People You Should Know
Gary R. Kremer
Executive Director, State Historical Society of Missouri; Director, Western Historical Manuscript Collection
AGE: 61 ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Believe it or not, Frankenstein, Mo. (30 miles east of Jefferson City)
YEARS LIVED IN MID-MISSOURI: Except for 1974 to 1975 when I was a graduate student in Washington, D.C., I have lived my entire life in mid-Missouri.
JOB DESCRIPTION: In addition to managing the general day-to-day operations of the society and the WHMC, my duties include: evaluating and editing submissions to the Missouri Historical Review, writing articles and books on Missouri history, speaking on a variety of Missouri history topics to a wide range of audiences, representing the interests of the State Historical Society and the Western Historical Manuscript Collection to members of the Missouri legislature.
EDUCATION: B.A. and M.A. in history from Lincoln University in Jefferson City and Ph.D. in history from American University, Washington, D. C.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMET: Founding board member, Friends of the Missouri State Archives; founding board member, Historic City of Jefferson; have taught a class on Jefferson City history for 15 years for the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce; frequent speaker to civic groups on the history of Jefferson City.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Taught U. S. history at Lincoln University from 1972 to 1987, state archivist of Missouri from 1987 to 1991, professor of history at William Woods University from 1991 to 2004, current positions from 2004 to present.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE AND WHY: Doug Crews, the executive director of the Missouri Press Association. I admire his style, his openness, his unflappability, his eagerness to be helpful, his even temperament and his relentless optimism. I also admire his ability to interact with Missouri legislators.
WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB: Studying history helps me to make sense of the world in which I live. There are few things more rewarding to me than helping people to connect with their pasts.
IF I WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, I WOULD: Be researching, writing and lecturing about Missouri history full time.
BIGGEST CAREER OBSTACLE I’VE OVERCOME AND HOW: One of the biggest obstacles I have faced is that many academic historians do not regard Missouri history as a legitimate field of serious scholarship. Many scholars think that Missouri history is parochial and provincial. I can’t say that I’ve overcome this obstacle; rather, I’ve chosen to ignore it.
A FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: Currently working on a biography of George Washington Carver for Greenwood Press of Connecticut.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROFESSION: You don’t enter this profession with the expectation of getting rich. Historians are generally not well paid. If you do not love the study of history, you should not enter this profession.
WHAT I DO FOR FUN: I jog about 30 miles per week. I love to read, especially U.S. history. I’m a serious St. Louis Cardinals fan. I spend as much time as possible with my seven grandchildren.
FAMILY: Wife, Lisa. Three adult children: Randy, Sharon and Becky. Seven grandchildren, including two sets of twins.
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA: The Francis Quadrangle. I never tire of looking at the magnificent buildings that surround the quad. I walk around the quad every day I am at work.
ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M MOST PROUD OF: Getting the State Historical Society back into the state budget after being zeroed out for a time in 2005. I also enjoy running into former students whom I taught during my 30-year career, especially when they remember me or my classes fondly.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT: I Once aspired to be a Catholic priest and spent two years studying in a seminary.