MoHistory

Black modistes displayed their skill and brilliance as they wove and stitched together pieces of fabric to create beautiful ensembles. One such woman was Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hobbs Keckly (also spelled Keckley), whose skillful hands and ingenuity brought her into prominence as a dressmaker as recounted in her memoir, Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a …

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Sophia von Leveling was giving up her homeland forever; there would be no return trips to Germany. In 1833, at the age of 27, she left home for a fresh start and freedom. I first encountered Sophia’s story after I began volunteering with the Library & Research Center as a German translator earlier this year. My first …

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Listen to an episode about St. Louis Hop on our Here’s History podcast with KDHX. In the 1950s, television reshaped the nation’s relationship with popular music. Shows like American Bandstand brought your favorite singers into your living room, and let you see the latest dances, clothing fashions, and attitudes that went along with their songs. Plenty …

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EDITOR’S NOTE: In order to bring a plurality of voices to our storytelling, the Missouri Historical Society frequently asks guest writers to contribute to History Happens Here. The views and opinions expressed by guest contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missouri Historical Society, its affiliates, or …

Continue reading "How Times Beach Became a Ghost Town"

“You must carry your own baggage. Bear this in mind when packing,” proclaimed a document that also reminded new Marine Corps Women’s Reserve recruits that “umbrellas may not be carried when marching in ranks” and “civilian clothes must be sent home as soon as uniforms are issued.” These general instructions marked the transition of women from …

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As a resident of St. Louis, imagine getting a ticket for driving at least 2.5 times the speed limit in Forest Park. You might think that successfully contesting that ticket would be a long shot. But Rose Pfeiffer of 4908 Berlin Avenue (now Pershing Avenue) found luck after she experienced that exact scenario in 1907. …

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Listen to an episode about Tom Turpin on our Here’s History podcast with KDHX. For music lovers who came through St. Louis in the early 20th century, there was only one place in town to go: Tom Turpin’s Rosebud Café. This sprawling bar and nightclub was located on Market Street in the heart of Chestnut Valley—a historic African American entertainment and gambling district. …

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In Part 1, I introduced the tale of James and Gretchen Hetzel, a St. Louis couple who decided to spend their honeymoon bicycling around the world on a tandem bicycle. They made it all the way to India before having to turn back. Newspaper accounts of their journey mostly agree on the timeline; however, there …

Continue reading "Jim and Gretchen’s Excellent Adventure—Part 2"

At the dawn of the 20th century, the International League of Wheelmen offered a prize for the first couple to circumnavigate the globe by tandem bicycle. St. Louis newlyweds James and Gretchen Hetzel, both avid cyclists, were eager to try. Newspaper accounts of the Hetzels’ journey read like popular adventure novels of the time, in …

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St. Louis’s history of residential segregation is similar to many other urban cities like Milwaukee, Detroit, and Memphis. The city’s hidden real estate gems combined with its legacy of racism meant that segregation became more fixed and evident as public policies and private practices sought to restrict Black people from purchasing or occupying homes in …

Continue reading "The Legacy of Shelley v. Kraemer"

When New York-born actor, producer, and theater owner Noah Miller Ludlow arrived in St. Louis in 1819 with the goal of establishing the area’s first permanent professional theater, he was disappointed by what he found. Ludlow had recently been introduced to St. Louis newspaper publisher Isaac N. Henry, who informed him that although the population …

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For more than 100 years, the statue of Thomas Jefferson has loomed large inside the Missouri History Museum. The statue has stood in a place of honor. The statue has stood as the first public monument to the country’s third president. The statue has stood as a symbol rather than as a historic artifact. We …

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Cold and dark: this must have been what it felt like to be underwater for extended periods of time in Alaska during the 1940s, weighed down by diving equipment and expected to repair the underside of ships. There were many ways to serve the US during World War II, but Ellwood Hampton Roberts’s service is …

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People are often surprised to learn that the Missouri Historical Society is home to the third largest collection of Thomas Jefferson Papers in the US. Only the Library of Congress and the University of Virginia have larger collections. Our position as a major repository for Jefferson materials can be attributed to renowned philanthropist and collector …

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Maya Angelou’s words “Still I rise” remain etched into the hearts and the minds of all who have read her poetry. The daughter of Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter Johnson, Marguerite Annie Johnson graced the world with her presence on April 4, 1928. Due to hardships within her parents’ marriage that led to their divorce, …

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Since it was first celebrated in 1970, Earth Day has evoked images of our world’s natural beauty—lush green fields, sparkling blue water, golden rays of sunshine. These are the idealistic, pure visions of a world free from human damage, the seemingly ultimate goal of environmental-based living. These images, though, can also give the impression that environmental …

Continue reading "Ivory Perry, Lead Paint, and a History of Environmental Racism in St. Louis"

Few figures in American history ignite passions quite like Thomas Jefferson. Even in his own time, he was a man who had fierce defenders and passionate detractors. Those passions haven’t cooled, even today, almost 200 years since his death. In part, these passions are fueled by the contradictions of Jefferson’s character. For many people, he …

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Census records are an invaluable resource for genealogists, historians, and researchers delving into any number of topics. These records allow individuals to gain insight into everything from careers, education level, and marital status to larger neighborhood and population trends. On April 1, 2022, the 1950 Census was made available to the public. This is the …

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The few scholars that mention Virginia Irwin—a war correspondent for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch during World War II—usually only describe her articles about Russian soldiers during the Battle of Berlin. But it’s worth reexamining all the stories by such a skilled writer. Irwin specialized in human-interest stories, which evoked sympathy and helped readers identify with …

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Listen to an episode about China at the 1904 World’s Fair on our Here’s History podcast with KDHX. In 1904, St. Louisans were excited about the World’s Fair for many reasons. Some were excited about going on heart-stopping rides while others wanted to see the latest scientific breakthroughs. And others still were excited to use …

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