The Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Rolla is part of a four-campus (Rolla, Columbia, St. Louis, and Kansas City) program sponsored by the University of Missouri and the State Historical Society of Missouri. It collects primary historical research material, mostly in a fifty-three county area of southern Missouri, but including special interest areas of mining, engineering, science, and technology. The holdings are available to the general public. Photocopying is available. Collections on microfilm are available through interlibrary loan. In addition, all materials can be used at counterpart offices on the campuses of the University of Missouri system with prior notice. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The collection includes material of interest to historians of medicine: correspondence and papers of pioneer doctors; county medical registers and record books; physicians' account books, day books, ledgers, medical notebooks, treatment records. Individual physicians' papers include those of: Dr. Thomas A. Barr (1841-1903); Dr. John B. Bell (1827-1896); Dr. James McComb (1832-1926); Dr. John B. Thruston (1815- ; Dr. William B. Williams (1837-1888); Dr. Paul C. Yates (1836-1907). Yates kept a remarkable journal (1880-1905) detailing the experiences of a country doctor (see information sheet at UMR web site). Papers of the Washington County Health Council (1932-1969); records of the U.S. Bureau of Pensions medical examinations of Civil War veterans; papers of the Chief Surgeon of the Missouri Lumber and Mining Company (1888-1918). Tri-State Health and Housing Committee, "Menace of the Slime Pile." Information sheets available on request.