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For information on the availability of one of our presenters, please contact us at:

Phone: 573-883-9622 (Foundation Office)

Or email: ffrsg67@gmai.com

Sponsored by the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, Inc., the Felix Vallé House State Historic Site, and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Camp #326

 

Ste. Genevieve Personalities

 

“Jacques Guibourd and his Family” traces the life, family, house, land holdings, and occupations of Jacques Guibourd, a Frenchman, who came to Ste. Genevieve just before the Louisiana Purchase (R. Mueller)

“Le Petit Anglais: Henry Marie Brackenridge and the Vital Beauvais Family of Ste. Genevieve” traces the story of Brackenridge’s stay in Ste. Genevieve during the 1790’s as a youth. Themes of colonial settlement, culture, religion, town planning, architecture, and families of influence are highlighted. (D. Rausch)

“Pelagie Vital: A Free Woman of Color” uses historic documents to tell the story of Pelagie, a former slave in Ste. Genevieve who became the wife of Benjamin C. Amoureux. Themes of French cultural influences, religion, slavery, and free black populations are discussed and illustrated. (D. Rausch)

“The Vallé Family of Ste. Genevieve: A French Colonial Legacy” traces the origins of the Vallé family in Upper Louisiana, revealing the vast financial and social impact of Francois Vallé and his descendants. (D. Rausch)

“Henri Marie Brackenridge” The story of the Little English Boy who came to Ste. Genevieve in the 1790’s to learn French (presented for a children’s audience Grades 4 and above). (D. Rausch)

 “The Life and After Life of Dr. Lewis F. Linn” provides insights into the family, doctoring, political career and unusual events that happened after the burial of Dr. Lewis Linn, a United States Senator (R. Mueller)

“Whose Signature is that on the Wall?”  The story of Jean Baptiste Bossier, an early 19th century Ste. Genevieve merchant who left his signature on the wall of his store located on corner of 2nd and Merchant. (D. Rausch)

“Prodigal Son- The Brief Life of Louis Felix Valle” The story of Louis Valle, son of Felix and Odile Pratte Valle and grandson of Jean Baptist Valle, who travelled to the gold fields of California and ultimately to an early death in Pennsylvania (D. Rausch)

"Antoine O’Neille, silversmith of Detroit, Vincennes and Ste. Genevieve” The story of silversmiths in Ste. Genevieve circa 1820 (Becky Millinger)

“Lawyers and Politicians in the Post Colonial Period” describes the methods of governance in both the colonial and post colonial periods, how the change to the American system affected the local French people as well as describing the individual local lawyers and politicians before Missouri became a state (R. Mueller)

“From Missouri to West Point: Native Sons of Upper Louisiana” tells the story of the young men from Missouri who were among the earliest graduates of West Point, following the Louisiana Purchase (J. Baker)

“What the Tour Guides Don’t Tell You” a pictorial and verbal tour of the historic district based on interesting cases and incidents involving some of the colorful residents of Ste. Genevieve in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. (J. Baker)

 

Ste. Genevieve Culture and Traditions

 

“Our French and German Christmas Customs” highlights Ste. Genevieve Christmas

traditions and customs that have come down through the ages from our French and German immigrant ancestors. (Also suitable for Grades 4 and above) (R. Mueller)

 “Early Ste. Genevieve Gardening and Agriculture” explores mid-Mississippi horticulture before 1820 based on travelers’ descriptions (Also suitable for Grades 4 and above) (R. Mueller)

 “Tracing your Family in Ste. Genevieve County, MO” identifies approaches, references, databases, and other resources available to genealogists researching in Ste. Genevieve County, MO (R. Mueller)

“All the French Grammar You Need to Know in Five Minutes” – Not really 5 minutes but in this lecture, you will get the basics of French Grammar and better understand basic French terms (J. Baker)

“A Cultural Culinary History of Ste. Genevieve” describes the foods, beverages of choice, and various impacts on the cuisine through almost three hundred years of Ste. Genevieve’s history. (R. Mueller)

 

Ste. Genevieve Architecture and History

 

 “Traditional French Colonial Architecture of Ste. Genevieve” follows the transition of vertical log architecture from Normandy to Quebec to Ste. Genevieve. Using 18th century building contracts, elements of the architectural style are highlighted using examples seen on buildings in Ste. Genevieve’s impressive historic district. (D. Rausch)

“A Thumbnail Tour of Ste. Genevieve History” describes events and facts that shaped the history of Ste. Genevieve (R. Mueller)

“The 1935 Bicentennial Celebration” describes the events leading up to and the conduct of the Centennial and Bicentennial celebrations that brought the town together to celebrate its history (R. Mueller)

 “The History of Ste. Genevieve County” is a review of the 200 year old history of Ste. Genevieve County, one of the first five counties in Missouri and includes information on a variety of topics such as architecture, roads, schools, floods, schools, utilities, etc. (R. Mueller)

“Saving our Historic Architecture” presents a look at preservation efforts in Missouri’s oldest town over the last 165 years (R. Mueller)

“Early Lead Mining in the Ste. Genevieve District” describes the efforts to mine lead in the Ste. Genevieve district.  Some of the largest lead deposits in the world are located in this area. (R. Mueller)

“Ste. Genevieve’s National Historic Landmark District” discusses early settlement and history, colonial architecture, early Americanization, and historic preservation issues associated with the site and the community in general. (J. Baker)

“Ste. Genevieve’s Architectural Roots: Highlights from the Pays d’Auge”, a region of Normandy, France, conveys ideas regarding the origins of the French Colonial architectural styles found in Ste. Genevieve. (J. Baker)

“The Ste. Genevieve Diorama: Recreating the Village in 1832” chronicles the planning, development, and construction of the Ste. Genevieve Diorama, installed in the Bauvais-Amoureux House in 2000. Themes of town planning, Americanization, architecture, and families of influence are included. (Also suitable for Grades 4 and above) (J. Baker)

“Set in Stone - Historic Masonry in Ste. Genevieve" describes the use of stone in Ste. Genevieve’s historic building and architectural structures. (J. Baker)

“We are now all Americans – Jean-Baptiste Vallé and 19th century Ste. Genevieve” describes the transition that occurred in Ste. Genevieve with the Louisiana Purchase and the coming of the Americans (J. Baker)

“From Easels to Walls” discusses the New Deal Post Office mural program and the 20 murals painted by Ste. Genevieve Art Colony instructors and students (R. Mueller)

“When the Drummers Came to Town” describes the Southeast Missouri Drummers Association made up of traveling salesmen or drummers in “Swamp East” Missouri. The presentation provides information on six drummer conventions held in Ste. Genevieve and includes a variety of Ste. Genevieve pictures from 1908 (R. Mueller)

“Silver and the Fur Trade” discusses the various types of silver used in fur trade with the Native Americans as well as information on Ste. Genevieve’s silversmith, Antoine ONeille (B. Millinger)

“The Church of Ste. Genevieve – Missouri’s Oldest Parish” provides a history of the parish of Ste. Genevieve from its beginnings in 1760 to the present Information on rectories, convents, schools, and cemeteries is also covered (R. Mueller)

“Citizen Soldiers and the Military of Colonial Ste.  Genevieve” describes the role of the Milice (militia) during the colonial period as well as the small detachment of military personnel during the pre-Louisiana Purchase period of the town. (R. Mueller)

“Markets, Fairs, and the Stories from Ste. Genevieve’s Agricultural History” describes history of the town’s farmers’ markets, fairs, and stock shows as well as the changes in agriculture from the 18th to e 20th Century (R. Mueller)

“A 200 Year History of Ste. Genevieve County” provides a history of one of Missouri’s first five counties established in 1812 with the establishment of the Territory of Missouri (R. Mueller)

“A Frontier Economy – Ste. Genevieve in the 18th and Early 19th Century” describes the major occupations and activities that made Ste. Genevieve a viable community during its colonial period and into the beginnings of Missouri statehood. (R. Mueller)

 

 

Civil War

 

“66 Miles in 39 Hours” This presentation covers the retreat from Fort Davidson to Leasburg Missouri. (G. Scheel)

"We Have Seen Hard Times” Describes the 47th MO made up men from Ste. Genevieve and surrounding counties who participated in the Battle of Pilot Knob and service in Tennessee (G. Scheel)

“Rain, Mud & Swamps” Describes the history of the 31st Missouri Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. They left Missouri (via Ste. Genevieve) in December 1862 and did not return as a unit until July 1865 (G. Scheel)

“Equipment and Arms of the Soldier” This presentation describes the uses and equipment of the common soldier during the war (suitable for 4th grade and above) (G. Scheel)

“Governor Thomas C. Fletcher” This presentation discusses the military career and subsequent life of Thomas C. Fletcher, Missouri’s first native born Governor. He wrote Missouri’s Emancipation Proclamation in January 1865 and established Missouri’s Superintendent of Schools (G. Scheel)

“The Civil War in Ste. Genevieve County” Our area was divided during the Civil War with ardent supporters and participants on both sides of the conflict and this presentation discusses how this national conflict affected our local area (T. Greminger)

"Major General John A. Logan, a Hero of the Civil War” A presentation on the life and experiences of General John A. Logan. Gen. Logan was from southern Illinois and is credited with keeping that area pro Northern. He served as Colonel of the 31st Illinois Infantry and later as Commander of the 15th Army Corp. He was a founder of the Grand Army of the Republic and is responsible for founding what we now know as Memorial Day (G. Scheel )

“The Grand Army of the Republic” discusses the formation of the GAR, the local Ste. Genevieve GAR Camp and the old and new Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War organizations (R. Mueller)

“Christmas during the Civil War” discusses Christmas season during the Civil War and how cartoons of the time period helped shape our modern perception of Santa Klaus. (R. Mueller)

“Money and Stamps of the Civil War” – A presentation on the various currencies and stamps used during the Civil War (Tom Greminger)

“Lt. Col. J. Felix St. James and the Battle of Shiloh” describes the life of a Ste. Genevieve lawyer who was one of the early southeast Missouri civil war volunteers and who was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. (R. Mueller)

“The Battle of Vicksburg” describes the Battle of Vicksburg from May thru July 1863 including the involvement of Ste.  Genevieve area Union and Confederate soldiers (G. Scheel)

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