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From Sharon Dolan, Archivist for the St. Louis Public Schools:
The St. Louis Public Schools Records Center/Archives, 314-645-2648, ext. 118, provides student record search services for genealogy purposes. We hold student records on microfilm FOR PERSONS BORN PRIOR TO 1930, For records on persons BORN 1930 OR LATER, contact our Student Record Room, 314-645-2648, ext. 101 or 102.
Our procedure is to have the requestor complete a form, providing as much information as possible about the person being searched. The non-refundable fee is $10.00 PER SEARCH. Due to the family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA), researchers cannot search through the records themselves and we require a death certificate as proof of death for deceased individuals born after 1900. We perform the search and mail the record to the requestor. If the individual being searched is still living, he/she must request his/her own record. The nonrefundable fee for requesting one's own record is $3.00 per search.
Both the Archives and the Student Record Room operate with a fraction of the staff we previously had, and require 15 working days to complete these requests. The Student Record Room's primary function is to provide transcripts for persons seeking proof of age, college entrance, employment, etc. Payment is by cash or money order - no personal checks.
Records on persons born between 1900 and 1919 are in alpha order and relatively complete; thus, we are usually successful in locating them. Records on individuals born prior to 1900 are filed BY SCHOOL and are incomplete at best; in some cases, they are missing altogether. The earliest student records are from the 1860's. Searchers should understand that when they request a record on persons born prior to 1900, we are less likely to be successful. This is not to discourage people from inquiring, but to caution them in their expectations, particularly since the fee is non-refundable. It helps to know the name of the school the person attended.
Searchers can expect to receive a microfilm copy of a student record card for elementary students. The card contains name, DOB, address(es), school(s) attended, name and occupation of parent/guardian, and attendance dates. No academic data are on the records. The high school records (a separate search) have the same information, and sometimes have academic data too.
Interested genealogists can contact me for the necessary form(s) via email, Sharon.Dolan@slps.org, by calling the Archives or Student Record Room at the numbers listed above, or by writing the St. Louis Public Schools Records Center/Archives or Student Record Room, 1615 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139. FORMS CAN BE SENT TO REQUESTORS BY EMAIL, FAX or U.S. MAIL. Again, we are a small staff trying to perform many services, and regret that we cannot perform on-the-spot searches.
The Archives also provide tours of the Archives Museum by appointment for groups of up to 20 people. Interested persons should call me at least two weeks in advance to make arrangements. We exhibit photographs, vintage school furniture, memorabilia, etc.
Additional services, including the processing of our photographic negative collection into prints are outlined in a handout we can provide upon request. We can mail, email or fax it to anyone interested in receiving it.
Sharon A. Dolan
Records Center Supv./Archivist
St. Louis Public Schools
1615 Hampton Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63139
Archives office for records on individuals born prior to 1930 - 314-645-2648, x 118
Archives Fax 314-781-3378
Email - sharon.dolan@slps.org
Student Record Room, for records on individuals born 1930 or later - 314-645-2648, ext. 101 or 102
Student Record Room Fax 314-781-1665