The Missouri story unfolds along the second floor murals in the Capitol. Yet the story of the state's top officials is clouded by the question of who is caretaker of their portraits.
The Academy of Missouri Squires took on the mission of updating the collection. But the honorary group's involvement stops at payment to the artist, said chairman Jim Mathewson.
A portion of the portraits were taken to storage by the Missouri State Museum to make room for its temporary Civil War exhibit in the Soldiers and Sailors Hall. But the portraits are not part of their collection, said Linda Endersby, interim director.
Calls to the Office of Administration and the secretary of state's office also sent the search elsewhere for the responsible party.
Before any major preservation or coordinated exhibition of the entire collection can take place, some entity would have to accept care and maintenance.