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 the Forest Park Band Pagoda
Photograph of the Forest Park Band Pagoda that reflects onto the water it sits above. There are statues at four points around the pagoda, with trees also reflecting onto the water from the far bank of the lake.
Photograph of the Highlands Inn
Photograph of the Highlands Inn in the Meramec Highlands. The Inn was built as a summer resort in 1895, and was a major vacation destination known for its Sulphur springs, river access, and pleasant atmosphere. The Frisco railroad ran there multiple times a day. The photograph shows the entrance of the Inn that has flower beds and brick decoration on the outside and an American flag planted on the highest roof peak.
Photograph of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
This photo shows the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada and the surrounding park. There are people all around the park, and two small girls are at the edge of grass and a path next to a "Please keep off the grass" sign. There's another sign across another path, "No bicycle riding allowed in the park". The photo appears to be taken from across the street.
Photograph of the Missouri Botanical Garden Entrance and Crowd
Photograph of the Missouri Botanical Garden entrance with a large crowd gathering around the stone gate. Carved above the gate is "Missouri Botanical Garden 1858". The people gathered are dressed well with hats and canes.
Photograph of the Missouri Botanical Garden Lily Pond
Photograph of a small lily pond at the Missouri Botanical Garden in Saint Louis. The pond is in the foreground and middle ground of the photo, and is filled with lily pads, other aquatic plants, and small flowers. There are signs indicating the different species of plants in the pond as well. A group of well dressed people are standing behind the pond, and behind them are two buildings with plants and flowers all around.
Photograph of the National Live Stock Commission Company
This photograph is of the National Live Stock Commission Company building. The large white sign above the building indicates there are locations in Chicago, Saint Louis, and Kansas City. This building has three other company signs, including "St. Louis Dressed Beef Co.", "Evans-Montague Com.", and "Campbell Brothers and Rosson". There are others on the right side of the building, but at the angle they are not easily read. There's an empty trolley car outside of the building in the empty parking lot. A few people are standing near the building sidewalk.
Photograph of the Palace of Varied Industries
This photograph is taken of the construction of the Palace of Varied Industries built for the 1904 World's Fair. The blurry photo shows a small building directly next to the large structure, and it has an American flag strung up on a pole. Materials are leaning against the scaffolding on the left of the building, and there's a pit in the dirt in the foreground.
Photograph of the Palmer Mansion
Photograph of the Palmer Mansion in Chicago, Illinois. The building is covered in vegetation on one side, and there are trees on the sidewalk in front of it.
Photograph of the Pews and Altar of a Church
Photograph of a church interior; to the left of the photograph is the altar with pews spanning the foreground, middle ground, and background. Stained glass windows light the empty room.
Photograph of the Saint Louis Art Museum
This photo of the Saint Louis Art Museum shows the front right side of the museum and the grounds that sprawl in front of it. Several people are stood and seated on the front steps of the institution. There are fenced off areas that look like small gardening plots, as well as trees planted around the building.
Photograph of the Saint Louis Art Museum
This photo shows the grounds and the side of the Saint Louis Art Museum. The top of the image is time-worn, but the plants and trees planted against the side of building and its tall columns are visible. The foreground is made up of cleanly cut grass.
Photograph of the Saint Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts
This photograph is of the Saint Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts on Locust Street. The building is stone, with three faces carved into it above the entrance and windows. The roof has decorative wheels protruding from the top, and there are four small spires on each of the four corners. The road around the school is empty.
Photograph of the Saint Louis School of Fine Arts Grand Prize
Photograph of a "Grand Prize" bestowed upon the Saint Louis School of Fine Arts. It reads as follows: "United States of America Universal Exposition Saint Louis MDCCCCIV Commemorating The Acquisition of The Louisiana Territory The International Jury of Awards Has Conferred a Grand Prize Upon St. Louis School of Fine Arts Exhibit Illustrating Courses of Instruction, and Methods and Results". Above is a woman wrapped in the American flag touching a globe and torch that are held by the two people flanking her.
