Eliza Rone: Enslaved & Emancipated at the Campbell House

The Campbell House Museum now features a permanent exhibit titled “At the Back of the House: Servants and Slavery at Campbell House,” inspired by the powerful short film Eliza. This exhibit honors Eliza Rone, an enslaved woman who worked for the Campbell family—one of St. Louis’ wealthiest households—in the mid-1800s. Through this thoughtful installation, her story is brought out of the margins and into the spotlight.

The DEI Committee was honored to host a screening of Eliza and welcome its co-writer and director, Delisa Richardson, a St. Louis-based filmmaker. Delisa shared her journey in bringing Eliza’s story to the screen—the research, the emotional weight, and the responsibility of telling a story that history tried to forget. The film is short, poignant, and deeply engaging, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to hear directly from its creator.

A huge thank you to Delisa Richardson for joining us and for helping ensure Eliza’s legacy lives on!

We encourage everyone to explore the film and visit the Campbell House Museum’s new exhibit. You can learn more about the museum and the exhibit here: