Unseen STL History Talks: November 2024
Mapping History and Forgotten Lives
This November, take a journey through St. Louis’s past, from the city’s founding days to its bustling present. For this month’s talks, our two speakers will explore how maps can transport us to another time and how the area once called "Poverty Hill" served as a critical refuge for the city’s marginalized communities.
Join us on Thursday, November 21st, at Spine Bookstore and Cafe (1982 Arsenal St.). Doors open at 6 p.m., offering time to browse the indie bookstore, grab a drink, and connect with fellow history lovers. The talks begin at 7 p.m. There’s a $5 cover to support Spine.
The Talks
Mapping St. Louis
Andy Hahn will share insights from his new book Mapping St. Louis: A History of the Gateway City in 40 Rare Maps. In an age where digital maps are just a tap away, it's easy to overlook how historical maps have guided both personal journeys and city planning. Andy’s talk will walk through the evolution of St. Louis, featuring many different maps, including maps for exploration and navigation, pocket and atlas maps, development and planning maps, pictorial maps, and fantasy maps. His talk explores St. Louis’s rich history and may spark ideas about where the city is heading.
Exploring “Poverty Hill”
Dr. Joe Squillace will discuss his current research project, Over the Hills to Saint Louis’ Poverty Hill: A Short History of How Three City Institutions Served the Poor and Mentally Ill, 1819-1923. His work uncovers the overlooked histories of St. Louis’s Poor House, Insane Asylum, and Female Hospital, institutions located on The Hill, which was once known as “Poverty Hil” due to these facilities. A St. Louis Republic article about the Potter’s Field next to the poor farm in 1896 stated,
“seldom a mourner accompanies the remains to the grave. And still more seldom are the silent sleepers ever visited by kith or kin. Nameless they lie under the sod, and the history of their past they usually take with them.”
Joe’s research sheds light on the lives of the city’s most vulnerable, forgotten by history and often unremembered even in their own time. His work reminds us of the city's complex social fabric and the humanity behind every hidden story.
Our Speakers
Andy Hahn
A 7th-generation St. Louisan, Andy has a lifelong passion for history and maps. As a student at St. Louis University, he interned at the Cupples House, where he was bitten by the old house bug, and since then, he has dedicated his career to preserving local history. Since 2003, he has worked as director of the Campbell House Museum, an 1851 townhouse in downtown St. Louis. Andy has served on the American Association of State and Local History Historic House Committee and the boards of the Lafayette Park Conservancy and the Friends of Tower Grove Park. Check out the Campbell House Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to see his work in action, and look for his new book Mapping St. Louis: A History of the Gateway City in 40 Rare Maps.
Dr. Joe Squillace
Joe is an Associate Professor and Director of the MSW program at the University of St. Mary, bringing over two decades of experience in social work and public policy. He is the author of numerous scholarly and advocacy publications. Most recently, he authored The Untold History of the First Illinois State Hospital for the Insane, which received a Certificate of Merit in 2021 from the Illinois State Historical Society and was an award-winning finalist in the “History: United States” category of the 2021 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest. His career spans advocacy, policy, and teaching, shaping the field of social work across multiple states. He’s also drafted landmark legislation for Missouri’s children's mental health services. Joe has published three books: The Untold History of the First Illinois State Hospital for the Insane (2020), A History of the Poorhouse and Farm in Morgan County, Illinois (2017), and The Tenants Rights Manual (1999). Discover more about his research and publications at drjoesresearchpage.com.
Join us on November 21st!
Whether you’re a history buff, a map enthusiast, or curious about the history of significant historical institutions, you won’t want to miss these talks. So mark your calendar for November 21st at Spine Bookstore and Cafe—bring your curiosity, your questions, and maybe even a friend or two. See you there!
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This month’s talks you mention sound like they will be fascinating. I happen to live on a historic property (in Virginia) that was formerly an insane asylum. There is so much to unpack when you consider the not-so-distant past in the places where we live.