Official Manual of the State of Missouri, 2015-2016

For more than 130 years, the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office has published what is commonly known as the “Blue Book.” Missouri’s history and the work of its public servants, including state employees and elected officials, have been collected in this book every other year since 1878.

The Official Manual came to be known as the “Blue Book” for its frequently blue cover, a common practice with almanac publications.

All but nine editions are bound with blue covers. Each edition of the “Blue Book” is a snapshot of Missouri history.

In addition to detailed information on local, state and federal governments, as well as historical and statistical information about the state, the Official Manual also includes stories, essays, and pictures that help preserve the state’s heritage, making the manual a key resource for exploring Missouri’s past, present and future.

The 2015-2016 edition of the “Blue Book” is dedicated, by Secretary of State Jason Kander, to Missouri’s 88 state parks and multitude of municipal and county parks.

Included are color photographs and an accompanying essay on the subject. Missouri’s public servants devote time and effort to serving the state’s needs and interests.

The Official Manual includes information about many of these people, as well as the organizations, committees, boards, and government branches that strive to provide services to the state of Missouri and its residents.