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Getting to Know the Real Ozarks Part Two

Dr. Brooks Blevins, Noel Boyd professor of Ozarks studies at Missouri State University, delivers a presentation about the Old Ozarks to a crowd at the Springfield-Greene County Library Center on Sept. 18, 2018.
Bob Linder, Missouri State University
Dr. Brooks Blevins, Noel Boyd professor of Ozarks studies at Missouri State University, delivers a presentation about the Old Ozarks to a crowd at the Springfield-Greene County Library Center on Sept. 18, 2018.
Dr. Brooks Blevins, Noel Boyd professor of Ozarks studies at Missouri State University, delivers a presentation about the Old Ozarks to a crowd at the Springfield-Greene County Library Center on Sept. 18, 2018.
Credit Bob Linder, Missouri State University
Dr. Brooks Blevins, Noel Boyd professor of Ozarks studies at Missouri State University, delivers a presentation about the Old Ozarks to a crowd at the Springfield-Greene County Library Center on Sept. 18, 2018.

Whether it’s the hillbilly stereotype or the backwoods myth, it’s a fact that there’s plenty of misunderstandings about the Ozarks and Ozarkers.

Last week on the Missouri State Journal, historian Dr. Brooks Blevins shared how he set out to write a comprehensive history of the Ozarks about five years ago in an effort to present the most complete portrait of the region. That project resulted in a trilogy. “A History of the Ozarks, Volume 1: The Old Ozarks” was published this summer. 

Blevins is the Noel Boyd professor of Ozarks studies at Missouri State University. He sheds light on stereotypes and offer a glimpse into volumes two and three of his book.

An interview with Dr. Brooks Blevins.

Read the full transcript

"A History of the Ozarks, Volume 1: The Old Ozarks" is available for purchase online. 

Copyright 2021 KSMU. To see more, visit KSMU.

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A native of Malaysia, Emily moved to Springfield in 2010 and started working at Missouri State University in 2014. She’s currently the public relations specialist in the office of university communications. She has a BA in Mass Communications from Colorado State University-Pueblo and a Master of Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.