M-514 Early St. Louis Glass Plate Photograph Collection

This collection of glass plate negatives depicts scenes of St. Louis at the turn of the 20th century including the construction of the 1904 World’s Fair in Forest Park, the newly built Compton Hill Water Tower, the Cathedral Basilica, the St. Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts and Brookings Hall at Washington University, a variety of farm houses and homes around the city, steamboats along the riverfront, and families enjoying various activities, picnicking, shopping, etc.
St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis

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Photograph of a Construction Site and Workers
A photograph of a busy construction site shows the wide skeleton of a building in the background, stacks of bricks and lumber are in the middle ground. The foreground shows a brick half-wall on the right with a man behind it, and to the left is a wooden structure with seven workers all facing the camera.
Photograph of a Factory on Water in a Quarry
Photograph of a factory in a quarry sitting on a lake or river. The factory has a two tall smoke stacks protruding from its buildings, and shorter, wider stacks to the right of the main building. There are train cars in front of the building away from the viewer. The wall of the quarry reaches up high over the building and is lined with trees. Where the railroad tracks would be are also tree lined. The water is not still, and therefore there is no clear reflection.
Photograph of a Family Taking Portraits in a Park
This photo shows eight people in a picnic area in a park where they are taking family portraits. There's a picnic table in the middle of the photograph where six women are seated or standing to get their photograph taken. As they moved slightly while the photo was taken, a few of their faces and bodies are blurry. There are two men seated on the picnic table closest to the camera. The rest of the picnic tables in the area are empty
Photograph of a Family in Front of a Farmhouse
This photographic portrait of a family shows three people in front of a large farmhouse. There's one woman seated on the porch steps, an older woman on a chair in front of the stairs, and another woman standing on the top step of the porch. There are plants abundantly planted around the home, and the farm spans behind the home. There are trees on either side of the photo.
Photograph of a Family in a Park
Photograph of family in a park. Four women are seated on a bench, with a young man seated in a chair on the end with a young boy next to him. A young woman stands behind the bench, next to her a young girl.
Photograph of a Farmhouse in Saint Louis
Photograph of a large farmhouse with a windmill in the yard next to a shed or barn. The lawn is freshly mowed and there are a few trees in the yard. There's a horse and buggy on the right side of the photo, and various farm materials in front of it.
Photograph of a Gilded Age Light Fixture Display
Photograph of several elaborate light fixtures hanging from the walls and ceiling. The majority of them are lit, but there are few that are dark. In the background, there is an incredibly detailed fireplace with a painting of Queen Elizabeth hanging on it.
Photograph of a Group of People Gathered By a Tree
This photograph shows eight people gathered by a tall tree, the majority of whom are looking off toward the right of the photo. One woman in the foreground is seated on a swing attached to the tree, and the women to the right of her look towards the camera. There's a body of water off to the right where the subjects of the photo are looking.
Photograph of a Group of People Having a Picnic
In this photo, are a group of eleven people seated in a park having a picnic. The photo is slightly obstructed in the upper left corner, and there are baskets and boxes next to the group on the left. There are trees in the background, and the park appears empty besides the picnic goers.
Photograph of a Helmet and Shield Display
This photo is of an armor helmet and shield display. There are three helmets and three shields, the helmets on stands on the top of an armoire, and the shields hung on the wall. Two of the three helmets are shaped similarly, and the middle one had a dragon atop the crest. Two of the three shields are teardrop shaped, and the third is circular. All three have scenes on them, and the circular shield has weaponry and armor sticking out of it on the perimeter.
Photograph of a House and its Reflection on Water
Photograph of a house built on a lake with the photo taken from the opposite side of the water. The house is reflecting onto the still water, perfectly mirroring the lakeside. Willow trees flank both sides of the house, and the photo stretches into a forest in the background.
Photograph of a Jules Bastien-Lepage Painting
This photo is of a Jules Bastien-Lepage painting of a ship port and docks. There are several ships and smaller boats in the middle ground of the painting, and there are small fishing boats on the shore on the lower left corner. A building with a smoke stack is on the left, and there's a haze over the whole painting. The water reflects the ships slightly. The port town buildings stretch into the lefthand background. The artist signed the canvas in the lower left corner.
