Missouri State University Libraries
Lena Wills Collection
Volume: Approximately 16 linear feet processed, plus books in storage
Dates: 1876-1986
Provenance
The collection was given to the Missouri State University Libraries on November 7, 1986, following Mrs. Wills’ death, by her sons James R. and R. Kenneth Wills.
Copyright
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Copyright violations within the collection were found and removed.
Access
The collection is unrestricted. Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be obtained from the Department of Special Collections and Archives. Citations should be as follows: Identification of the item, box and folder number, Lena Wills Collection [M002], Department of Special Collections and Archives, Missouri State University.
Biographical/Historical Sketch
The Missouri State University Libraries acquired this collection in November, 1986, following Mrs. Wills’ death. Her sons, James R. and R. Kenneth Wills, donated the collection in their mother’s name. Mrs. Wills and both of her sons are alumni of Missouri State.
The collection, consisting largely of books and periodicals, was housed in the Special Collections room and "reorganized" by at least two people, a student assistant from Acquisitions and Collection Development, and a graduate student from Reference with an interest in genealogy. There is no record of a collection inventory or other finding aid. In March of 1998, Special Collections Associate Jenni Boone was assigned the project of arranging, describing, and preserving the Lena Wills Collection.
Lena Wills was best known in Springfield for “Ozarks Genealogy,” the genealogy column she wrote from 1969 until her death in 1986 for the Springfield News Leader. An avid genealogist, she taught classes in the subject at Central Bible College and other places.
Wills was born in 1902 and raised in Gerster in St. Clair County. As a child, her family lived in the back of a store and she got to know the customers, which cultivated her interest in people and families. When she later got involved in genealogy, she was surprised to discover that some of the "uncles" and "aunts" she had known growing were actually related to her. In 1922, she came to Southwest Missouri State Teacher’s College (now Missouri State University). She did not finish her degree at that time, however, and married Ralph Wills in 1924.
After her children were grown (Jim graduated Missouri State in 1951 and R. Kenneth was attending) she returned to school in 1953 and graduated with honors in 1957. In 1969, she wrote her first genealogy column for the News Leader. She studied other genealogy columns in preparation for the task, and decided that her column would provide more than just names and dates when possible.
She began building an extensive library of genealogy materials. She also recorded family trees, indexed several funeral home and other types of records, and even indexed her own collection.
Scope and Content
This collection is comprised of almost 2000 books and periodical issues, mainly related to genealogical records in Missouri. There are also some subject files, several maps, and card indexes. The books and periodicals were collected by Wills over the course of perhaps 35 years. The manuscripts and correspondence relate mainly to her genealogy column, which was published from 1969 to 1986.
There are four series in the collection:
Series 1: Manuscripts
Series 2: Oversized materials
Series 3: Card indexes
Series 4: Books and periodicals
Several of the books and periodicals are on long-term loan to the Springfield-Greene County Library District. Those on loan are predominantly duplicates or books not relating directly to Missouri.
