Perry County Museum, photo courtesy of Perry County Historical Society

The Perry County Historical Society, organized in 1971, was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization that same year. The Society maintains a Perry County Genealogical Research Library, Archives, and an office in the Perryville Higher Education Center at 108 South Progress Drive in Perryville, Missouri. The Archives currently holds records from 1821 to 1921 from the Circuit Clerk, Recorder of Deeds, Collector, Assessor, County Clerk, and County Commission.

The Society also holds Perry County newspapers on microfilm, plat maps, school yearbooks, Justice of the Peace records, and much, much more.

The Genealogical Research Library is home to a vast amount of information concerning Perry County, its citizens, and neighboring counties and states. The Library contains federal census records, marriage records, birth and death records, church records, cemetery records, local newspaper excerpts, and numerous family surname contributions. We also have many other resources available, such as a wide selection of regional, state, and national resources associated with many Perry County ancestors. The Society also has a working business office in the same building that handles inquiries and assists researchers both locally and long distance.

The Society oversees the Faherty House, the oldest standing residence in Perryville, as a house museum. This historical home is located about two blocks from the Downtown Square at 11 South Spring Street. The Faherty House was built circa 1830, and the rooms are set up to reflect the 1840 and 1880 time periods.

In a joint venture with the City of Perryville, the Society also helps to maintain the Perry County Museum, which is located in the historic Duerr House at the entrance to the City Park. The many rooms of the home display children’s toys and clothes, kitchenware, school items, church items, medical equipment, photographs, and many other treasures from Perry County. Find out more about research opportunities, the Perry County Museum, and Faherty House at the Society’s website.

Perry County Historical Society will be present at the  “Society Showcase” on Tuesday, 07 May from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm in the Grand Ballroom Foyer. For a complete list of participants in the Showcase, please click HERE. We look forward to seeing you there.

Perry County Historical Society
Meghan Helm Welker, Director
573-768-2470
[email protected]