A Rural Way of Life

by Geoff Giglierano, MHC Executive Director

Geoff GiglieranoI recently had the opportunity to visit the Andrew County Museum and Historical Society in Savannah, Missouri. While I was there I viewed their exhibit “A Rural Way of Life,” and got to meet their staff and some of their dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. Simply put, I was blown away by what they have accomplished. If you are in that northwestern part of the state, and you enjoy a good museum experience, then I highly recommend that you stop in Savannah and see what the people of Andrew County have created. The exhibit is an exceptionally well thought out and beautifully presented exploration of life in a rural Missouri county. A large part of what appealed to me as an urban historian was the way that it examined the ever-changing social and economic relationships between the farming population and nearby towns. It was fascinating, it was fun, and they had a wide variety of wonderful artifacts from both rural and urban contexts, which perfectly illustrated the stories they are seeking to tell.

In all honesty, I thought this exhibit was more attractive, engaging, and interesting than many of the exhibits I have seen in much larger museums.

To produce an exhibit of this quality, the people at the Andrew County Museum had to carry out an effective collaboration effort with professional historians and exhibit designers. Just as importantly, they had to engage the residents of Andrew County in the collecting of stories and artifacts and images—AND they had to generate some substantial resources to make the entire project possible.

Which brings me to a larger point, and to the theme of this issue of Missouri Passages: it is vital that we give support to the things that we think are important. The people of Andrew County decided that it was important that they have a first-rate permanent exhibit about life in their county, and they assembled the resources—including the funding—necessary to make it happen and to keep the facility that houses this exhibit in operation. A diverse range of individuals and entities in Andrew County has made a series of commitments that are significant and substantial. Similarly, if the Missouri Humanities Council is going to serve more Missouri communities and families, and respond to the needs and program requests of our partner institution and local museums and libraries, we will need to diversify our sources of support and generate donations from a wider range of individuals and corporations.

For many years, MHC has relied primarily on public funding. But in the economic and political realities we face today–and will continue to face in the foreseeable future–that must change. You probably have already received our MHC annual appeal in the mail. If you have not yet responded, we hope that you will do so. The humanities are important. They have an impact in Missouri communities that is apparent within both social and economic contexts. With your help, we can keep making a difference through the humanities.

If you would like to find out more about the Andrew County Museum and the remarkable exhibit they created, you can visit their web site at http://www.andrewcountymuseum.org/ ; if you would like additional information about how you can support the programs and projects of the Missouri Humanities Council, please contact the MHC Development Director Anna Wingron at 314-781-9660.

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