Route 66 – the name itself is almost synonymous with mid-century nostalgia. Two Missouri State University researchers – Thomas Peters, dean of the libraries at MSU, and David Richards, associate professor of library science – are trying to preserve those memories for generations to come.

From Chicago to Santa Monica, historic Route 66 stretched across the country becoming synonymous with an idyllic 1950s world full of neon signs and Chevrolet Corvette convertibles.