Missouri Germans Consortium

In 1865, German-born Arnold Krekel, a Missouri State Representative from St. Charles, was elected President of Missouri’s Constitutional Convention. Missouri’s Constitution provided legal authority for the institution of slavery when it entered the Union in 1821. Thus, it required a duly elected body to amend its Constitution and to free those enslaved within its borders.

“Be it ordained by People of the State of Missouri, in Convention assembled That hereafter, in this State, there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except in punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; and all persons held to service or labor as slaves are hereby declared free.”

Arnold Krekel, President of Missouri Constitutional Convention

An event organized by the African American History Initiative of Missouri Historical Society through Thursday Nights at the Museum, a weekly series where the museum exhibits are open late and you can enjoy pop-up activities, a cash bar, food and more, will have representatives of Greenwood Cemetery, Father Dickson Cemetery, Sadie Brown Cemetery, and St. Peters UCC Cemetery sharing stories of the Black individuals living in our community in 1865 at 6:30 pm. For more information see https://mohistory.org/events/missouri-emancipation-day