Missouri Historical Society

Missouri Historical Society
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Name	Missouri Historical Society
Location	St. Louis, Missouri
Type	Historical society
Founder	Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

Missouri Historical Society. The Missouri Historical Society is a comprehensive historical society located in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1860 by Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and William Greenleaf Eliot. It is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the History of Missouri, American West, and Louisiana Purchase. The society's mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret the History of the United States, with a focus on Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, in collaboration with institutions like the National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian Institution.

● History

The Missouri Historical Society was established in 1860 with the goal of collecting and preserving historical materials related to Missouri and the American West. The society's early collections included items such as the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, Treaty of Paris (1783), and Articles of Confederation, as well as materials related to the California Gold Rush, Mexican-American War, and American Civil War. The society's founders, including William Greenleaf Eliot and Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, were instrumental in shaping the organization's mission and collecting priorities, which were influenced by the work of historians like Francis Parkman and George Bancroft. Over time, the society has expanded its collections to include materials related to World War I, World War II, and the Civil Rights Movement, with contributions from notable figures like Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Martin Luther King Jr..

● Collections

The Missouri Historical Society's collections include over 175,000 artifacts, 400,000 photographs, and 10,000 linear feet of manuscripts and archives, with significant holdings related to Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The society's collections also include materials related to Mark Twain, Ulysses S. Grant, and Harry S. Truman, as well as artifacts from the 1904 World's Fair, St. Louis World's Fair, and Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The society has also collected materials related to the Oklahoma Land Run, Dust Bowl, and Great Depression, with contributions from institutions like the National Museum of American History, National Archives and Records Administration, and Library of Congress. Additionally, the society's collections include materials related to Women's Suffrage Movement, Civil Rights Movement, and Labor Movement, with notable figures like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Mary McLeod Bethune.

● Library_and_Research_Center

The Missouri Historical Society's Library and Research Center is a comprehensive research facility that provides access to the society's vast collections of books, manuscripts, and archives, including the Papers of the Continental Congress, Journals of the Continental Congress, and Records of the Federal Convention. The library's collections include over 80,000 volumes, with a focus on American History, Missouri History, and the American West, as well as materials related to Native American History, African American History, and Women's History. The library also provides access to online resources, including Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, and ProQuest, and collaborates with institutions like the Newberry Library, Huntington Library, and Library of Congress to provide researchers with a wide range of historical materials. Notable researchers who have utilized the library's collections include David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Joseph Ellis.

● Museums_and_Exhibits

The Missouri Historical Society operates several museums and exhibits, including the Missouri History Museum, Library and Research Center, and Museum of Westward Expansion, which feature artifacts and exhibits related to Missouri History, American West, and Louisiana Purchase. The society's museums also include exhibits on Mark Twain, Ulysses S. Grant, and Harry S. Truman, as well as artifacts from the 1904 World's Fair and St. Louis World's Fair. The society has also developed exhibits on Women's Suffrage Movement, Civil Rights Movement, and Labor Movement, with contributions from institutions like the National Museum of American History, National Civil Rights Museum, and African American Museum in Philadelphia. Additionally, the society's museums feature exhibits on Native American History, African American History, and Women's History, with notable figures like Sitting Bull, Frederick Douglass, and Rosa Parks.

● Education_and_Programs

The Missouri Historical Society offers a wide range of educational programs and activities for students, teachers, and the general public, including National History Day, Missouri History Day, and American History Essay Contest. The society also provides professional development opportunities for teachers, including workshops and conferences on American History, Missouri History, and Historical Preservation, in collaboration with institutions like the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service, and Organization of American Historians. The society's education programs are designed to promote historical literacy and critical thinking skills, and to encourage students to explore the rich history of Missouri and the United States, with notable educators like Diane Ravitch and Howard Zinn.

● Preservation_Efforts

The Missouri Historical Society is committed to preserving the historical heritage of Missouri and the United States, and works to promote historical preservation and conservation efforts throughout the region, in collaboration with institutions like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Society of St. Louis, and Missouri Preservation. The society's preservation efforts include the restoration of historic buildings and landmarks, such as the Gateway Arch, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, as well as the conservation of historical artifacts and documents, including the Louisiana Purchase Treaty and Treaty of Paris (1783). The society also provides technical assistance and support to local historical societies and preservation organizations, and works to promote public awareness of the importance of historical preservation, with notable preservationists like Jane Jacobs and James Marston Fitch.