Container List
| Series I: Manuscripts (Missouri Counties | |||
| Box 1 | 1 | Barry County | 1952-1986 |
| 2 | Barry County marriages, 1837-1847 | n.d. | |
| 3 | Barry County cemeteries, 1832-1976 | 1979-1982 | |
| 4 | Barton County highway maps | 1967-1977 | |
| 5 | Bates County | 1966-1967 | |
| 6 | Bates County marriages, 1868-1871 | 1977-1979 | |
| 7 | Benton County | 1973-1979 | |
| 8 | Boone County | n.d. | |
| 9 | Buchanan & Butler County | 1975-1978 | |
| 10 | Calloway County MO | 1984 | |
| 11 | Camden County | n.d. | |
| 12 | Camden & Laclede County | 1968-1981 | |
| 13 | Carter County | n.d. | |
| 14 | Cass County | 1972-1975 | |
| 15 | Cedar County | 1968-1983 | |
| 16 | Cedar County marriages, 1845-1865 | n.d. | |
| 17 | Cedar County cemeteries | n.d. | |
| 18 | Cedar County miscellaneous | 1969-1983 | |
| 19 | Chairton County | 1968 | |
| 20 | Christian County | 1970-1986 | |
| 21 | [Christian County cemeteries] | 1970-1979 | |
| 22 | Christian County cemeteries maps | 1960-1969 | |
| 23 | Cemetaries-Pembina | 1971-1973 | |
| 24 | [1870 Census, Christian County Missouri] | n.d. | |
| 25 | [1860 Census, Christian County Missouri] | n.d. | |
| 26 | Christian County: Sparta Funeral Home records | 1974 | |
| 27 | [Christian County marriages] | 1972-73 | |
| 28 | Christian County miscellaneous | 1970-1985 | |
| 29 | Christian Co. [1 of 2] | 1973-1979 | |
| 30 | Christian Co. [2 of 2] | 1928-1984 | |
| 31 | Clay County | n.d. | |
| 32 | Clinton County | n.d. | |
| 33 | Cole County | 1956-1973 | |
| 34 | Crawford County | 1952-1974 | |
| 35 | Dade County | 1907-1985 | |
| 36 | Dallas County | 1970-1977 | |
| 37 | Dallas County: Wills and Administrative Bonds (1871-1883) | n.d. | |
| 38 | Dent County | 1976-1980 | |
| 39 | Douglas County | 1972-1985 | |
| Box 2 | 1 | Douglas County records | 1973-1975 |
| 2 | Douglas County Census (1860) | n.d. | |
| 3 | Dunklin County | n.d. | |
| 4 | Franklin County | n.d. | |
| 5 | Gasconade County | 1975-1979 | |
| 6 | Gentry County | 1972-1978 | |
| 7 | Greene County Soldiers | 1966-1978 | |
| 8 | Greene County 1880 Census [1of 3] | n.d. | |
| 9 | Greene County 1880 Census [2 of 3] | n.d. | |
| 10 | Greene County 1880 Census [3 of 3] | n.d. | |
| 11 | Paxton Funeral Home records, 1871-1900 | n.d. | |
| 12 | US Census for 1900 for the town of Ash Grove, Missouri with Index | n.d. | |
| 13 | Greene County miscellaneous | 1908-1968 | |
| 14 | Holland, Hopewell, and Smith Cemeteries; Greene County 1862-1986 | 1986 | |
| 15 | Springfield Leader and Press Obituaries (1969-1970) | 1969-1970 | |
| 16 | Greene County Taxes 1833-1834 | 1982 | |
| 17 | Henry County | 1970-1979 | |
| 18 | Henry County marriages 1838-1870 | 1977-1979 | |
| 19 | Hickory County | 1974-1983 | |
| 20 | Hickory County Clippings | 1960-1983 | |
| 21 | [Hickory County, Missouri] | 1876-1983 | |
| 22 | Howell County | 1972-1976 | |
| 23 | Howell County marriages & miscellaneous 1867-1871 | 1977-1980 | |
| 24 | Jasper County | 1971-1983 | |
| 25 | Jasper County: Poor Farm, late 1870s-1917 | n.d. | |
| 26 | Jefferson County | 1981 | |
| 27 | Laclede County | 1942-1983 | |
| 28 | Laclede County cemeteries | 1972-1980 | |
| 29 | Lawrence County | 1942-1983 | |
| 30 | Lawrence County miscellaneous | 1921-1982 | |
| 31 | Livingston County, 1845-1945 | n.d. | |
| 32 | Maries County | 1971 | |
