Saint Louis

International Institute of St. Louis Records, 1919-1960 (S0422)
14 microfilm rolls

 Finding Aid

The records of the International Institute of St. Louis contain founding papers, correspondence, minutes, reports, financial records, case reports, and photographs documenting the institution's mission to assist immigrants with assimilating into American culture.

International Ladies Garment Workers Union in St. Louis Collection, 1933-1978 (S0779)
0.4 cubic feet, 1108 photographic images

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) organized local garment workers in St. Louis in 1933 and was active until 1995. The ILGWU in St. Louis Collection is an artificial collection combining small acquisitions pertaining to the history of the ILGWU Southwest Regional Office, the St. Louis Joint Board, and its affiliated locals. The collection contains photographs and film negatives, a contract, correspondence, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and theatrical programs.

International Women's Forum Oral History Collection, 2013-2015 (S1148)
3.5 cubic feet, 72 folders, 72 HDV tapes, 72 DVDs, 1 book

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The International Women’s Forum Oral History Collection consists of oral history interviews conducted by Dr. Blanche Touhill with St. Louis City and St. Louis County members of the Missouri chapter of the International Women’s Forum. The collection documents the interviewee’s personal and professional lives and how they established themselves as successful, enterprising women leaders in the St. Louis region. These materials include DVD recordings of the interviews, as well as accompanying transcripts. The interviews date from 2013 to 2015.

"Interviewed Editor McCullagh," James C. Espy, 1933 (C2097)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Manuscript submitted to the MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. Interview with Colonel Joseph Burbridge McCullagh, editor of the ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, on November 12, 1895, about his rumored senatorial candidacy. Interview was published in the ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC, November 13, 1895.

Irwin Family Papers, 1864-1997 (S0904)
4.5 Cubic Feet

 Finding Aid

This collection consists of papers and photographs of Mathew Irwin, primarily documenting his ancestors—the Storch, Wuellner, and Slavik families. The Storch and Wuellner branches immigrated to St. Louis, Missouri, from Germany and Bohemia in 1838 and settled in the St. Louis area. After their settlement in St. Louis, Magnus Storch (1825-1900) and his wife, Elizabeta Steibert (1843-1896), had Louisa Storch (1870-1934). On April 6, 1893, Louisa Storch married George Friederich Wuellner (1864-1955); their union produced Talitha Wuellner (1895-1955). Talitha subsequently married Albert Slavik (1891-1939) on April 10, 1917, which led to the birth of Marjorie Louisa Slavik (1918-1997). Marjorie married Russell Ewing Irwin (1912-1984) in 1940. From this union came Karin Louise Irwin, who had Mathew S. Irwin and Samuel White Swan-Perkins.

Lyndon Irwin Photograph Collection, 1880-1915 (P0285)
29 photographs

Late 19th century photographs of Montgomery City, Matson, and St. Louis, portraits and group photographs.

Nancy J. Irwin Postcard Collection, 1905-1930 (P0281)
11 postcards

11 postcards from the early 20th century with scenes of various places in Missouri including Joplin, Springfield, and St. Louis.

Virginia Irwin Collection, 1934-1963 (S0084)
1000 index cards, 1 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The collection consists of annotated index cards to newspaper articles Virginia Irwin wrote for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as a feature writer. 

Isgrig Baseball Collection, 1987-2005 (S1201)
5 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

This collection contains books on the history of baseball.

Benjamin Israel Papers, 1968-1975 (S0906)
2 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

Subject files from a St. Louis activist. Topics of interest include nuclear disarmament, anarchists, and labor unions.

Italian Immigrant Oral History Project Collection, 1973-1984 (S0511)
18 cassette tapes

 Finding Aid

This collection consists of interviews with Italian immigrants residing in the "Hill" neighborhood in South St. Louis, conducted by Gary Ross Mormino for his book, "Immigrants ON the Hill: Italian Americans in St. Louis 1882-1982."

Italians in St. Louis Collection, 1966-1973 (S0035)
0.25 cubic foot, 4 folders

 Finding Aid

This collection contains anniversary programs and histories of the Italian Club of St. Louis, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fratellanza and Societa Unione E Fratellanza Italiana, and an unpublished manuscript titled "Over Here: St. Louis Italo-Americans and the First World War" by Gary Ross Mormio.

J.P. Morgan and Co. Bond Notices, 1937, 1940, 1983 (S0251)
0.01 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The J.P. Morgan and Co. Bond Notices consists of notices to foreign bond holders, including the First National bank in St. Louis, regarding the Imperial Chinese Government 5% Hukuang Railways Loan of 1911.

David A. James Papers, 1790-2008 (C4126)
5 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The research material of a hotel management instructor, whose work resulted in the publication Historic Hotels of Missouri: Hotels, Inns, and Taverns of 19th Century Missouri.

Ivan James Papers, 1938-1981 (S0144)
0.8 cubic foot, 4 rolls microfilm

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The Ivan C. James papers contain correspondence, reports, newsletters, souvenir programs, and announcements pertaining to St. Louis housing developments and African American churches, fraternal, and social organizations in St. Louis. 

Odis and Ruby James Oral History, 1990 (S0513)
0.01 cubic foot, 1 audio cassette tape

An oral history interview regarding the lives and experiences of Reverend Odis James and Ruby James while working in the Nazarene Ministry in St. Louis.

Samuel William James Collection, 1898, 1904 (K0846)
0.03 c.f. (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Photocopies of photographs of James, lieutenant in the Spanish-American War and later the National Guard, in uniform. Also a reenactment of a firing squad.

