National Archives, Records Administration Hosts Missouri Conference on History

4/9/2002

From: Mark Corriston, 816-823-5023

News Advisory:

The National Archives and Records Administration, Central Plains Region will host the 44th Annual Missouri Conference on History (MCH). The conference will take place at the Marriott Country Club Plaza, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, April 18 through Saturday, April 20. The conference is open to the working press.

Featured events include a series of presentations on historical research and "History Expo-2002." The presentations will explore a wide variety of history topics including Missouri, American, and World History. The conference includes for the first time a "trade show" of the regional historical community, featuring 60 organizations. History Expo-2002 is open to the public and admission is free. The cost of the conference is $50.00.

Highlighting the MCH will be a keynote speech by noted historian Richard Norton Smith, director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics on Thursday April 18, at 8 p.m. at the Harry S. Truman Museum and Library. Smith's topic is entitled "The Historical Challenge."

Baseball legend and national treasure Buck O'Neil, who is currently chairman of the Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame, will speak at the Gem Theatre at 11:30 a.m., April 20. His talk is free and open to the public. Also addressing the conference will be U.S. District Court Judges Scott O. Wright, Howard F. Sachs, and Ortrie D. Smith, members of the U. S. District for the Western District of Missouri. Their comments will focus on a "History of the Bench, from the Bench."

The conference offers special "behind the scenes" tours of several noted Kansas City attractions including sites in historic Independence, the Steamboat Arabia, the Kansas City Airline History Museum, Thomas Hart Benton Home, and Boulevard Brewery. Attendees will also have an opportunity to see a "living history" demonstration of early baseball, ca. 1870 at Parade Park Field, Saturday, April 20 at 1:30 p.m.

Sponsors of the conference include the Harry S. Truman Museum and Library, the Eisenhower Institute, the Western Historical Manuscript Collection in Kansas City, the State Historical Society of Missouri, the Missouri State Archives, the Center for the Study of the Korean War, and the Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board. Our special thanks go to Boulevard Brewing Company, Health Midwest, The History Channel, the Law Firm of Shook, Hardy, and Bacon, Thoroughbred Ford, and UMB Bank n.a.

Contact Mark Corriston at 816-823-5023 for more information or details on the Missouri Conference on History, or History Expo-2002.