St Louis History Talks

Cost: $5; doors open at 6:30pm. Note: our cover charge helps support equipment and other expenses to bring you these talks. No one who wants to attend will be turned away for lack of funds**.**

"This month’s Unseen STL History Talks explores two very different chapters of Black history in St. Louis. Pruitt-Igoe remains one of the city’s most recognizable stories, yet photos of its demolition often overshadow the people who lived there. Elizabeth Keckley became a celebrated dressmaker and confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln, but fewer people know that she spent nearly 12 years in St. Louis, purchasing her freedom for herself and her son here.

"Together, their stories reveal how Black St. Louisans built homes, communities, careers, and freedom in a city that repeatedly put barriers in their way.."

The Speakers:
"Shawntay Nicole Vaughn is a second-generation St. Louisan, entertainer, and author with a lifelong love of history and the remnants of the past. She is currently honing her storytelling skills and delving deeper into St. Louis history as a docent at 4theVille and in the Missouri Historical Society’s Storytelling Cohort."

"Naysa Adams is a curator, historian, and multimedia artist born and raised in St. Louis. Their research-forward practice explores local history and the stories too often left at its margins."

Learn more about the talk and the speaker at https://unseenstlouis.substack.com/p/unseen-stl-history-september-2026

Cost: Free
Location: Schlafly Library
Registration required! Go here: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a45607086636e3d0051f903 to register, then click green Register button

These meetups will be a little different - there may or may not be a meetup host at these events, so this is more a way to let people in this group know these history talks are taking place. You may or may not see anyone else from the meetup group there if you choose to go.

"What did the American Revolution and the Constitution mean for the people living in the St. Louis region before Missouri became a state? Join historian Peter Kastor for an engaging exploration of how the nation's founding shaped life along the Mississippi and influenced the development of our region. Through stories of political leaders, everyday people, and the institutions that emerged in a young republic, Kastor will connect the ideals of America's founding to the communities that would eventually become Missouri. Discover how national events unfolded close to home and why the history of the St. Louis region is an essential part of America's 250-year story. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the nation's past, this program offers a fresh perspective on the people, places, and ideas that helped shape both our region and the country we know today." from https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a45607086636e3d0051f903

Address: Belleville Books, 20 E Main Street, Belleville, IL
Cost: Free for the talk; book will be on sale for $20.

This is my first author talk, so I will be there. I know many of you may be in Belleville for the St. Louis Historic Sites walking tour. If you want to make a day of it, stick around after lunch for the talk about my new book. If you are not going on the walking tour and can make it to Belleville, I'll be happy to have friendly faces in the audience! My next author-talk will be in Afton at the Oakland House.

"For anyone who loves history - or simply enjoys exploring - St. Louis is full of hidden treasures and remarkable historic homes. Their stories are rich, unexpected, and best discovered not just in books, but by stepping inside the places where history was lived. This book invites readers to tour 66 historic houses, all located within a 30-mile radius of Forest Park, and discover the stories waiting within their walls." from the back cover