A public open house and reception will be held Aug. 27, 4-6 p.m., to officially welcome a larger new space for the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Cape Girardeau Research Center in Kent Library, 1 University Place, on the Southeast Missouri State University campus.
For 18 months, the center was housed in temporary quarters after water damage and mold closed the research center in Pacific Hall on the SEMO campus in December 2022. A malfunction with the building’s HVAC system caused flooding on the ground floor where the research center was located. Bill Eddleman, coordinator of the SHSMO Research Center said water had soaked the carpet and the footings of tables and chairs, however, all the State Historical Society’s collections at the center were untouched and no damage occurred to any material. The collections were safely moved into storage until the center reopened at its new location.
This summer, the SHSMO Research Center welcomed visitors to the new space in Kent Library, a block from its former location in Pacific Hall. “We are thrilled to be open and provide a nicer surrounding for patrons to do research,” said Eddleman, who noted that visitor parking is available in the College Hill parking lot nearby and there are metered and handicap spaces behind the library. All the collections are stored in the same area as the working space, making it easier to retrieve materials for patrons.
The new space is about 15-20 percent larger and its location inside the university’s library is ideal, according to Eddleman. “We’re steps away from a set of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion for Civil War researchers. Also, Special Collections and Archives is close by, so researchers can easily find materials in a centralized part of the library.”
Eddleman said the former location at Pacific Hall was a little harder for the public to find. Moving to Kent Library made it easier for patrons who also enjoy the nicer aesthetics. “We had to replace desks and chairs in the new space, and instead of being mis-matched with surplus furniture, we’re now coordinated with comfortable seating and tables,” said Eddleman.
Kent Library opened in 1939 and is named for Sadie Kent, who worked at the university for many years and served as the school’s first female librarian. Inside the library’s Rare Book Room is William Faulkner’s typewriter that sits on Sadie Kent’s desk. The Cape Girardeau Research Center is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.