SHSMO Kansas City Research Center

08/26/2026

Calling all teachers!

Looking for inspiration for projects or classroom activities? Dive into The State Historical Society of Missouri's collections and research guides for topic ideas: https://shsmo.org/research/guides

Additionally, explore K-12 resources, including new lesson plans for grades 9-12 that cover primary and secondary sources, writing and research skills, and more: https://shsmo.org/learn/lesson-plans

08/24/2026

A woman models a dress in Swanson's Clothing Store on the Country Club Plaza, March 1970. Swanson's closed in the early 1990s, but was part of the large retail boom in Kansas City in the '60s and '70s. The Country Club Plaza's Cheesecake Factory now operates in Swanson's old location.
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"Fashion Show - Swanson Plaza," Kansas City, Missouri, by Raymond E. Corey, March 1970 (K1311).
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Raymond Corey was a staff photographer at the Kansas City Star from 1965-1980. See more of his photograph collection, mostly spanning Jackson County here: https://tinyurl.com/CoreyCollection
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08/13/2026

Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Summer Giving Campaign. Supporters like you make SHSMO’s projects, programs, and preservation work possible.

“We are so grateful to our donors! You are as much a part of these projects as we are, helping us pass down important pieces of Missouri history to future generations.”
—Kathleen Seale, Regional Director
Rolla and Springfield Research Centers

You can still donate, helping us get more items online and bring Missouri history topics to life. Donate here: https://shsmo.org/donate/campaign
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08/06/2026

08/06/2026

07/09/2026

Cowboy Monkeys! Found in the American Royal Records.

K0265, Box 079, Folder 48

04/13/2026

Former Congressman William J. Randall speaks about the Kaysinger Bluff Dam and Reservoir, later to be renamed the Harry S. Truman Dam and Reservoir.

This photograph comes from K0791 William J. Randall Collection.