My Missouri Lecture Series

The My Missouri Lecture Series invites prominent Missourians from all walks of life to reflect on what being a Missourian has meant to them as they speak about how the state’s history, people, and culture have shaped their experiences.

The inaugural My Missouri Lecture was presented as part of the State Historical Society's Fall Lecture Series on November 2, 2019. Claire McCaskill, former Democratic U.S. Senator from Missouri, spoke at the Center for Missouri Studies in Columbia. You can watch each of the lectures at the links, below.

Future speakers will be announced as information becomes available.

Videos

"My Missouri Lecture" A conversation with Peter Herschend and Sen. Roy Blunt

Peter Herschend is the co-founder of Herschend Entertainment Corporation (formerly Silver Dollar City, Inc). The Herschend family business started in Southwest Missouri with a hole in the ground called Marvel Cave. To give cave visitors more to do, Peter and his brother Jack built an old Ozarks Village named Silver Dollar City - now USA TODAY'S and Tripadvisor's number one theme park in America. Today, Herschend Enterprises is the nation's largest family-owned entertainment company.

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My Missouri Lecture - A Conversation with David Steward, Founder and Chairman, World Wide Technology

David Steward was the featured speaker in the State Historical Society of Missouri’s annual My Missouri Lecture on Oct. 28, 1 p.m. at the Center for Missouri Studies in Columbia, Mo. Steward is the founder and chairman of World Wide Technology, the largest Black-owned company in the United States. The civic and business leader will be in conversation with Gary Kremer, executive director of the State Historical Society, about how Steward’s upbringing in Clinton, Mo. and his Missouri experiences contributed to his success in building a technology company in St. Louis.

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My Missouri Lecture - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt delivered the annual My Missouri Lecture on Sat. Oct. 29 at the State Historical Society of Missouri Center for Missouri Studies, 605 Elm St., Columbia. The senior senator from Missouri reflected on how his upbringing shaped his career in education and politics.

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My Missouri Lecture - Coach Norm Stewart

Watch as legendary Mizzou basketball coach Norm Stewart reflects on how his Show-Me State roots shaped his career.

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Inaugural My Missouri Lecture - Claire McCaskill

Former US Senator Claire McCaskill served as the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee. Before she was elected to the Senate in 2006, McCaskill was Missouri's state auditor and served as Jackson County Prosecutor.

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