Vivian Gibson

James Sherrell attends a demonstration in protest to the demolition of two historic Mill Creek buildings, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, on Olive Street in Midtown St. Louis. “I’m a neighbor. I live right around the corner,” Sherrell said. “I am disappointed that the Grand Center neighborhood would even allow this.”

Demonstrators oppose SLU's plan to demolish Mill Creek buildings

Miya Norfleet

St. Louis University has issued demolition proposals for buildings located at 3221 and 3223 Olive St. in Covenant Blu - Grand Center — just north of the neighborhood formerly known as Mill Creek Valley.

Vivian Gibson, author of The Last Children of Mill Creek, and local artist Damon Davis collaborated on "Pillars of the Valley" — a public sculpture honoring the majority Black neighborhood that was razed in the name of urban renewal.

Culture & History

‘Pillars of the Valley’ cements the nearly forgotten history of Mill Creek Valley

Miya Norfleet

The rich history of St. Louis' Mill Creek Valley neighborhood is now etched in stone in a public art installation.

Vivian Gibson, the author of “The Last Children of Mill Creek,” stands in for a portrait on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at her home in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Mill Creek Valley was 454 acres in the heart of downtown St. Louis that comprised the nation's largest urban-renewal project beginning in 1959. The predominately Black neighborhood was designated as “blighted” by city officials was torn down to make way for new developments.

Culture & History

Vivian Gibson named Missouri author of the year for memoir detailing Mill Creek Valley

Chad Davis

In "The Last Children of Mill Creek," Vivian Gibson describes the lives of herself, her parents and siblings in their Mill Creek home in the 1950s. The predominantly Black neighborhood, which encompassed parts of midtown and downtown St. Louis, was demolished in 1959 as part of an urban renewal campaign. The Missouri Library Association has named Gibson author of the year.

Government, Politics & Issues

Ending the racial wealth gap through reparations: Local policies or federal payments?

Chad Davis

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones is one of a dozen U.S. mayors calling for local reparations to address the racial wealth gap by ending racist policies.

St. Louis saxophonist Rhoda G. will perform a virtual musical selection on Feb. 19 for St. Louis County Library's Black History Month celebration.

Race, Identity & Faith

St. Louis County Library To Honor Black Achievement In Online Black History Events

Andrea Y. Henderson

The St. Louis County Library celebrates Black History through 40 virtual programs that include presentations by local artists, a genealogy workshop and a conversation with author Walter Mosley.

Arts

In 'The Last Children Of Mill Creek,' Vivian Gibson Portrays A Vanished St. Louis Neighborhood

Sarah Fenske

In 1959, the city of St. Louis demolished more than 5,500 housing units in the Mill Creek Valley neighborhood, which stretched from St. Louis University…