Friday, January 29, 2016

Jessica's Experience Assisting on a Missouri Historical Review Article

The “From the Stacks” article is an important part of the Missouri Historical Review; therefore, it was a very beneficial experience to assist with one as a graduate student in public history. As the graduate assistant in the State Historical Society’s research center on campus, I assisted the director of the Cape Girardeau center with the most recent “From the Stacks” article. This included assisting with the research and drafting of the piece. It was decided the topic should be about the society’s collections which could assist researchers in learning and interpreting Amy Husband Kimmel. As a professional, I was able to help with research and writing that communicated what materials the society has to offer researchers along with how this material could be useful to them.









Article citation: 

Nickell, Frank, and Jessica Cox. "From the Stacks Research Center-Cape Girardeau Amy Husband Kimmel and the Wednesday Club of Cape Girardeau." Missouri Historical Review 110, no. 2 (January 2016): 132-35.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Missouri Preservation Conference 2015 Hosted at Southeast Missouri State University

This past October, Southeast Missouri State University was honored to host the 2015 Missouri Preservation Conference. This annual gathering of historic preservation professionals was a complete success, benefiting attendees, the city of Cape Girardeau, and the University. From the 21st-23rd, preservationists from all over the state learned about new developments and innovations in the field and got hands on training on proper restoration techniques.

While most of the conference events took place in the University Center, there were also a variety of unique tours offered as well. One of the most popular tours was to the Elmwood Estate in southwest Cape Girardeau. This incredibly preserved and maintained historic home is a relic of early South East Missouri history.

Another highlight was the Keynote Address by David Brown, the Executive Vice President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In his speech, “The Past and Future of Preservation”, Mr. Brown spoke of the urgent need for historians to embrace both continuity and change in our approach to preservation of the built environment and saving the places that matter to both Missourians and the Nation.

Many SEMO history students took advantage of this opportunity, and found ways to volunteer at the conference. We all benefited greatly from this professional experience and had a ton of fun at the same time! 


All aboard the tour bus


Busy vendor area


Keynote Address from David Brown to kick off the conference


Elmwood Estate, a true architectural delight


Hands on historic wooden window repair


Legacy Awards Dinner: These one-time only awards honored the host city and people and organizations that have contributed to Cape Girardeau's preservation success story


Professional panel for students


SEMO students get involved


Tour of Cape Girardeau's Civil War forts


Typical conference session


Volunteer fun!


Volunteers working hard