The State Historical Society of Missouri
How do they present their work and their mission?How was the archive founded?What other info might you need to understand the context of documents you encounter in the archive?Who does the archive serve?Who else might have a stake in the archive’s contents?
The goal of the State Historical Society of Missouri( SHSM) is to “collect, preserve, publish, exhibit, and make available material related to all aspects and periods of Missouri history. SHSM also seeks to generate interest in and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the state and its people through education and outreach”. The SHSM presents their work through books, stories, maps & geological images, and oral reports. The archive was founded in May 1898 by the Missouri Press Association. This furthermore includes preservatives and published material that is not only used for the state of Missouri but for the Midwest region. To understand the context of the documents I would encounter in the archive would be, to possibly trace the previous locations of where these documents came from and if other organizations similar to the Missouri Botanical Garden have used these to conduct similar types of research. This would be very crucial so if we come across any similarities we can document and take note of what those similarities are and how it has shaped the Missouri Botanical Garden and even how it has in the 21st century. The archive of the SHSM serves a purpose to show and educate the public on a deeper level for anyone who is interested in the untold history that is not discussed in Missouri history books and for the masses of other people that are not in school who just might want to know for the better of society. Other people who could have a stake in the archives are the workers who work with the organization. Those people are at risk because they are the ones that are presenting and showcasing this information to the public and depending on how the information is shown, some people could take it personally or the wrong way.
About | The State Historical Society of Missouri (shsmo.org) Link for the Website I used