| 33 | McDonald County | 1973-1974 | |
| 34 | Miller County | 1971-1978 | |
| 35 | Miller County Information: Peggy Smith Hake | n.d. | |
| Box 3 | 1 | Mississippi County | n.d. |
| 2 | Montgomery County | n.d. | |
| 3 | Morgan County | 1955-1978 | |
| 4 | Newton County | 1972-1983 | |
| 5 | Oregon County | 1972-1973 | |
| 6 | Osage County | n.d. | |
| 7 | Ozark County | 1985 | |
| 8 | Ozark County marriages | n.d. | |
| 9 | Ozark County cemeteries, Book 1 | n.d. | |
| 10 | Pettis County | 1969-1976 | |
| 11 | Phelps County | 1967-1975 | |
| 12 | Pike County | 1969 | |
| 13 | Platte County | 1927 | |
| 14 | Polk County | 1959-1982 | |
| 15 | Polk County cemetery | 1968-1974 | |
| 16 | Polk County, MO 1860 Census | n.d. | |
| 17 | Polk County 1870 Census | n.d. | |
| 18 | Polk County 1880 Census | n.d. | |
| 19 | [In a book of rememberance], 1883-1886 | n.d. | |
| 20 | Pulaski County | 1971-1985 | |
| 21 | Pulaski County Census Index | 1973 | |
| 22 | Ralls County | 1986 | |
| 23 | St. Clair County | 1969-1980 | |
| 24 | Meyers, Baker and Rife | 1983-1984 | |
| 25 | St. Clair County marriage records and index, 1855-1866 | n.d. | |
| 26 | Saint Clair County obituaries and cemeteries | 1971-1981 | |
| 27 | Saint Genevieve and St. Francis | 1971-1980 | |
| 28 | Scott County | 1978-1979 | |
| 29 | Shannon County | 1978-1979 | |
| 30 | Stone County | 1978-1979 | |
| 31 | [Stone County cemeteries and marriages], 1851-1893 | 1967-1984 | |
| 32 | Taney County | 1972-1976 | |
| 33 | Taney County cemeteries | 1971-1976 | |
| 34 | TexasCounty | 1972-1977 | |
| 35 | Texas County Missouri cemeteries Book I | n.d. | |
| Box 4 | 1 | Texas County cemeteries Book II | n.d. |
| 2 | Texas County cemeteries Book III | n.d. | |
| 3 | Texas County cemeteries | n.d. | |
| 4 | Texas County Missouri cemeteries | n.d. | |
| 5 | Vernon County | 1965-1980 | |
| 6 | Wayne County | 1974-1975 | |
| 7 | Webster County | 1972-1981 | |
| 8 | Webster County Missouri marriages (Aug 1872 - Mar 1887) | n.d. | |
| 9 | Webster County miscellaneous | n.d. | |
| 10 | Wrights County | 1970-1980 | |
| 11 | The Family of James Woodruff Christie | n.d. | |
| 12 | Cole Family | 1982 | |
| 13 | Delosier | 1981 | |
| 14 | The Name and Family of Elliot(t) and Eliot | n.d. | |
| 15 | The Name and Famly of Graves | n.d. | |
| 16 | Cathey, Kith and Kin | 1975-1977 | |
| 17 | Kershner | 1978 | |
| 18 | Priester, Knabb | n.d. | |
| 19 | A, B, C, D, E | 1964-1984 | |
| 20 | F, G, H, I, J, K | 1974-1984 | |
| 21 | L, M, N, O, P, Q | 1974-1984 | |
| 22 | R, S, T, U, V, W | 1974-1986 | |
| 23 | Family Organizations | 1970-1983 | |
| 24 | [Genealogy Columns] | 1973-1980 | |
| 25 | Handy book for Genealogists | 1971 | |
| 26 | ["Historical Notes" on Southwest Missouri] | n.d. | |
| 27 | [Libraries and Books] | n.d. | |
| 28 | Missouri | n.d. | |
| Box 5 | 1 | Missouri: Towns and villages by Paul Moser | n.d. |
| 2 | Ozark Genealogy (1976) | 1976 | |
| 3 | Ozark Genealogy (1977) | 1977 | |
| 4 | Southwest Missouri Church Index | n.d. | |
| 5 | Cunninghams in California | n.d. | |
| 6 | Georgia (marriage records and cemeteries) | 1967-1968 | |
| 7 | [Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee marriages] | n.d. | |
| 8 | Charles Co. Maryland, 1729-1797 | n.d. | |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1967-1980 | |
