The Power of Words: The Ongoing Tale of Black Children’s Literature

About the Exhibitor:

The Field House Museum

The Field House Museum is a dynamic museum and historic site focused on the Field family. The historic house was once the home of Roswell Field, noted St. Louis attorney, and the birthplace of his son, Eugene Field, the “Children’s Poet.” While living in the home, Roswell Field became the key attorney in the Dred & Harriet Scott Freedom Suit when he formulated the legal strategy that propelled the case to federal court, thus changing the course of American history. The home was initially saved from destruction due to the popularity of Eugene’s poems such as “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod,” which were taught in schools across the nation.

St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature

St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature (STLBA) is committed to fostering awareness about the importance of early literacy by creating innovative opportunities for all children to have access to Black children’s literature. STLBA was founded by Julius B. Anthony, an educator and advocate for literacy, who recognized that the deficit in relatable stories and a lack of books that encourage reading for fun was likely leading to a lower reading frequency among Black children. STLBA promotes and encourages the work of local and national authors of children’s literature, working to increase the availability of stories from writers who may share the readers’ lived and cultural experiences.