2024 marks fifty years since Gary Kremer, executive director of SHSMO, published his first essay on the African American experience in Missouri. Over the course of the past five decades, he has written dozens of articles and five books on the topic of race in Missouri, a publishing record unrivalled by any other scholar of the subject. This presentation will feature Kremer talking about what he regards as some of his most important findings over the course of a half century of research and writing, along with stories about the fascinating people he has met and interviewed while documenting Missouri’s rich African American heritage. Kremer will also talk about the many ways in which he benefitted from studying under and working with a Black history pioneer Dr. Lorenzo J. Greene who taught history at Lincoln University in Jefferson City from 1933 to 1972. This event was held at the State Historical Society of Missouri Center for Missouri Studies on November 12, 2024. The event was co-sponsored by University of Missouri Press.
About the Presenter
A fifth-generation Missourian, Gary R. Kremer earned his PhD from American University in Washington, DC. Kremer has written, coauthored, and coedited 12 books. Previously, Kremer taught history at Lincoln University in Jefferson City (1972-1987) and William Woods University in Fulton (1991-2004). He also served as the state archivist of Missouri from 1987 to 1991. He has been SHSMO's executive director since 2004.