Missouri Humanities

This week’s Speaker Spotlight features Dr. Kitty Ledbetter, a Springfield native, author, historian, and former radio broadcaster whose work explores the history of the Missouri Ozarks.

In her presentation, Si Siman, the Ozark Jubilee, and Music Business at the Crossroads, Dr. Ledbetter shares the fascinating story of how Springfield became the home of the Ozark Jubilee, the nation’s first successful network country music television show, and the challenges Si Siman faced in bringing country music to a national audience.

Want to have an impact on community like Dr. Ledbetter? Applications for the Missouri Humanities Speakers Bureau close on June 30th!

To schedule a speaker, or sign up to become a speaker, visit mohumanities.org/schedule-a-speaker/

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us this past Saturday for the opening of our Stars, Stripes, and Celebrations Exhibit in Jefferson City!

If you missed the event, don't worry! There's still time to explore this exhibit and discover the stories, people, and moments that helped shape Missouri and our nation over the past 250 years. The exhibit, made in partnership with the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, will remain on display at the Missouri State Museum for the next year.

Thank you for celebrating 250 years of history with us!

History has always celebrated the “Founding Fathers,” yet we rarely hear of the women who kept the colonies running and liberty alive.

Join us on June 30th in St. Louis for our 2026 Story of Us Keynote Event, featuring New York Times bestselling author Denise Kiernan. Her upcoming book, "Obstinate Daughters" (coming June 23rd!), rewrites the story of America’s birth, revealing the courageous, resourceful women whose actions shaped a nation. From the battlefields to the printing press, from the plantations to the pulpit, these women fought, spied, published, preached, farmed, and organized.

For a limited time, get $5 OFF tickets with code "KEYNOTE". Head to https://www.metrotix.com/events/detail/denise-kiernan and get your tickets today! The event includes audience Q&A and a book signing with the author. Books will be available for purchase on site from Left Bank Books.