Welcome to the official page of the

Johnson County

Historical Society

Inc.

We are located at 302 N. Main St. in

beautiful “Old Town” Warrensburg,

Missouri

Closed in December Open For Volunteer Appreciation Open By Appointment Only

email curator@jocomohistory.org to s

The Johnson County Historical Society is a 501c (3) pnon-profit organization which maintains the Mary Miller Smiser Heritage Library & Museum and the historic buildings on the Old Courthouse Square in Warrensburg, MO. Archives of original county records dating from 1834 are housed here, original deeds, original court cases files, along with the original newspaper binders from many of the county’s publications. We also house directories, Platt maps, cemetery records, family files, specializing in Johnson County local history.

HOURS OF OPERATION

TUESDAY AND

SATURDAY 1-4 PM

FRIDAY 2-5 PM

   

By Appointment EMAIL

curator@jocomohistory.org

Admission is $5.00 for Adults

$3.00 Children and Seniors

Well Behaved Babies Always Free

Group Rates Available

Where to find us

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dcnnvLqf7Eo8ZtkJA

To Contact us: email: curator@jocomohistory.org

Postal address: 302 N. Main, Warrensburg, MO, 64093
Phone: 660-747-6480

The mission of the Johnson County Missouri Historical Society is to collect, preserve, publish, exhibit, and make available material related to all aspects and periods of Johnson County history. As members of the State Historical Society of Missouri, we too seek to generate interest in and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the county and state and its people through education and outreach.

Preserving our past for the future.

The Johnson County Historical Society is a 501c (3) non-profit organization which maintains the Mary Miller Smiser Heritage Library & Museum and the historic buildings on the Old Courthouse Square in Warrensburg, MO. Archives of original county records dating from 1834 are housed here, original deeds, original court cases files, along with the original newspaper binders from the Daily-Star Journal and Standard Herald. A premiere research facility specializing in Johnson County families and local history.

Our guiding principles are in alignment with FFNHA. Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area http://freedomsfrontier.org/

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. We will be tolerant and respectful of diverse stories from multiple perspectives.
2. We will respect property rights.
3. We will focus on authentic and engaging experiences.
4. We will honor the region’s peoples, past and present.
5. We will appreciate unique cultural and historical assets within the nationally important landscape.
6. We will invest in community engagement, education and empowerment.
7. We will sustain and grow a sense of place.
8. We will value and protect the natural environment.
9. We will consider future generations in everything we do

The Old Courthouse (1838-1871) still stands, carefully restored, in its original location on Main Street. The period courtroom and upstairs offices pay tribute to the brave pioneers who built it.  The Trial of Old Drum, where George Graham Vest’s Eulogy on the Dog, considered the Man’s Best Friend is the Dog Speech, was delivered, took place in this courthouse in 1870. https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/education/olddrum/oldjohnsoncountycourthouse

Our organization is funded today by membership dues, donations and sales of publications.

Your donations of money, historical artifacts and your time are welcome and needed. We receive no outside agency funding and have no employees so your donation and or volunteering is extremely important, and we thank you for your support.

 

Real Historians of Johnson County: Digging into the Past, One Archive at a Time

In an age where reposting stories and recycling secondhand accounts has become commonplace, a dedicated group of real historians in Johnson County stands apart. These researchers—William Wayne, Andrea Whitehead, Donna Holt, Doug Bontz, Peggy Knuckles, Joyce Dorrell, Elder Brian Young, and Anne Mallinson—are not content with surface-level storytelling. Instead, they roll up their sleeves and dive deep into archives, records, and forgotten documents to piece together the authentic history of the region.

Working under the banner of the Johnson County Historical Society (JOCOHS), these historians understand that true scholarship involves more than a Google search. They painstakingly verify facts, cross-reference sources, and analyze primary documents to uncover narratives that have often been buried by time. Their work isn’t about chasing clicks—it’s about preserving truth.

Unlike those who merely copy and paste articles to blogs and call it “publishing,” these historians are the real deal. They reconstruct the past with care and integrity, crafting articles based on primary source documentation and firsthand investigation. Through their efforts, the real stories of Johnson County come to life—rich with context, accuracy, and respect for those who lived them.

Thanks to these dedicated individuals, Johnson County’s history is in good hands.

See a video about Old Drum – Eulogy to the Dog

NOTE:  If you would like to request JCHS research any information for you, for the quickest response please contact us by email.

Official Home of Mans Best Friend

Old Drum / The Missouri State Historical Dog https://www.sos.mo.gov/symbol/historicaldog

The Little Free Library

BY PEGGY NUCKLES
The Historical Society is offering another service to the public. This time it comes as a Little Free Library. These tiny lending libraries are appearing all over town with instructions to passers-by to take a book and share a book.
Board member Joyce Dorrell helped Shelly Amos of UCMs Literacy Education Program place the library this fall. A plaque on the front announces that this Little Library is dedicated in honor of Dr. Dawna Lisa (Buchanan) Butterfield.
Dr. Butterfield served as a professor of literacy education and English language learning in the School of Teaching and Learning at UCM. She was presented the 2020 Byler Distinguished Faculty Award. She also earned Excellence in Teaching and Distinguished Faculty Awards in the College of Education, as well as the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education in 2015.
The Little Free Library movement was started by a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all. There are currently more than 100,000 Little Free Libraries worldwide.