The State Historical Society of Missouri

What The State Historical Society of Missouri does

The State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit historical society founded in 1898 by the Missouri Press Association and designated a state trustee in 1899. It is the official repository for Missouri's documentary heritage, operating a network of six research centers across the state — Columbia (headquarters at the Center for Missouri Studies), Cape Girardeau, Kansas City, Rolla, St. Louis, and Springfield — alongside digital collections exceeding 70,000 digitized photographs and 15,000 editorial cartoons. The Society serves four primary user communities: researchers and genealogists, K-12 students and educators (notably through administering National History Day in Missouri with nearly 500 annual state-contest participants), scholars and academics, and the general public.

SHSMO's core products span publications (Missouri Historical Review quarterly journal since 1906, Missouri Times magazine, and SHSMO Books), educational programs (National History Day, lecture series, K-12 resources), fellowships ($5,000 annual stipends), and commemorative initiatives (Route 66 Centennial, US at 250). Physical and digital infrastructure supports in-person archival research, online collections accessible globally, event venue rental ($50-400/hour), and traveling exhibitions. Partnerships with the University of Missouri, UMKC, Missouri S&T, Google Arts & Culture, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Missouri Humanities extend distribution and program capacity.

The Society generates revenue through a diversified mix including membership programs and charitable donations, event venue rental at the Center for Missouri Studies, bookstore and merchandise sales, and fee-based research services for genealogists and scholars. Its 2025 leadership transition from long-serving executive director Gary R. Kremer (21-year tenure) to Joel Rhodes marks a generational shift, while ongoing expansion of physical facilities (2019 headquarters, 2021 and 2024 research center relocations) and commemorative programming indicates sustained institutional momentum.

Name

The State Historical Society of Missouri

Legal name

The State Historical Society of Missouri

Website

https://shsmo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The State Historical Society of Missouri is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1898 that serves as the official repository for Missouri's documentary heritage, operating six statewide research centers, extensive digital collections, and educational and public programs for genealogists, K-12 students, scholars, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical and Archival Research Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Education, Research & Academic Congresses (THAHAJAD)

Keywords

• Historical research services
• Archival collections access
• Genealogical research support
• Educational history programs
• Cultural heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Memberships and Donations: Annual membership programs and charitable donations from individuals, families, and organizations that support the Society's mission of preserving Missouri history.
2. Event Venue Rental: Rental of event spaces at the Center for Missouri Studies and other locations, including the Sprint auditorium, lower level lecture rooms, and Jesse Auditorium for public programming and private events.
3. Richard Bookstore: Sales of books, merchandise, and historical publications at the on-site Richard Bookstore and online through the Foundation's shop.
4. Research Services: Fee-based research services provided to genealogists, scholars, and individuals seeking historical information from the Society's collections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) operates a statewide network of six research centers that preserve and provide access to Missouri's documentary heritage, including newspapers, maps, photographs, manuscripts, and government records. It publishes the Missouri Historical Review journal, Missouri Times magazine, and SHSMO Books; administers the National History Day in Missouri competition for grades 6-12; runs fellowship programs; and offers event venue rentals, fee-based research services, and a Richard Bookstore.

Product overview

The State Historical Society of Missouri is a non-profit historical society offering a portfolio of publications, educational programs, research facilities, and digital archives focused on Missouri history. The core offerings include the Missouri Historical Review (quarterly scholarly journal since 1906), Missouri Times magazine, and SHSMO Books publications. Educational initiatives center on National History Day in Missouri for grades 6-12. Physical infrastructure includes the Center for Missouri Studies headquarters in Columbia and six research centers across the state (Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla, Saint Louis, Springfield). Digital services encompass online collections with over 70,000 digitized photographs, the Our Missouri Podcast, and On Demand Videos. The Society also administers the Gary R. Kremer Center for Missouri Studies Fellowships with $5,000 annual stipends. Special commemorative programs in 2026 include Route 66 Centennial and US at 250 (America 250) celebrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Missouri Studies: Administrative headquarters building at 605 Elm St., Columbia, MO
• Missouri Historical Review
• Missouri Times

