Genealogy & Local History Room

Interior shot of Baxter County Library's Genealogy & Local History Room

Our Local History/Genealogy Room contain items that may be one of a kind or are no longer readily available. To protect this collection so that it continues to grow and remains available for future users, the room is locked when a staff member or volunteer is not present. Please inquire at the Information Desk or Circulation Desk and staff will unlock the door. Materials are for on site use and may not be taken from the room. They are not available for Inter-Library Loan; however, photocopies may be requested for a fee.

Reference staff and Genealogy volunteers can provide guidance to get you started on your search, but they do not perform individual research. Microfilm reader/printer and copier are available.
Copies or  printouts are 10 cents each.

Please:

  • Sign in
  • Use Lockers purse, or bag
  • Use hooks for coat, jacket, or sweater
  • Leave food & drinks outside
  • A copy machine is available; copies are 10 cents per page
Online Research Tools

Local History and Genealogy Room Collection

Arkansas Newspaper Microfilm Collection 2015 (Detailed PDF)

  • Arkansas Gazette Weekly:  Nov. 20, 1819 – Nov. 17, 1868 – 14 Rolls
  • The Baxter Bulletin: Dec. 20, 1901 – Current – 215 Rolls – Index available though Dec., 1956
  • The Cotter Record: Dec.11, 1903 – May 20,1918 – 3 Rolls – Index available
  • The Cotter Courier: Jan. 15, 1909 – Dec. 30, 1937 – 2 Rolls – Index available
  • The Mountain Echo: Mar. 5, 1886 – Jan. 19, 1917 – 4 Rolls – Index available though June, 1903
  • Ozark County News: Mar. 15, 1883 – Dec. 29, 1904 – 5 Rolls
  • Democrat (Gainesville, MO): June 1, 1904 – Nov. 29, 1905 – 1 Roll
  • Baxter Co. Court Records: 1874 – 1889 – 2 Rolls
  • Baxter Co. Probate Court – Wills: 1879-1931 – 1 Roll
  • Baxter Co. Probate Guardianship: 1874-1889 – 1 Roll
  • Baxter Co. Marriages: 1895 – 1920 – 3 Rolls
  • Baxter Co. Land, Property & Deeds: 1878 – 1883 – 2 Rolls
  • Baxter Co. Cemetery & Church Records: 1878 – 1883 – 1 Roll
  • Indian Pioneer History Collection: – 2 Rolls
  • Norfork/Wolf Materials: – 2 Rolls
  • U.S. Census/Diverse Collection: – 47 Rolls
  • Ketchum Collection
  • Yearbooks:
    • Mountain Home, AR 1946-2012
    • Gainesville, MO 1970-1983
  • U. S. Army Corps of Engineers: Norfork Dam Construction.   
    8″ x 10″ Prints, 565 Count. Indexed by Date & Key Words.
    • Vol. 1, Number 001 – 150.   Sept. 20, 1939 – Dec. 11, 1941
    • Vol. 2, Number 151 – 333.  Mar. 12, 1942 – July 12, 1944
    • Vol. 3, Number 334 – 565.  July 13, 1944 – Oct. 27, 1944
  • Mayme Green Collection: Pictures of Robert & Lillie Russel
  • Arkansas History & Genealogy
  • Baxter County History & Genealogy
  • Hatch Match & Dispatch: Births, Marriages & Deaths from The Baxter Bulletin 1901-1956. 12 Volumes Indexed.
  • Schools Annuals of Baxter County
  • Fulton, Izard Marion & Ozark County History & Genealogy
  • American Indian History & Genealogy
  • Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 194 – Current
  • Baxter County
  • Baxter County Plat Book
  • Bull Shoals Reservoir: White River, Arkansas & Missouri August, 1941 Edition
  • Regional U.S. Geological Survey
  • Table Rock Reservoir: White River Watershed/White River, Arkansas & Missouri. December, 1951 Edition
  • Upper Mississippi River Navigation Charts. 1978 Edition
  • Flood Control & Navigation Maps of the Mississippi River: Cairo, Illinois, to the Gulf of Mexico. 1977 Edition
  • The Baxter Bulletin’s Senior Focus. 1993 – 2003   Indexing in Progress
  • The Daily News. Aug., 1994 – Aug., 1998
  • The Ozark Advertiser. 1994-1997
  • The North Arkansas View.  Jan. 8 – July 30, 1994
  • Confederate Veteran: 43 Volumes
  • Southern Bivouac: 6 Volumes
  • Confederate Military History: 19 Volumes
  • United States Congress Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War: 9 Volumes
  • The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion – Complete Collection
    • Union and Confederate Armies: 128 Volumes
    • Union and Confederate Navies: 31 Volumesv
  • Arkansas Counties:
    • Boone, Carroll, Izard, Lawrence, Marion, Newton, Searcy & Sharp County
  • Missouri Counties:
    • Douglas, Howell, Ozark, Newton, Taney & Wright County

Ketchum Collection

The Ketchum Collection is an extensive video archive of local footage from the 1950’s to 2012 compiled by videographer Bob Ketchum.  The collection contains hours of video footage including Mountain Home and Montessori School graduation ceremonies, local TV Station Channel 43 archives, and episodes of “Inside Focus”, a local show from the 1980’s and 90’s featuring  interviews with a variety of Baxter County citizens.  The collection also includes many local business’s TV commercials and promotional videos, Baxter Healthcare Corporation training videos, footage of “The Last Dance”, concerts by local musicians, tours of the Old College House, Baxter County history as far back as 1953, and more.

Access the Collection in person at the Donald W. Reynolds Library through a user-friendly database in the Local History and Genealogy Room.