NEWS

MSU project to tell more stories of Route 66

Christine Temple
News-Leader

Often stories of Route 66 brings thoughts of nostalgia and romance.

A Missouri State University project is hoping to tell another side of history.

Over the next year, researchers with Missouri State Libraries will undertake an oral history project to tell the under-told stories of African-Americans, and other minority groups, in the Ozarks and their experience with Route 66.

David Richards, MSU department head of special collections and archives, said MSU was awarded a $15,000 grant on Thursday from the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for the project. Another $33,880 will be provided by MSU and in-kind donations.

"We're really looking at this sub-set that hasn't been talked about before," Richards said. "We hear a lot about how Route 66 was this romantic road, but there might be some other perspectives on this."

At least 20 hour-long interviews will be recorded over the next year for the project. Richards said the interviewees will be people who lived in Greene County during the Route 66-era or the children of those who lived in the area. The videos will be uploaded to the MSU Libraries YouTube channel.

MSU is working with the History Museum on the Square, the City of Springfield, The Route 66 Association of Missouri and The State Historical Society of Missouri to complete the project.

Tom Peters, MSU dean of university libraries, said that the experience African-Americans had while traveling and living on Route 66 varied from a white person's experience.

"They had some discrimination and segregation," he said.

"There was the Green Book that indicated to African-Americans where you were welcome to get food and lodging."

Peters said one man he plans to interview was part of the first African-American group to sing on the Ozarks Jubilee national television broadcast.

The group also traveled often to gigs on Route 66. Another woman ran a diner and hotel in Springfield just a few blocks from the historic road.

"It's not like you are uncovering history with this project, but it gives you a different perspective," he said. "Everyone knows Route 66 existed, but what we don't have is a lot of the stories about the people and shop owners."

Richards said not all of the experiences and memories shared will be negative.

"There's going to be some positive experiences, too," Richards said.

With Springfield as the birthplace of Route 66, Richards said it is important for locals to remember and continue to learn about the road.

He said, "We're hoping to preserve and provide access to these oral histories that are going to document the history of Greene County."