These biographical and historical sketches are highlights of Missouri history. Many sketches are from Missouri, Day by Day , published by the State Historical Society of Missouri in 1942. Links are to related primary sources at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection on the four campuses of the University of Missouri system.
Previous sketches are also available.
The society was intimately identified with Campbell's career, flourishing while he lived and discontinuing shortly after his death. The objects of this pioneer society were virtually the same as those of historical societies today, to preserve and publish the records of Missouri history and to collect specimens for a geological museum. Authors and newspaper publishers were asked to contribute. Jefferson City came to be the headquarters and a room on the first floor of the capitol was granted in 1847 for storing collections. Occasionally the general assembly made appropriations to the society and by 1848 there had been brought together an important collection of books, documents, newspapers, and articles of interest to Missouri historically.