1. Manuscripts Finding the Diamond in the Rough Images courtesy of the St. Louis Mercantile Library @ UMSL unless otherwise noted

2. Dead ends can come back to life with a little work and creative thinking

3. What are manuscripts? Why are they important? How do I find them?

4. What are manuscripts?

5. Letter written by James Polk

6. Articles of the Missouri Fur Company

7. The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862 Courtesy of the Library of Congress

8. Business Records of Robert Campbell. 1832-1879

9. Journal of Henry G.A. Caspers. June 13, 1846 - December 1848

10. Why are they important?

11. GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers Through the Cumberland Gap, 1851-52 Oil on canvas, 36 1/2 x 50 1/4" Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Washington University in St. Louis. Gift of Nathaniel Phillips, 1890

13. www.wisconsinhistory.org

15. How do I find them?

16. Learn about their life

17. KARL BODMER Boston Lighthouse Courtesy of The New York Public Library. www.nypl.orgwww.nypl.org

18. KARL BODMER Herds of Bisons and Elks on the Upper Missouri Courtesy of The New York Public Library. www.nypl.orgwww.nypl.org

19. GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM The County Election, 1852

20. KARL BODMER Capture of the Daughters of Daniel Boone and Richard Callaway by the Indians Courtesy of Yale University

21. Now that I know more about their life, where would the information be?

22. www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/index.html

23. www.worldcat.org/

25. Think Outside the Box Historical Societies Libraries Churches Local Government Current Local Population (basements, garage sales)

26. Through the use of manuscripts not only will you learn about the world your ancestor lived in, but you may even find your ancestor.

27. Contact Information Deborah E. Cribbs decribbs@gmail.com