Latest News & Announcements

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion on the French coast in World War II, also known as D-Day, the State Historical Society of Missouri will feature a public program, examining how a Missouri railroad town took on the war. Journalist Bill Cloud reflects on his family-owned newspaper, Pleasant Hill Times, which published photographs, letters and stories from men and women serving at home and abroad during the war.

Looking for something to do over Memorial Day weekend? You can learn about and celebrate the rich culture of Missouri’s Indigenous peoples by attending “For the People Pow Wow” in Jefferson City on May 25 and 26. If you have been or never been to a pow wow, you’re in for a festive treat! The public is invited to enjoy food, dance, arts, crafts, and singing. The event is free with Native American dancers from Oklahoma and Missouri performing Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Master of Ceremonies is William Branson of Columbia. 

The State Historical Society of Missouri is celebrating Partners in Education week with students from Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School in Columbia. SHSMO’s partner in education school is one of the oldest elementary schools in Columbia and was built in 1904. Today, the school utilizes art throughout its curriculum. Over many years, students and teachers have enjoyed field trips, which often include a short walk to the SHSMO Art Gallery and the Columbia Research Center. 

John Robinson of Columbia drove every mile of every road on the Missouri state highway map in search of “the real America” beyond the interstate. Robinson discovered obscure places, forgotten facts, and interesting people along the way. A former director of Missouri Tourism, Robinson will be the featured speaker at the State Historical Society of Missouri’s History on Elm program, Tuesday, May 14, noon- 1 p.m. at the Center for Missouri Studies, 605 Elm St., Columbia.

Ninety-nine middle and high school students from across the state received top rankings in the National History Day contest in Missouri on April 27 on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. First and second place winners will compete in the national contest June 9-13 at the University of Maryland, College Park. Students receiving third place in each category will be alternates. The theme for this year’s contest is “Turning Points in History.” National History Day in Missouri is sponsored and organized by the State Historical Society of Missouri. 

This week, April 21-27, is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. However, at the State Historical Society of Missouri, we value our volunteers 365 days a year for the work they do year-around! This past year, we have 43 volunteers working at our facilities and remotely, doing a variety of necessary tasks in areas including digitization, editorial, art, conservation, manuscripts, oral history, events, communication, hospitality, and more. The number of hours contributed by SHSMO volunteers is over 68 hours a week – almost as much as two fulltime employees! 

The State Historical Society of Missouri is seeking proposals for two Center for Missouri Studies fellowships to begin January 1, 2025. Each fellowship carries a stipend of $5,000 for a project that results in the completion of an 8,000 to 10,000-word scholarly essay on one of the two topics listed below. The deadline for submitting proposals is Sept. 3, 2024. The competition is open to both academic and independent scholars.

Topics for 2025 Center for Missouri Studies Fellowships:

The public is invited Thursday, April 18, to hear four celebrated writers who will discuss the connection between their experiences as veterans and their creative work. Authors Brian Turner, Dewaine Farria, Jerri Bell, and Matt Gallagher will be in conversation with moderator Andrew Visscher, an MA candidate at the University of Missouri. Visscher is a literary scholar and serves as captain in the U.S. Army Advanced Civil Schooling Program. 

The American Dream holds a powerful place in our imagination. When did this idea come about, how did it change over time, and how have we come to define it? These questions and more will be probed by author and “celebrity historian” Raffi Andonian, who will be the featured speaker at the State Historical Society of Missouri’s History on Elm program, Tuesday, April 9, noon- 1 p.m. at the Center for Missouri Studies, 605 Elm St., Columbia.

Author and Columbia University professor Samuel G. Freedman will deliver a presentation on how the crusade for civil rights won the White House and the election of President Truman at the 1948 Democratic Convention. The author will speak about his recent book, Into the Bright Sunshine: Young Hubert Humphrey and the Fight for Civil Rights, April 3, 2 p.m., at the State Historical Society of Missouri, 605 Elm Street, Columbia. The public is invited to this free program.