Episode 56: ”A History of Missouri” – William Parrish (Bicentennial Book Club, Part 16)

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, William Parrish discusses his writings on Missouri's Civil War and Reconstruction history, the origins of the multi-volume "Missouri: The Heart of a Nation" and "A History of Missouri," and the evolution of scholarship over his sixty-plus year career.

Episode Image: Missouri House of Representatives Chamber, 1899 [Missouri State Capitol Photograph Collection (P1118), SHSMO]

About the Guest: William Parrish holds a PhD in History from the University of Missouri. He is Professor Emeritus of History at Mississippi State University. He is the author of several books, including "David Rice Atchison of Missouri, Border Politician," "Turbulent Partnership: Missouri and the Union, 1861-1865," "Missouri Under Radical Rule, 1865-1870," and "Frank Blair: Lincoln's Conservative."