Photograph of a Large Home With People on the Porch
Photograph of a large house with four people on and around the porch facing the camera. Going towards the right of the photo, the neighborhood continues with vegetation grown houses.
Photograph of a Large House on a Waterfront
This photo shows a large house surrounded by trees on a waterfront. There's a windmill to the left side of the house, and more water behind the house and trees. The foreground is filled with water, as is the background.
Photograph of a Painting Titled Beef and Bulls, a Cantal Breed
Photograph of a painting by Rosa Bonheur from 1848 titled "Beef and Bulls, a Cantal Breed". The painting shows a herd of cattle on rocky terrain with the males congregated in the middle and foreground. It's framed in a small wooden frame and is displayed on a cloth surface.
Photograph of a Painting by Edward Timothy Hurley
Photograph of a snowy scene in a painting by Edward Timothy Hurley. The painting shows a snowy clearing leading up to a town. It's in a simple, but thick wooden frame.
Photograph of a Painting by Frederick Oakes Sylvester
Photograph of a painting by Saint Louis artist Frederick Oakes Sylvester. The painting is framed in a thick frame, and is displayed on a cloth surface.
Photograph of a Painting by Rosa Bonheur
Photograph of a painting by Rosa Bonheur that depicts a loan, horned goat standing on a mountain top, looking at the viewer. In the background, there's a snowy mountain side. Bonheur's signature is large on the bottom left of the painting. It is unframed, and on a cloth surface.
Photograph of a Painting by Walter Satterlee
Painting by Walter Satterlee of two women and two men on a house porch. There are flowers flanking the stairs, and two children leaning out of the window; watching the exchange between the hatted man and two women. The second man is in the doorway of the household, and has darker skin. The house has ivy running up the walls. The painting is framed in a thick, plain frame with no detail.
Photograph of a Painting of Ships and Their Crews
Photograph of a painting of several ships and crews at the edge of the water. There are people in the foreground, ships in the middle ground, and ships in the background. The water has waves coming in and moving the ships. The frame has some detail, but is relatively simple.
Photograph of a Painting of Ships, Crew, and Passengers
Photograph of a painting of ships with their crews and passengers. There are several ships in the background of the painting, and one in the middle ground. The painting in the middle ground is surrounded by people presumably about to board, and in the foreground is an anchor in the sand. At the bottom righthand corner is an illegible signature and the date "1898". The frame is wooden on the inner portion and metallic on the outer portion with carved detailing.
Photograph of a Painting of Ships, Crew, and Passengers
Photograph of a painting of ships with their crews and passengers. There are several ships in the background of the painting, and one in the middle ground. The painting in the middle ground is surrounded by people presumably about to board, and in the foreground is an anchor in the sand. At the bottom righthand corner is a partial signature. The frame is wooden on the inner portion and metallic on the outer portion with carved detailing.
Photograph of a Painting of Someone Guiding a Bull
Photograph of someone attempting to guide a bull with a rope attached to its harness in a grassy field.
Photograph of a Painting of Two Small Ships
Photograph of a painting of two ships by Hendrik Willem Mesdag. The ships are going over waves in the water, and are the only subject of the painting. The frame is elaborate on the outer edge.
Photograph of a Painting of Women and Big Cats
Photograph of a painting of two women crying over a third woman, who is laying still in the lap of the woman on the right. There are two big cats to the left of the women. The two conscious women are holding hands and have expressions of grief and sadness. The frame is shiny and detailed.
Photograph of a Painting of Women and Big Cats
Photograph of a painting of three women and two big cats. One woman is weeping over another that is laying in her lap. The weeping woman is holding the hand of the third woman who is looking over at the big cats piled on the left side of the painting. The painting is framed in a shiny, detailed frame and is mounted on a cloth surface.
Photograph of a Painting of a Steamboat and Rowboat
Photograph of a painting of painting of three men on a rowboat in front of a steamboat bellowing smoke. In the background, there are more stacks with dark smoke filling the air. There's one person visible on the steamboat, and an American flag displayed on a flagpole at the bow.
Photograph of a Painting of a Woman in a Leopard Coat
Photograph of a painting of a woman in a leopard robe seated on a large throne. The robe falls over the throne an engulfs the composition of the painting. The painting's frame is elaborately carved and follows the right side and bottom of the photo.

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