Photograph of the Saint Louis and Tennessee River Packet Company
Photograph of the Saint Louis and Tennessee River Packet Company. The building's text identifies landings on the Mississippi River towards Vicksburg, Mississippi. Surrounding the buildings are stacks of lumber and horses attached to carts. Behind the buildings on the river are several steamboats and a bridge crosses the scene in the background. The boats are of Lee Line Steamers.
Photograph of the Second Presbyterian Church Progress
This photo taken from a large, empty field shows a nearly completed Second Presbyterian Church. The church's roof is still incomplete, and there are workers and cranes placing stone and holding the window frames steady. Outside of the church are several workers and materials. There are piles of material to the right of the church and small company sheds on wheels. On the road in front of the church is a line of horse-drawn vehicles carrying materials and hay.
Photograph of the Second Presbyterian Church of Saint Louis
Photograph of the Second Presbyterian Church in Saint Louis, Missouri. The photograph is taken from across the street and shows the building in its entirety.
Photograph of the Side of Exposition Building Construction
Photograph of the side of a partially constructed exposition building for the 1904 World's Fair. The photo is taken next to a set of railroad tracks and shows a dome in the middle ground and two spires in the background. The building's external structures are covered in scaffolding. In the far left background, there's a building with an American flag protruding from the top of it.
Photograph of the St. Louis National Stock Yards Special Sale Pavilion
This photograph is of the St. Louis National Stock Yards Special Sale Pavilion. The National Stockyards were located in East St. Louis across the border in Illinois. The photo of this pavilion shows an empty foreground, with fencing on the left and nothing behind it.
Photograph of the Statue of Francis P. Blair Jr.
Photograph of a statue of Francis P. Blair Jr. on a pedestal surrounded by tulip beds. Buildings of various styles flank the statue to the right.
Photograph of the Steamboat Dr. Frederick Hill
Photograph of a stopped steamboat, labeled "Dr. Frederick Hill of St. Louis". There's a sign on the messy wooden dock for the purchase of ferry tickets, and people are spread around the boat. In the foreground, debris covers the riverbank.
Photograph of the Tower Grove Park Ruins
Photograph of the Ruins of Tower Grove Park. After The Lindell Hotel burned in a fire, Henry Shaw saw aesthetic potential in what was left of the hotel, and had them arranged and placed in the park. The photograph shows two of the three pieces of ruin from the side of a small pond with reeds and tall grass. There are trees and benches on the right, and the ruins sit in the middle and left of the photo's background.
Photographic Close Up of World's Fair Construction
Close up photograph of construction for the 1904 World's Fair. This photo is taken next to one of the buildings as it is being built with lumber and other materials in the foreground, middle ground, and background. In the middle of the photo is a large piece of scaffolding that partially obstructs the view of the building's spires.
Photographic Family Portrait in a Park
Photographic portrait of an older woman, two younger women, two girls, and an older gentleman. They are all wearing hats and semi-formal clothing, and the gentleman is wearing glasses. They are seated on a park picnic table. Trees are all around the image, and there is a gazebo behind the family. Sun came through the trees and left leaf shadows on the ground.
Photographic Portrait of a Group of Men
Portrait of three seated men, and six men standing behind the chairs. Directly behind them is a tight grouping of palm trees, and in the background is a stone building.
Photographic Portrait of a Seated Woman
This photographic portrait is of a woman seated indoors in a woven chair, wearing a striped silk shirt, looking off to the right of the photograph. She's older, her hands are slightly wrinkled, and her skirt is bunched up where she's seated.
Photographic Portrait of an Infant
Photographic portrait of an infant child in a chair. The baby is seated on a quilt and is dressed in white. A hand is on the back of the chair that the infant is seated in. The photograph was taken inside of a home.
Portrait Photograph of a Woman by the River
Photographic portrait of a well-dressed woman leaning on a fence that lines a riverbank. There's a long bridge in the background of the photograph.
Rooftop Photograph of Saint Louis
Photograph from a rooftop looking out across the city. A building in the background has a sign that reads "Diel's". A large chimney sticks up in the middle ground of the photograph, and is the highest point in the photo. Building roofs spread across the scene, and there is one roof in the foreground.

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