ARROW ROCK AUTHOR RECOGNIZED WITH
2005 GOVERNOR’S HUMANITIES AWARD FOR PUBLICATIONS

Michael Dickey has been selected to receive a 2005 Governor’s Humanities Book Award, conferred by the Missouri Humanities Council. This award recognizes an individual or group whose publication has increased our understanding and appreciation of Missouri’s history and culture, regardless of the publishers or author’s place of residence.

As Historic Site Administrator of Arrow Rock State Historic Site since 1995, Michael Dickey has contributed significantly to the preservation and interpretation of historic buildings landscapes in Arrow Rock, and to the exhibits and themes at the State Historical Site Visitors’ Center.

Arrow Rock: Crossroads of the Missouri Frontier is described as “a remarkable and fascinating narrative that tells the history of the diverse people who lived in the Arrow Rock area, and explains how they influenced nineteenth century Missouri’s society, politics, culture, and economy.”

Sources used by the author to document the important part American Indians and African Americans played in the history of Arrow Rock include artifacts and field notes of archaeological excavations, and manuscripts, interviews, and reports from research projects conducted by scholars and students of the University of Missouri at St. Louis and William Woods College, with financial assistance provided by the Missouri Humanities Council.

The concluding chapter of Dickey’s book is devoted to Arrow Rock’s place in historic preservation.

Since 1971, the Missouri Humanities Council has provided thousands of programs to help Missourians enjoy a rich cultural life and develop community citizenship. Our mission is to enable families and communities to broaden their appreciation of history, literature, and the ideas that shape our democracy. Our programs include: READ from the START, family reading initiative; Chautauqua, community celebration of history: Charettes, consulting for local museums & cultural institutions; Museum on Main Street rural initiative of the Smithsonian Institution; as well as Grants and Initiatives to fund locally generated programs.

To learn more about the Governor’s Humanities Awards, this year’s honorees, or to nominate someone for the 2006 Public Involvement, Community Heritage, Excellence in Secondary Education, or Book Awards, please visit our website, www.mohumanities.org.

MHC is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities, a Federal agency.