Anne Marie Baker is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. The baby of four, she is the only member of her family to ever move out of the city. It’s a difference in life preferences, she thinks. “I had more of a wanderlust,” she said. “So I wanted to see what else was out there.” This curiosity she attributes to reading. Anne would read anything growing up. “My folks had Reader’s Digest condensed books,” she explained. “They take books and condense…
Boris Branham was born on January 1, 2018 in Moore, Oklahoma. Named after the actor Boris Karloff of Son of Frankenstein fame, Boris Branham came into the world in a litter of (at least) four other kittens and distinguished himself immediately with an extra toe on each front paw. “We almost didn’t get Boris,” said Sue Branham, Boris’ mom. “Somebody had picked him and then they changed their mind so [the breeder] asked if we wanted the one that was…
Missouri State University’s Meyer Library invites you to an afternoon of poetry at 3:30 pm on Thursday, April 9 in Room 107. Hear from poet and filmmaker David Malone, a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee and author of eight poetry collections. Then, listen to poet, writer, and artist Jo Van Arkel, past winner of the Missouri Writers Biennial Award, author of two short story collections, and six chapbooks of poetry. After an introduction by Dave Richards, Dean of the Library, there…
Two faculty members at the Duane G. Meyer Library have been promoted to associate professor. Anne Baker, Head of Special Collections and Archives, and Derek Moser, Head of Resource Management and Discovery, were promoted in a joint letter ceremony on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 2:45 pm in the Ozarks Room. Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams, President, and Dr. Clarenda Phillips, Provost, came to deliver Baker’s and Moser’s letters and give remarks. Dave Richards, Dean of the Libraries, also spoke and…
While the Missouri State University Libraries became a government document depository in 1963, we signed a further agreement in 2012. Under the terms of this agreement, MO State would become the library regionally responsible for specific government agency collections. In recent years, the Government Printing Office (GPO) has been implementing a new digital Federal Documents Library Program and the changes required the aforementioned agreement to also be changed. While the old agreement required that we receive some physical documents, those…
The 2001 Lady Bears Final Four team and staff and all Lady Bear alumni were honored during the Missouri State Lady Bears’ game on February 7th and celebrated together at a reunion event. Special Collections and Archives were thrilled to share materials from the Lady Bears Collection at both events! Danielle Richesin, Director of Marketing and Promotions for Missouri State Athletics, contacted the Archives about materials for a video honoring the 2001 Lady Bears in October 2025. Tracie Gieselman…
On March 5 at 4:00 pm, the Ozarks Studies Institute will be hosting Sue Reichling, Library Associate II, for an event entitled Remembering Doc Dasher: Springfield’s Song and Dance Man (1898-1987). The event will take place at the Duane G. Meyer Library in Room 107. Doc Dasher was an African-American lyricist who lived in Springfield during the Jim Crow era. “He started off in Florida and he was on the vaudeville circuit for a few years, which was not great…
Dean Dave Richards of MSU Libraries will be hosting the second Donuts with the Dean event! Next Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 9 am to 10 am, Dave will be in the lobby of Meyer Library handing out donuts and meeting with students. “I am thrilled that we’re able to do Donuts with the Dean. It’s great that I get to interact with the students. They love donuts and so do I,” Dave said. “This is just one of the…
Paige Harp, a Library Associate III at the Duane G. Meyer Library, was chosen to be a member of the 2027 Randolph Caldecott Award Selection Committee. Their term runs from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. The winner will be announced at the American Library Association’s 2027 Youth Media Awards. “It’s been a goal of mine for many years to be a member of the Caldecott committee,” said Paige. “I’m looking forward to this experience and working with…
Beginning January 26, the Reading Room will be closed on Mondays. This will allow staff time to focus on collection care, including organizing archival material, digitization, and conservation needs. We will be available by appointment on those days, so please reach out to Archives@missouristate.edu or 417-836-5428 to schedule research consultations or class visits. Hours will remain 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (closed University holidays.) Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to making additional historical documents…