| 10 | [Old West] | 1960-1961 | |
| 11 | South Carolina | 1968 | |
| 12 | [Virginia] | 1972-1974 | |
| 13 | [Genealogy columns from The Virginia Gazette] | 1955-1962 | |
| 14 | Wagon Trains | 1976 | |
| 15 | [Emigrant-Immigrant trails] | n.d. | |
| 16 | North Carolina (1700-1912) | n.d. | |
| 17 | [Early Missouri maps] | n.d. | |
| 18 | Missouri Territory (1813-1819) MO State (1821) | n.d. | |
| 19 | [Map - Lunenberg County, VA] | n.d. | |
| 20 | [Maps of Kentucky] | n.d. | |
| 21 | [Maps of Tennessee] | 1969 | |
| 22 | Wayne County 1819-1831, Greene County 1833-1835 | n.d. | |
| 23 | [Greene County Maps] | 1970 | |
| 24 | [All Abroad] (Frisco Magazine) | 1956 | |
| 25 | [C.B.C.] (Central Bible College) | 1964-1966 | |
| 26 | [Christian County, Missouri cemeteries folder 1 of 2] | n.d. | |
| 27 | [Christian County, Missouri cemeteries folder 1 of 2] | n.d. | |
| 28 | [Christ County cemeteries index] | n.d. | |
| 29 | Genealogy Columns (1979-1982) | 1976-1982 | |
| 30 | [J.P. Docket Ledger] Wright County, 1927-1930s | 1979-1985 | |
| 31 | [Photograph Album] 1910-1916, n.d. | 1910-1916 | |
| Oversized items from Series 1: Located in Map Case, Drawer 2 | |||
| 1 | Barry County highway maps | 1961 | |
| 2 | Barton County highway maps | 1969-1973 | |
| 3 | Bates County highway map | 1970 | |
| 4 | Benton County maps | 1965-1979 | |
| 5 | Butler County maps | 1967 | |
| 6 | Camden County maps | 1968 | |
| 7 | Camden County map | 1968 | |
| 8 | Cedar County map | 1963 | |
| 9 | Chariton County map | 1967 | |
| 10 | Christian County maps | 1968 | |
| 11 | Christian County maps | 1968 | |
| 12 | Christian County maps | 1955-1969 | |
| 13 | Christian County map | 1968 | |
| 14 | Christian County map | 1968 | |
| 15 | Clay County map | 1974 | |
| 16 | Crawford County map | 1967 | |
| 17 | Dade County maps | 1968-1972 | |
| 18 | Dallas County maps | 1947-1966 | |
| 19 | Dent County maps | 1961 | |
| 20 | Douglas County maps | 1968 | |
| 21 | Gasconade County maps | 1963-1967 | |
| 22 | Greene County map | n.d. | |
| 23 | Henry County map | 1977 | |
| 24 | Hickory County maps | 1968 | |
| 25 | Family chart and Howell County map | 1967-1974 | |
| 26 | Jasper County map | 1969 | |
| 27 | Laclede County maps | 1966-1970 | |
| 28 | Lawrence County maps | 1970 | |
| 29 | Maries County map | 1968 | |
| 30 | McDonald County map | 1967 | |
| 31 | Miller County maps | 1964-1968 | |
| 32 | Mississippi County map | 1971 | |
| 33 | Morgan County map | 1969 | |
| 34 | Newton County map | 1968 | |
| 35 | Oregon County map | 1968 | |
| 36 | Ozark County map | 1967 | |
| 37 | Phelps County maps | 1967-1970 | |
| 38 | Platte County maps | n.d. | |
| 39 | Polk County maps | 1947-1969 | |
| 40 | Polk County map | 1965 | |
| 41 | Death record charts | n.d. | |
| 42 | Pulaski County map | 1968-1979 | |
| 43 | St. Clair County map | 1968-1979 | |
| 44 | Stone County map | 1965 | |
| 45 | Taney County map | 1970 | |
| 46 | Texas County map | 1963 | |
| 47 | Vernon County cemetery map, map, and newspaper | 1967-1985 | |
| 48 | Webster County map and newspaper | 1932-1966 | |
| 49 | Wright County newspaper and map | 1968-1976 | |
| 50 | Carroll County, TN map | 1970 | |
| Series 2: Oversized materials, located in Map Case, Drawer 2 | |||
| 51 | [The Ancestral lines of Richard Warren] | n.d. | |
