RICHMOND HEIGHTS PRESERVATIONIST RECOGNIZED
2005 GOVERNOR’S HUMANITIES AWARD IN PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Joellen Gamp McDonald has been selected to receive a 2005 Governor’s Humanities Public Involvement Award, conferred by the Missouri Humanities Council. This award recognizes a person who has been exemplary in developing public interest in the activities of a museum, historic site or historical society, or who has generated exceptional public interest in history or literature in some other way.

As vice president and curator of the Richmond Heights Historical Society, McDonald has almost single-handedly revived an organization devoted to the collection and documentation of the Richmond Heights community. Her recent efforts focused on Hadley Township Neighborhood, one of the oldest African American communities in St. Louis County, created in 1907 when Evens-Howard brickworks developed subsidized housing for its predominately black workers.

McDonald prodded the community conscience in the face of continued commercial zoning and investment, galvanizing the neighbors into a cogent voice. Through a letter-writing campaign, she helped bring awareness of the community’s significance to developers.

She partnered with 8th grade students from St. Luke’s Catholic School to create An Oral History Project: The People from the Hill which documented hundreds of photos and historical memorabilia. McDonald has brought life to local history through exhibits and Society-sponsored lectures, and represented the local community in its planning with the MO Department of Transportation.

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.