The Museum also maintains extensive clippings files and a reference library of local, state and metropolitan publications. Researchers are encouraged to visit the Research Room where staff can assist you in your search.  The Research Room is open Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Appointments are highly encouraged so that the appropriate materials to your search can be pulled and available when you arrive.

The Museum's holdings include but are not limited to: the first published history of Johnson County (1915) by Ed Blair, local and metropolitan area newspaper clippings files, biographical files, family and community histories and oral history interviews. A limited number of general references on Kansas and American history are also available. In addition, the Museum has recently completed an initial historic preservation survey of all pre-1950 structures in the county. For more information on the survey and state and national register properties within the county.

The Research Room is a reference room, not a lending library. No items can leave the facility. Photocopies of reference materials are available for .25 per page. Manuscript material is photocopied subject to staff review of the article’s condition. The Museum's photographs can be reproduced according to the current rate sheet. Photographs are sent off-site to be reproduced.

Additional reference sources:

Kansas State Historical Society
6425 SW Sixth Ave., Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 272-8681
(Kansas history resources, manuscripts and photos)

Johnson County Central Resource Library
9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, KS (913) 495-2400
(houses local history area and offices of the Johnson County Genealogical Society, Johnson County newspapers on microfilm)

Olathe Public Library
201 E. park St., Olathe, KS 66061 (913) 764-2259
(houses Kansas Room and local photograph collection)

Johnson County Archives
19310 W. 159th Street, Ste. 1100, Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 715-0400
(holdings include Johnson County government documents and maps)

The Kansas Collection at Kansas City, Kansas Public Library                   625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas 66101 (913) 551-3280

Kansas City (MO) Public Library-Special Collections Dept.
311 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri 64106 (816) 701-3505
(houses Missouri Valley Room of Kansas City Metropolitan Holdings)

Western Historical Manuscripts
5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110 (816) 235-1543
(Kansas City metropolitan holdings)

National Archives—Central Plains Region
3212 E. Bannister Rd., Kansas City, MO 64131 (816) 926-6982