| 52 | [Topographical maps] Spokane, Nixa, Ozark, Bradleyville, Highlandville, and | 1943-1970 | |
| 53 | [Springfield, 1972] | n.d. | |
| Series 3: Card Indexes [Currently not available online] | |||
| Series 4: Books and Periodicals | |||
| book 1 | Missouri Historical Review v.51:no. 3 (1957:Apr.) - v.72:no.3(1983:Apr.) Some missing | 1975-1983 | |
| book 2 | Springfield! Magazine, 1980:June - 1986:Nov. Some missing | 1980-1986 | |
| book 3 | Car-Del Scribe, v.DD:no.467,667-867, v.EE, v.8:no.3 (1971:Mar.) - v.16:no.5(1979:Oct.) some msg. | 1971-1979 | |
| book 4 | Four States Genealogist, v.1 (1968) - v.4 (1971), v.6:no.1(1973) | 1968-1973 | |
| book 5 | Seventeen Seventy-Six v.2:nos.3-4(1983), v.3:nos.2-3 | 1983 | |
| book 6 | Christianity by E. Bevan | 1932 | |
| book 7 | 50 State Capitals | 1969 | |
| book 8 | Hexology: The History and Meaning of the Hex Symbols by J. and J. Zook | 1962 | |
| book 9 | Survey of American Census Schedules by E.K. Kirkham | 1959 | |
| book 10 | When I Was a Little Girl, by R.O. Southworth | 1974 | |
| book 11 | 1860 Federal Census for Dollinger County, Missouri by E. P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 12 | 1860 Buchanan County, Missouri by F.R. Nelson and B.R. Jackson | 1974 | |
| book 13 | Carroll County, Missouri Marriage Records, 1833-1856 by E. P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 14 | Marriage Records of Cole County, Missouri, 1821-1851 by E. P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 15 | Tombstones and Historical Miscellaneous of Dade County, Missouri, vol. 2 by C. Belk | 1981 | |
| book 16 | 1860 Dade County, Missouri Census by Sefton | n.d. | |
| book 17 | Sinking Creek Cemetery | 1983 | |
| book 18 | Marriage Records of Harrison County, Missouri A-D by E. P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 18 | 1830 Census of Franklin County, Missouri | n.d. | |
| book 19 | Marriage Records of Jefferson County, Missouri 1821-1848, vol 1 by E. P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 20 | Marriage Records of Jefferson County, Missouri 1848-1869, vol 2 by E. P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 21 | 1860 Federal Census of McDonald County, Missouri by E. P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 22 | 1860 Federal Census for Miller County, Missouri by E.P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 23 | Record of Marriages Morgan County, Missouri 25 March 1860 to 18 August 1893 by I. S. Yarnell | 1974 | |
| book 24 | Land Grant Certificates Morgan County, Missouri Book 1 by O.C. Hutchison | 1975 | |
| book 25 | 1860 Federal Census for Nodaway County, Missouri by E.P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 26 | St. Clair County, Missouri 1850 Federal Census by E.P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 27 | 1860 Federal Census for St. Francois County, Missouri by E.P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 28 | 1860 Federal Census for Texas County, Missouri by E.P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 29 | 1860 Federal Census of Wright County, Missouri by J.L. Smith | n.d. | |
| book 30 | Archaeological and Historical Survey of Areas to be Affected by the Pierson Creek Trunk Sewer, City of Springfield, Greene County, Missouri by R.E. Cooley and M. Fuller | 1976 | |
| book 31 | Description of Roscoe Community Cemeteries, vol. 1 | 1980 | |
