Clay County Archives & Historical Library
Liberty, Missouri — Preserving the Past for the Present
☰

Preserving the Past for the Present

Clay County Archives and Historical Library — Liberty, Missouri

📢 Notice: The Archives will be closed Monday, September 7 for Labor Day. We will reopen Tuesday, September 8.

Our Mission

"To procure, preserve, restore, maintain, study, and promote manuscripts, instruments, records, charters, evidence, and documents of a public or private nature which may have statistical, legal or historical significance to Clay County, Missouri, its government or residents, and to encourage public interest therein."

🕐 Hours of Operation

  • Monday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Wednesday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Thursday Closed
  • Friday Closed
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed

Note: With fewer volunteers on Mondays, we recommend visiting Tuesday or Wednesday. Please call ahead to confirm.

📍 Location & Contact

Physical Address:
210 E Franklin Street
Liberty, MO 64068

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 99
Liberty, MO 64069

Phone: (816) 781-3611

Email: info@claycountyarchives.org

News & Announcements

Latest updates from the Archives

June 20, 2026

Liberty Cemetery History Event at Fairview Cemetery

The 48 State Tour arrives in Liberty! Join us for a special event at Fairview Cemetery on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Co-hosted by the City of Liberty Parks Department. An opportunity to learn more about this historic cemetery.

Read more →
March 3, 2026

More Newspapers Now Available Digitally

Our volunteers continue to scan area newspapers and make them more accessible. Papers from Kearney, Liberty, Gladstone, Excelsior Springs, and more can now be viewed in electronic form as well as on microfilm.

Browse Archives →
September 30, 2025

City of Liberty History Through the Roof!

Photos and city records dating back to the early days of the municipality are available at the Archives. Come explore the rich history of Liberty.

Learn more →
June 27, 2023

Grant Awarded — $2,500 from Freedom's Frontier

The Archives received a grant to support historic preservation and research activities. Funds will be used to purchase equipment and supplies for documentation projects.

Read more →

Our Collections

What you'll find at the Archives

📜 County Records

Court records, land deeds, tax rolls, and municipal documents dating back to the early 1800s.

📰 Newspapers

Digitized and microfilm newspapers from Liberty, Kearney, Gladstone, and surrounding communities.

🏘️ School History

Yearbooks, rosters, photos, and records from one-room schools to seminaries and colleges.

📸 Photographs

Thousands of historic images documenting people, places, and events throughout Clay County history.

Become a Member — Support Our Mission

Your membership helps preserve and catalog the rich history of Clay County. Individual & Family memberships are just $15.00 per year. Members enjoy unlimited on-site research and our quarterly newsletter, The Clay County MOsaic.

Join or Renew Today