64050, 816-252-7228, mymcpl.org/genealogy. Also see mymcpl.org/locations/midwest-genealogy-center
Kansas City Missouri Public Library downtown branch, Missouri Valley Room, 311 E. 12th St., Kansas City, MO 64106-2454, 816-701-3505, www.kclibrary.org/guides/genealogy/ (the new main branch is due to open in early 2004 at 14 W. 10th Street)
Johnson County Public Library Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212, 913-495-2400, www.jocolibrary.org/default.aspx?id=2168.
Click here [JOCO holdings] to see a listing of basic genealogical materials available at the Johnson County, Kansas Public Library (at the main branch)
Kansas City Kansas Public Library, 625 Minnesota, Kansas City, KS, 66101, 913-551-3280, www.kckpl.lib.ks.us or http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/wyandott/

Their web sites usually offer limited but good information, even for non-members.

Join national societies and get their publications
For links to many U.S. genealogical societies see the web site www.obitlinkspage.com/hs/
New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), 101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116, annual membership is $75 www.americanancestors.org (growing collection of material available online for members with one master index for all)
National Genealogical Society (NGS), 4527 17th Street North, Arlington, VA 22207-2399, annual membership $50, www.ngsgenealogy.org
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Washington, D.C., www.dar.org/natsociety. KC Public has many DAR books
Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Louisville, KY, $35/year, www.sar.org
The American Genealogist (TAG) (a leading genealogical publication) www.americangenealogist.com/, $30 for 1 year or $56 for two years or $80 for 3 years.
(Kansas City Public Library main branch has the complete collection)

Missouri State Genealogical Association, P.O. Box 833, Columbia, MO 65205-0833, (phone number not known), www.mosga.org, books are housed at the Mid-Continent Public Library - North Independence branch
Missouri State Historical Society, 1020 Lowry St., Columbia, MO 65201-7298, 573-882-7083, shs.umsystem.edu/index.shtml
Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615, 785-272-8681, www.kshs.org

Join local chapters, they usually meet monthly and have a newsletter:
To see a list of numerous genealogical and historical associations, etc. in the Kansas City area, see www.jchs.org/education/jacomo_bookmark.htm
Clay and Platte counties in Missouri, First Church of Christ Scientist at 2121 Gentry Street, NKC, MO,
Northland Genealogy Society (Clay and Platte counties), P.O. Box 14121, Parkville, MO 64152-0621, http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~kcngs, meets at 10:00 am on the first Saturday of each month in the Armour Room at N. Kansas City Hospital
Jackson County Missouri locations of genealogical/historical records www.segenealogy.com/missouri/mo_county/jac.htm
Jackson county Missouri, 129 W. Lexington, Independence, MO 64050, 816-461-1897, www.jchs.org and www.jchs.org/archives/archives.html
Jackson County Missouri Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2145, Independence, MO, 64055, 816-252-8128, library at 1111 W. Pacific Street, [web site not available in October 2004]
Johnson county Kansas: Johnson County Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, Kansas 66212, 913-495-2400, www.johnsoncountykansasgenealogy.org, meets at 10:00am the fourth Saturday of each month except December
Wyandotte County Kansas Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 4228, Kansas City, KS 66104-0228, 913-551-3280, www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/KSCOLL/Links.htm

Books and lists finding aids exist for this including Val Greenwood's book part of which is excerpted at www.genealogy.com/genealogy/5_grnwd.html
Also see the appropriate chapter in Ralph Crandall’s book Shaking Your Family Tree
Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka. LDS) facilities in Salt Lake City or visit any of their local Family History Centers (go to the web site www.genhomepage.com/FHC/all.html or look in the phone book under “Church of Jesus Christ” for the family centers. The Salt Lake facility is H-U-G-E (it’s hard to overstate that!!!). Both the New England Historic Genealogical Society of Boston and the National Genealogical Society of Washington, D.C. sponsor annual trips to the LDS Salt Lake facility for their members. Books exist that explain how to research in the Salt Lake facility. One book is Your Guide to the Family History Library: How to Access the World's Largest Genealogy Resource by Paula Stuart Warren and James W. Warren, $20