Calendar
Events
As part of its mission to generate interest and appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of the state and its people, the Society hosts a wide range of engaging and educational events for scholars and community members of all ages.
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June 14, 6:00 pm
| James Memorial Library, St. James
Join Kathleen Seale, coordinator of the Rolla and Springfield Research Centers, as she looks at the history of the cinematic invention of the Rotoscope–a single camera, single projection system capable of filming and projecting a 180-degree view on one reel of film.
June 15, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
| SHSMO-Springfield, MSU Duane G. Meyer Library
The Missouri Bicentennial Quilt returns to Springfield as part of its final tour of State Historical Society of Missouri statewide research centers. Visit the Springfield Research Center on June 15 from 4-6 p.m. for a special reception showcasing this unique Missouri treasure.
August 5–6
| Center for Missouri Studies, Columbia
The 2022 Missouri State Genealogical Association Annual Conference will be hosted at SHSMO's Center for Missouri Studies in downtown Columbia! Stay tuned for more details.
Exhibitions
Art and educational exhibitions illustrate transformative moments in Missouri and U.S. history. The State Historical Society of Missouri houses exhibition galleries at the Center for Missouri Studies in Columbia. SHSMO also provides materials for display in galleries and exhibition spaces across the state.
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July 6 – December 23 2022
| Center for Missouri Studies, Columbia
Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the National Women and Media Collection, In Their Own Words features the voices of important women working in media straight from their diaries, letters, and interviews. Visitors will learn of their struggles and triumphs in the media industry and how these journalists were able to navigate careers in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
March 11 – June 17 2022
| Center for Missouri Studies, Columbia
In collaboration with the Missouri Historic Costume and Textile Collection, this exhibition highlights the evolution of Missouri style and the important role of the apparel industry—from rural dressmakers to urban retail and manufacturing giants—in the state’s economic development.
February 11 – May 21
| Ellis Library, University of Missouri–Columbia
Featuring artworks and photographs from historic collections at the State Historical Society of Missouri, this exhibition exposes the difficulties and achievements African Americans experienced related to healthcare and wellness throughout the 20th century.
January 25 – December 23 2022
| Center for Missouri Studies, Columbia
Many of the animals we associate with America are not American at all. Horses, cows, and most other domesticated livestock were introduced into North America by European colonists. Their presence in this selection of artworks by George Caleb Bingham and Thomas Hart Benton subtly represents European colonization and the complex cultural and environmental issues associated with “civilizing” the native “wilderness.”
December 14, 2021 – September 15, 2022
| Touring Statewide (check schedule)
The Missouri Bicentennial Quilt is on its final tour of State Historical Society of Missouri statewide research centers. Visit SHSMO-Rolla from May 3 through June 14 for a chance to see this unique Missouri treasure.
On Demand Programs
Many State Historical Society of Missouri programs are freely available on demand to worldwide audiences. The most recently published videos are available at the links below. See all on demand programs here.
Watch as SHSMO art curator Joan Stack, Ph.D., provides a virtual tour focusing on the aesthetics of the State Historical Society of Missouri’s new headquarters in Columbia. Designed by Kansas City architectural firm Gould Evans, the Center for Missouri Studies is an award-winning, state-of-the-art facility that provides lasting preservation of Missouri history and culture statewide.
National History Day in Missouri (NHDMO) is a unique opportunity for middle and high school students to explore the past in a creative, hands-on way by producing a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website on a topic of their choosing. Watch as NHDMO Coordinator Danielle Griego, PhD, announces the 2022 state contest award winners.
Watch as Bill Eddleman discusses the structure and function of DNA; different types of DNA—Y-DNA, mitochondrial, and autosomal—and when they are useful for different questions. Eddleman also provides information about testing and companies and the basics on how to use the data once you have results.
To conclude the 2021 year, the Missouri Bicentennial Commission, State Historical Society of Missouri, and Choral Alliance of Missouri sponsored a special multimedia concert featuring the Columbia Chamber Choir performing music including the world-premiere composition by Hans Bridger Heruth. The concert was conducted by Edgington Andrews and Nathan Lange; Anthony Hernandez, pianist; Andrew Lewis, cello.