Exhibits
Simple objects and images can tell powerful stories that evoke strong feelings. A propaganda poster from the Second World War, a sepia-tone photograph in a family album, and a pair of beaded moccasins each reveal intimate details about the people and the cultures from which they came. Recognizing the potential power of images and objects, many of Missouri’s museums, libraries, archives, and educational institutions have drawn upon their diverse cultural resources to create digital exhibits. These exhibits use artifacts, photographs, works of art, and historic documents to illustrate the state’s vibrant history and culture. The Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative makes this rich selection of stories easily accessible to the people of Missouri through this online exhibit webpage.
Deafness in Disguise
Deafness in Disguise presents images, illustrations, advertising pamphlets, trade catalogs, patents, rare books and other material pertaining to mechanical and electrical hearing devices from the 19th and 20th centuries. Of particular focus in this collection are hearing devices that were designed for concealment or camouflage within everyday items.
Missouri Memories: A History in Photographs
Since the nineteenth century, photography has been an important tool for recording the events of our lives, our commerce and industry, and the natural landscape. This exhibit shares 63 historic images from the photograph collection of the Missouri State Archives, grouped thematically as “Missourians on the Move,” “Rural Missouri,” “Lake of the Ozarks,” and the Louise and Omar Putman Collection. Together, these photographs provide a window into the history of transportation, agriculture, and recreation.
Progress Amidst Prejudice: Portraits of African Americans in Missouri, 1880-1920
With the introduction of affordable cabinet card photography in the 1860s, photograph studios sprang up across America. By the late nineteenth century, African Americans with modest earnings had the opportunity to participate in portrait photography. This exhibit includes 129 images, provided by the Missouri State Museum, of African American portraits taken in urban and rural studios throughout Missouri from approximately 1880-1920. The images capture a timeless vision of the strength of a people who escaped bondage and became an integral part of American society.
Quest for a Cure: Care and Treatment in Missouri's First State Mental Hospital
The suicide of Missouri Governor Thomas Reynolds in February 1844 set in motion a chain of events that culminated in 1851 with the opening of the first state run mental health facility in Missouri. Reynolds' successor, Meredith M. Marmaduke, was shocked by his predecessor's death and urged the legislature to create a hospital for the mentally ill.
Ticket to the Past: The First Twenty-Five Years of the Missouri State Fair
When the first Missouri State Fair opened in Sedalia on September 9, 1901, it offered exhibits, activities, and entertainment. Topics highlighted in this exhibit include the development of the fairgrounds, the fair's role in celebrating Missouri's centennial, and the influence of the First World War on life in Missouri homes and agriculture. Items featured in Ticket to the Past are drawn from the Missouri State Archives' holdings of over 200 cubic feet of material relating to the Missouri State Fair.
Upset! Truman's Whistle Stop Campaign Remembered
Missourians everywhere watched as Harry Truman defied political pundits and negative newspaper coverage to pull off the "biggest political upset in American history." This exhibit developed by the Missouri State Archives compile the memories and memorabilia of those in the background - children, young adults, voters, and local politicians - about that November 2, 1948 election. The campaign whistle stops, the "Give 'Em Hell, Harry" cries - all these memories combine to create a picture of Truman's determination to win the election than the official returns that gave him the victory.
“Wish You Were Here:” Postcards from Missouri: The Mary Alice Hansen Postcard Collection
The postcard, which originated in Europe during 1869, quickly became popular in America, providing an inexpensive way to keep in touch with family and friends, while also documenting people, places, and events across the country. The postcard collection of Mary Alice Hansen shares a unique view of Missouri in the early twentieth century. The images exhibited provide a glimpse of buildings, industry and culture in Springfield, St. Louis, St. Charles, and smaller communities throughout the state.
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