| book 32 | History of Chariton and Howard Counties Missouri by T.B. Smith and P.S. Gehrig | 1923 | |
| book 33 | Missouri History in Cedar County by C. Abbott and L.B. Hoff | 1971 | |
| book 34 | Historical Sketches of Cedar County Missouri by C. Abbott | 1967 | |
| book 35 | History of Callaway County, Missouri | 1884 | |
| book 36 | History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri | 1885 | |
| book 37 | Son of Pioneers by O.E. Brown | 1973 | |
| book 38 | History of Greene County, Missouri | 1883 | |
| book 39 | Forty- Leven Stories About Forty- Leven People, pt. 2 by W.L. York and E.V. York | 1976 | |
| book 40 | History of Howard and Cooper Counties, Missouri | 1883 | |
| book 41 | History of Johnson County, Missouri | 1881 | |
| book 42 | Part of Our Lives by T. Luthy, Jr. | 1976 | |
| book 43 | History of Saline County, Missouri | 1881 | |
| book 44 | History of Hickory County, Missouri by B. B. Ihrig | 1970 | |
| book 45 | History of Henry County, Missouri by U. W. Lamkin | 1919 | |
| book 46 | History of Vernon County, Missouri | 1887 | |
| book 47 | Centennial History of Lowry City, Missouri, 1871-1971 | 1971 | |
| book 48 | History of Missouri Baptists by R. S. Douglass | 1934 | |
| book 49 | Negro Pioneer by K.B. Carter | 1965 | |
| book 50 | Thankful People by A. Bass | 1950 | |
| book 51 | My Indian Family by H. Wernher | 1945 | |
| book 52 | Ark and the Dove by J. M. Ives | 1969 | |
| book 53 | Some Early Residents of Polk County, Missouri by M. Dunaway | 1978 | |
| book 54 | Genealogy of Old & New Cherokee Indian Families by G. M. Bell | 1972 | |
| book 55 | List of Newspapers with Genealogical Query Columns | n.d. | |
| book 56 | Starr's History of the Cherokee Indians by J. Gregor and R. Strickland, eds. | 1967 | |
| book 57 | History of William Andrew Jackson Family by W. D. Jackson | n.d. | |
| book 58 | Honor Roll of Greene County, Missouri | 1919 | |
| book 59 | Map of Greene County, Missouri | n.d. | |
| book 60 | Antioch Cemetery | 1980 | |
| book 61 | Stories About Family Names by R.F. Wagner and M. F. Wagner | 1961 | |
| book 62 | History of Pettis County, Missouri | 1882 | |
| book 63 | Life in Pettis County - 1815-1973 by H. N. Lang | 1975 | |
| book 64 | 1860 Federal Census for St. Genevieve County, Missouri, by E.P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| book 65 | Carroll County, Missouri Wills and Administrations 1834-1879 by E.P. Ellsberry | n.d. | |
| Items from Series 4 (Located in Record Box) | |||
| 1 | [Backtracker], vol. 12 | 1983 | |
| 2 | [Douglas County Historical and Genealogical Society Journal], vol. 1-2 | 1974-1975 | |
| 3 | [Ellsberry Records], catalog of Ellsberry's publications | n.d. | |
| 4 | [Genealogy Digest], v.6:nos.2-6 | 1975 | |
| 5 | [Kansas City Genealogist] v.3:no.3, v.10:no.3 | 1963, 1970 | |
| 6 | [Miscellaneous Missouri periodicals], Four States Genealogist, v.6:no.1; Missouri Geographer, v.21:no.2; Ozark Magazine, v.13:no.5 | 1975-1984 | |
| 7 | [Miscellaneous national periodicals], Family Heritage, v.1:no.1; Family History Magazine, v.3:no.3; Family Name Exchange, 1981: Sept.; Family Tree, v.1:no.1; Genealogists' Exchange, v.4:no.11; Genealogy Club of America Magazine, v.4:no.1; Genealogy Tomorrow, v.2:no.8; Query Name Index, v.3:no.1; Trading Post, 1981:Sept. | 1962-1985 |