Products and services

• Missouri Historical Review A quarterly scholarly journal offering articles on diverse topics in Missouri history, serving historians, scholars, and members of the general public since 1906.
• Missouri Times A magazine included with SHSMO membership that celebrates Missouri history and culture, with recent issues exploring Route 66 centennial and state landmarks.
• SHSMO Books An active book publishing program covering Missouri historical topics from editorial cartoons to German settlement, including works by executive director emeritus Gary R. Kremer.
• National History Day in Missouri SHSMO-administered educational initiative where students in grades 6-12 participate in local, regional, and state competitions, with winners advancing to the national contest. Nearly 600 students advance to the state contest annually.
• Center for Missouri Studies SHSMO's administrative headquarters in Columbia, MO, housing the nation's best collection of Missouri regional and westward expansion art, with flexible public spaces available for event rental.
• Six Regional Research Centers Six research centers across Missouri (Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla, Saint Louis, Springfield) providing in-person access to manuscripts, newspapers, maps, photographs, oral histories, and reference materials.
• Digital Collections Web-based digital archive of over 70,000 photographs, 15,000 editorial cartoons, maps, diaries, letters, books, and oral histories accessible online to researchers and the public.
• Gary R. Kremer Center for Missouri Studies Fellowships Annual fellowship program offering $5,000 stipends for scholarly essays on rotating topics exploring underexplored areas of Missouri history and culture.
• Our Missouri Podcast A podcast featuring series such as 'Origins: A Reflection on Missouri at 250 & Beyond' that examines Missouri history leading up to statehood, including researcher interviews and collection highlights.
• On Demand Videos Freely available video programs including the Basic Genealogy series, documentary films, and lecture recordings.
• Traveling Exhibitions Traveling exhibition program bringing Missouri history to communities statewide, including Route 66 and other themed displays available for request by host venues.
• Research Services Fee-based services including Quick Search, Interlibrary Loan, Research Requests & Appointments, and Material Transfer Request for accessing SHSMO's historical collections.
• Richard Bookstore Sales of books, merchandise, and historical publications at the on-site Richard Bookstore and online through the Foundation's shop.
• Event Venue Rental Rental of event spaces at the Center for Missouri Studies including the Sprint Auditorium, lower level lecture rooms, and Jesse Auditorium for public programming and private events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500 students participate annually in National History Day Missouri competitions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Google Arts & CulturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for the Route 66 Centennial celebration, providing digital access to historical materials related to Missouri's segment of the iconic Route 66 highway through Google's platform.
• National Trust for Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the Route 66 Centennial preservation efforts, working together to highlight and protect Missouri's historical and cultural heritage along the famous highway.
• Missouri HumanitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple programming partnerships including US at 250 commemoration and other humanities initiatives to promote public understanding of Missouri history and culture.
• Ozark VitalityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production partnership for documentary and video content about Missouri history.
• Opportunity 1888 FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm partnership supporting documentary projects highlighting Missouri's historical narratives.
• Ragtag CinemaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for the Show Me Series, bringing Missouri history films and discussions to audiences in an accessible cinema setting.
• University of MissouricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership housing the Missouri Historic Costume and Textile Collection at the university, providing stewardship and access to these specialized materials.
• Kinder Institute on Constitutional DemocracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on US at 250 programming and commemorations, including events related to the Declaration of Independence and constitutional history.
• University of Missouri-Kansas CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the Kansas City Research Center, providing facility space and academic connections for researchers in the Kansas City region.
• Missouri S&T Curtis Laws Wilson LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the Rolla Research Center, providing space and resources for researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology campus.
• Missouri State ArchivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual Missouri Conference on History, bringing together scholars and researchers for academic presentations on Missouri topics.
• Veterans United FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship support for the Declaration of Independence Festival, helping fund this public celebration of American independence.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Minnesota Historical Society: State-level historical society operating a network of historic sites, research centers, a major library/archives, publications, and K-12 educational programs. Closest analog to SHSMO's structure: statewide research centers, journal/magazine publishing, and National History Day state administration.
• Wisconsin Historical Society: Official state historical society of Wisconsin with research library, archives, historic sites, and publishing programs. Directly comparable in statutory trustee status, statewide footprint, and academic publication portfolio (e.g., Wisconsin Magazine of History vs. Missouri Historical Review).
• Indiana Historical Society: Private nonprofit state historical society operating the Indiana History Center, research library, publications (Traces magazine, books), and statewide educational programming. Highly comparable model: private 501(c)(3) with museum, research, and education arms.
• Ohio History Connection: Ohio's state historical society operating multiple historic sites, archives, and the Ohio History magazine. Comparable mission, multi-site operations, and educational outreach including National History Day state coordination.
• New-York Historical Society: Private museum and historical society with significant research library, publications, K-12 educational programming, and exhibitions. Comparable as a membership- and donation-funded 501(c)(3) with major publishing output and a flagship building.
• Virginia Museum of History & Culture: Private nonprofit state-level history museum and research library with extensive collections, exhibitions, and educational programs. Comparable in scale, mission, and operating model.

Regional players

• Kansas Historical Society: Neighbor state historical society operating research collections, a museum, and educational programs. Strong regional peer with overlapping collections focus on westward expansion and Midwestern history.

Broad incumbents

• National Archives (NARA): Federal archives and records governance agency. Indirect peer in archival stewardship, public access to historical records, and researcher services, though at national scale and government-funded rather than nonprofit.
• Library of Congress: National library and research institution with massive historical collections, exhibitions, and digital access programs. Comparable as a publicly accessible archive and digital collections platform, though with vastly broader mandate.
• Smithsonian Institution: National museum and research complex with deep archival holdings, educational programs, and digital platforms. Adjacent comparator for scale of public programming and digital engagement, but not a state-level specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/shsofmo
• Facebookfacebook.com/statehistoricalsocietyofmissouri
• Instagraminstagram.com/shsofmo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The State Historical Society of Missouri