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Kickpatrick Library and History Department at UCM Host Traveling Exhibit 鈥楤oom! The Rise and Fall of Missouri鈥檚 Black Business District
By Jeff Murphy, January 26, 2024
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥� The 欧美视频鈥檚 James C. Kirkpatrick Library
and the UCM History Department are partnering to host "Boom! The Rise and Fall of
Missouri's Black Business District." This traveling exhibit is produced by the Missouri
State Museum and inspired by the Missouri State Parks-produced booklet 鈥淭he Business:
African-American Business People from Missouri鈥檚 Past.鈥� It will be on display Jan.
31 to Feb. 29 in the JCKL Read and Relax area.
Free and open to the public, this exhibit will interpret the history of five Black
business districts throughout the state: The Foot in Jefferson City, The Wedge in
Hannibal, Sharp End in Columbia, Vine Street in Kansas City and the Ville in St. Louis.
Due to segregation and overt and institutionalized racism, such business centers served
as the cornerstone of Black life, culture, and survival in the late 19th and early
20th centuries. The exhibit will highlight the people and events, both local and national,
that influenced the growth and devolution of some of Missouri鈥檚 most prolific and
thriving business communities.
For more information or to arrange group visits, contact Dr. Janette Klein, university
librarian, at 660-543-4140 or jklein@ucmo.edu or Dr. Jon Taylor, UCM professor of history, at jtaylor01@ucmo.edu.