STE. GENEVIEVE – At a dinner following the joint Ste. Genevieve History Conference on Sept. 27th, the Center for French Colonial Studies paid tribute to Margaret Kimball Brown, who had died April 10, 2024. Margaret was a noted archaeologist, writer, and presenter whose research made significant contributions to the history of the mid-Mississippi Valley. She was a founding member of the Center for French Colonial Studies and a member of the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve.
In the photo left to right, Misty Jackson, Center for French Colonial Studies president, James Baker, and Bob Mueller, a member of the Center’s Board of Directors. (Photo by Helen Valle Crist, published with permission)
In recognition of Margaret’s many accomplishments, the Center for French Colonial Studies established a Margaret Brown Achievement Award in her honor. At the dinner, the Center presented its inaugural award to Jim Baker, noted Ste. Genevieve historian and former superintendent of the Felix Valle House State Historic Site.
Baker led the efforts to construct the Ste. Genevieve diorama and introduced the French-themed activities Le Réveillon and La Vielle at the Felix Valle site. Jim has been a frequent presenter on many topics related to Ste. Genevieve’s history, both locally and around Missouri. Since 1997, he has been the local coordinator and instructor at the SEMO Preservation Field School. Congratulations to Jim Baker on this well-deserved recognition.