On Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m., Tom Rafiner will be at the Midwest Genealogy Center to present his findings on Order #11 and the effects it had on western Missouri’s citizens. Author Tom A. Rafiner will be discussing the research and records he used in his new book, Caught Between Three Fires: Cass County, MO., Chaos, & Order No. 11, 1860–1865. It took Mr.
New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are all glamorous locales, but I’m from Kansas City. Being a native resident, I don’t know what it means to grow up anywhere but the City of Fountains. While I’m not a movie star, freak athlete, or household name, Kansas City has produced more than a few.
Here are some of Kansas City’s most famous people:
When most people want to talk about a state that’s exciting or memorable, odds are, it’s on the coast. I’ve lost track how many times my friends in other countries have asked me where exactly Missouri is. I’ve even had people in other states ask me to remind them which side of the state Kansas City is on! By and large, Missouri might not seem like a remarkable state when you compare it to places like Virginia, Florida, New York, or California. But, I’ve done some digging into Missouri’s past, and I think I know why people try to forget about Missouri.
Spring is finally smiling on us, and thoughts of summer vacation and weekend road trips come to mind. I found some interesting books on our library shelves today while browsing through the generous collection of travel guides.
Disaster Strikes in Joplin, KC Answers the Call for Help
Our heart goes out to those survivors of the Joplin, Missouri tornado. Much of the city is devastated, and the number of dead and injured continues to rise. The city has effectively shut down, with most businesses and schools closed or collapsed. One beacon of hope in all the suffering is Joplin Public Library. Their main branch was left unscathed, and they have bravely opened their doors every day this week.
Blue Springs is famous for Missouri Town, Burr Oak Woods…and David Cook! David Cook burst onto the scene when he auditioned for the seventh season of American Idol, and was propelled to national stardom after winning in 2008.
Missouri...land of Truman. Home of the Arch. That place where the weather bounces 40 degrees in one day. The home of the grape that saved the European wine market from total annihilation. No really, true story.
In the 1870's, a parasitic disease swept through the vineyards of France and Germany, destroying thousands of acres of grapevines and leaving the entire European wine market in peril. Scientists and botonists from around the world worked to discover a way to stop the disease from spreading to other crops and to save the wine market in Europe.
On May 22, 2011, an F5 tornado, over a mile wide, tore a 6 mile long path through the south side of Joplin, MO changing lives forever. The Liberty Branch has teamed up with the Salvation Army & the MOMs Club of Liberty to help donate what we can to help those recovering from this horrific storm.
The Missouri State Archives is sponsoring a statewide contest called Great Missouri Treasure Hunt. It is an opportunity for Missourians to share what they have found in doing historical research. There are three categories: Family History, Civil War History, and Missouri History. Participants may submit photographs, stories, and videos.
The Missouri Department of Conservation offers free subscriptions to Missouri residents of Xplor Magazine. The magazine is a companion to their website where children can visit to see videos, listen to nature sounds, look at photos, read nature trivia, and much more. Xplor is geared for an older reader (4th grade), but eye-catching photos of nature will give younger children plenty to talk about. The magazine is published bi-monthly.
