The Life and Times of Charles Parsons—Genesis of the St. Louis Art Scene This talk discusses the life and contributions of Charles Parsons (1824 - 1905). Parsons, a St. Louis banker and collector, filled the galleries of Washington University, The St. Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts, with his collections. Today many of his pieces can be found at both the St. Louis Art Museum and the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis. This presentation will be lead by John Launius, former staff member, of the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis. Launius has spent the past decade studying the life and times of Charles Parsons and is currently a speaker with the State Historical Society of Missouri.