Thomas Jefferson Library, UMSL Campus
Supporting the study of Missouri and the Midwest, the Research Center–St. Louis, located on the University of Missouri–St. Louis campus, focuses on preserving the diverse history of the city and its surrounding area within a statewide context.
The Center's rich holdings trace the evolution of greater St. Louis through unique collections that document important groups ranging from labor organizations to environmental activists. Other primary sources offer a window into minority groups and the many diverse communities that make up the growing metropolis.
Noteworthy resources include:
- A dynamic collection of photographs, including a visual history of the construction of the Gateway Arch.
- Early records preserving the experience of African Americans in the region and the rise of the LGBT community.
- Extensive video, film, and audio archives.
- Personal papers of local figures such as activist Kay Drey (S0241) and Marlin Perkins (S0516), former director of the St. Louis Zoo and a national television personality.
- Insight into the local women's movement through numerous collections such as the St. Louis Metropolitan League of Women Voters Records (S0234).
