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Missouri Board on Geographic Names

The history and culture of Missouri is reflected in its place names. Citizens require an authoritative judgment about names in their public records and in their publication on maps. The Missouri Board on Geographic Names serves as the responsible board to coordinate place-naming activity between local, state, and federal agencies. The Board governs appropriate procedures for naming and renaming geographic features within the State of Missouri; provides uniformity in geographic nomenclature throughout the state; and retains the expressed historic and cultural significance of such names associated with Missouri's geography.

The State Archives contributes support to the Board as does the State Historical Society of Missouri; the State Spatial Data Center; and the departments of Conservation, Natural Resources, and Highway and Transportation. Federal agencies contributing include the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Forest Service, and Geological Survey. Members also come from several colleges and universities within the state and several at-large citizens. All members serve without compensation for time and expenses.

The United States Board on Geographic names can be found at http://geonames.usgs.gov/.

The Board convenes an official agenda each May and November, usually at the State Archives.

Richard AuBuchon
Office of Administration
(573) 751-1851
Richard.Aubuchon@oa.mo.gov
Gary Claspill
Gary.Claspill@oa.mo.gov
Jane A. Messenger
US Geological Survey
(573) 308-3803
jmessenger@usgs.gov
jmesseng@fidnet.org
Christopher J. Barnett
University of Missouri - Columbia
(573) 882-8541
barnettc@missouri.edu
Lynn Morrow
Local Records Program
(573) 751-2212
lynn.morrow@sos.mo.gov
Kenneth Dagel
Missouri Western State University
(816) 271-4161
dagelke@missouriwestern.edu
Russ Mueller
MO Dept. of Conservation
(573) 522-4115 Ext. 3731
Russ.Mueller@mdc.mo.gov
John Fisher
Freelance Writer
(573) 888-3620
fisherjohnc@yahoo.com
Frank Nickell
Center for Regional History and 
Cultural Heritage
(573) 651-2833
fnickell@semo.edu
J. Michael Flowers
MO Dept. of Natural Resources
(573) 368-2302
mike.flowers@dnr.mo.gov
Walter A. Schroeder
Professor Emeritus/ UM-C
(573) 474-2072
waschro@centurytel.net
Ray Fox
USGS
(573) 308-3559
rfox@usgs.gov
Henry Sweets
Mark Twain Home Foundation
(573) 221-9010
henry.sweets@marktwainmuseum.org
Antonio F. Holland
Lincoln University
(573) 681-5145
hollanda@lincolnu.edu
Jay Turner
Mark Twain National Forest-Salem Ranger District
(573 )729-6656
jayturner@fs.fed.us
David W. Kreighbaum
St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(314) 331-8116
David.W.Kreighbaum@usace.army.mil

Jerry Vineyard
Assistant State Geologist (Ret.)
L.A.D. Foundation Board of Director’s
(417) 582-0063
JelenVnyrd@aol.com

Dr. Gary R. Kremer
State Historical Society of Missouri
(573) 882-7083
KremerG@umsystem.edu
Dwight Weaver
Lake of the Ozarks Historian
(573) 365-1171
dweaver@socket.net
Gordon McCann
Ozark Folklorist
(417) 869-9312
GordonMcCann@sbcglobal.net
Arnold Williams
Missouri Department of Transportation
(573) 751-7012
Arnold.Williams@modot.mo.gov