Episode 51: ”Bridging Two Eras” – Virginia Laas (Bicentennial Book Club, Part 11)

In honor of the state's 200th birthday, Our Missouri will feature a series throughout 2021 entitled "Bicentennial Book Club," which highlights influential books related to Missouri and examines how scholars, historians, and authors dissect major topics in the state's history. So, join the "Book Club" to hear about award-winning publications that detail the state's diverse history, as well as the stories behind the stories featured within their pages. In this episode, Virginia Laas discusses her book, "Bridging Two Eras: The Autobiography of Emily Newell Blair, 1877-1951," and highlights the unique challenges of editing the writings of the noted feminist, suffragist, and political leader.

Episode Image: Emily Newell Blair at the Democratic Women’s Regional Conference, 1939 [Bernard Dickmann Photograph Collection (S0555), SHSMO]

About the Guest: Virginia Laas holds a PhD in history from the University of Arkansas. She is Professor Emerita of History at Missouri Southern State University, and presently serves as the President of the Board of Trustees for the State Historical Society of Missouri. She has authored, coauthored, and edited five books, including "Love and Power in the Nineteenth Century: The Marriage of Violet Blair" and "Bridging Two Eras: The Autobiography of Emily Newell Blair, 1877-1951."