Latest News & Announcements

The State Historical Society of Missouri Kansas City Research Center is another step closer to its goal of relocating to the Miller Nichols Library on the UMKC campus as part of the library’s renovation plan. The Sunderland Foundation recently awarded $2 million and the William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee awarded $500,000 to fund the move and renovation work that will put the State Historical Society’s collections in proximity with other significant Kansas City archives housed at the Miller Nichols Library.

If you enjoy helping others, we invite you to meet some of the Show-Me State’s best students while serving as a judge at the National History Day in Missouri state contest on April 25 in Columbia.

Volunteer judges are vital to the contest, offering feedback to students on their projects and helping top finishers prepare for the national contest.

The State Historical Society of Missouri is saddened by the death on January 8 of Alan R. Havig, a professor of history at Stephens College and also a historian of the Society and a longtime supporter. Havig was born August 26, 1940, in Litchfield, Minnesota, the son of Harold Rolf Havig and Blanche Sylvia (Peterson) Havig. He was married to Bettina (Baker) Havig for over 52 years. A celebration of Havig’s life will be held March 14, 11 a.m. at the Firestone Baars Chapel on the campus of Stephens College in Columbia.

Columbia Missourian–Blue-cheese-stuffed olives, crackers and red wine were surrounded by 23 glass panels Thursday evening at the opening of the State Historical Society of Missouri’s new exhibit, “Music in Missouri.” The exhibit discusses Missouri’s footprint in music genres such as ragtime, St. Louis blues, Kansas City jazz, Ozark bluegrass and...

Last summer, Byron Smith stood behind his canvas in Peace Park, studying the new Center for Missouri Studies building across the street. Smith wanted to get it right. SHSMO had commissioned him to do an oil painting for the Center’s grand opening celebration in August. For two years Smith had walked past the construction site each morning on his way to work as a custodian for the University of Missouri. As the sun rose over it, the building’s colors and shape would take on new dimensions. A completely new scene would unfold midday when he walked back home.

Register online now for the sixty-second annual Missouri Conference on History to be held on March 11-13 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Louis-Chesterfield.

Hermann Advertiser-Courier—The Missouri Humanities Council and Cross-Cultural Strategies are teaming up with Visit Hermann (tourism arm for the City of Hermann) to explore and celebrate the remarkable contributions German immigrants made to the abolition of slavery in Missouri. The symposium on the “Shared History of German and African Americans in Missouri” will include historians, community leaders and artists who come together to discuss this little-known history on Saturday, Feb. 29, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

We're wishing you comfort and cheer during this holiday season and we extend to you our deepest gratitude for your continued support.

Thank you for all you do for the Society and our mission to preserve and share the legacy of Missouri.