Walt Jaschek Papers, 1968-2019 (S0371)
0.3 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The collection contains zines and comic books written, published, and collected by Walter Jaschek, a St. Louis-area comic book and Science Fiction/Fantasy enthusiast. Materials of interest include issues of Grafan that Jaschek helped edit as a member of the Graphic Fantasy Society of St. Louis. Also included in the collection are two issues of The Green Vomit, published by Bob Gale, a St. Louis native and co-writer of the Back to the Future movie series. 

Iola Allen Jasper Papers, 1827-2020 (S0573)
8.25 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Iola Jasper Papers contain correspondence, photographs, histories, greeting cards, and a diary related to Jasper's interest in family history. Materials of interest include the correspondence and business papers of her Great-Grandfather, William Sumner Jewett, a Jefferson County entrepreneur who shipped fruit and sand to companies in St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Kimberly Jayne Papers, 1985-2020 (S0503)
6 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Kim Jayne Papers consist of meeting minutes, correspondence, flyers, posters, pin buttons, photographs, slides, and cassette tapes that document the life of Kim Jayne, a prominent peace activist within the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. The collection contains information regarding her personal life and involvement in organizations such as the Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood Association, St. Louis Women’s Support Group, and Lentz Peace Association from 1979 to 2022.

Jazzman Project Collection, 1933-1973 (S0295)
0.01 cubic feet, 1 folder, 7 photographs

 Digitized Materials

The Jazzman Oral Hisotry Project was a series of interviews with jazz musicians conducted between 1971 and 1973, which are part of the Oral History Collection (S0829). During the course of the interviews, other materials were also collected. Those photographs, newspaper clippings, and programs are in this collection.

Jefferson Barracks Engineering Plans Collection, 1941 (CA6011)
0.8 cubic feet

Engineering specifications, plans, and photographs of the construction of various buildings and infrastructure at Jefferson Barracks in 1941.

Jefferson Barracks National Register of Historic Places Research Collection, 1997-2003 (S1066)
9 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

This collection contains research materials used to prepare Jefferson Barracks nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

Jefferson Club (St. Louis, Mo.) Photograph, 1901 (C0803)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Photograph of members and guests of the Jefferson Club of St. Louis at Monticello, VA, the home of Thomas Jefferson, on 12 October 1901. Included are Missouri politicians Harry B. Hawes and William J. Stone.

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association Photograph Collection, 1933-1963 (P0811)
4 photographs

Photos of Arch site prior to and cleared for construction. Also photo of site with model of Arch inserted.

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Construction Photographs, 1960-1970 (P0090)
43 photographs

Images related to the St. Louis riverfront and the Gateway Arch, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial construction. This collection also includes several souvenir booklets of the Kansas City area, postcards of St. Louis, and photos of Bagnell Dam and the Mark Twain Shrine.

Jennings Historical Society Collection, 1843-1981 (S0081)
0.15 cubic foot

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The Jennings Historical Society Collection contains photocopies of newspaper clippings, a deed of property, photographs, and the contents of a scrapbook collected by Jennings Historical Society regarding the history of Jennings, Missouri, a north St. Louis County suburb.

Jet-Lag Magazine Collection, 1980-1991 (S0748)
0.4 cubic foot, 5 folders

 Finding Aid

The Jet-Lag Magazine Collection contains magazine issues of Jet-Lag Magazine from 1980-1991. Based in St. Louis, the publication focused on punk rock and new wave music and covered the local music scene in the St. Louis area.

John Ramming Machine Company Records, 1882-1913 (S0571)
8 cubic feet, 28 volumes

 Finding Aid

The John Ramming Machine Company records contain daybooks, ledgers, billing books, check stubs, contracts, and tax documents of this company that was located on the levy. The company did repair and installation on steamboat engines and boilers as well as other machine work for the customers in the city.

John W. Gregory and Company Collection, 1950-2010 (S0351)
14.5 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The collection contains site plans, sales brochures, floor plans, photographs, and appraisal reports for home developments in the St. Louis area, including LaSalle Park, Chateau Country Club, and Lake Saint Louis.

Johnson's Commercial College Booklet, 1882 (S0636)
0.01 cubic foot

The booklet is titled "Johnson's Commercial College for Ladies and Gentlemen, 210 and 212 N. Third Street, St. Louis, 1882."

Allen Bolles Johnson Papers, 1860-1861 (R0289)
0.1 cubic foot (2 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Allen Bolles Johnson Papers contain typescript and photocopies of letters written by Allen B. Johnson from Rolla and St. Louis, Missouri during the American Civil War. A native of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, his letters include descriptions of rail travel from Birmingham, New York to Missouri, the controversy over secession at Rolla, and the Camp Jackson affair and civil unrest in St. Louis.

C.S. Johnson Genealogical Collection, 1924-1963 (C4330)
1.25 cubic feet (27 folders)

 Finding Aid

The papers of C.S. Johnson contain genealogical research material on the Johnson and other related families. The material includes genealogical correspondence, research notes, family lineage charts, wills, deeds and abstracts.

Charles P. Johnson Papers, 1871-1920 (C4229)
0.8 cubic feet (15 folders)

 Finding Aid

The papers of a criminal lawyer and lieutenant governor of Missouri, 1873-1875. Includes diaries, photographs, a scrapbook of news clippings, and miscellaneous papers.

Eddie Johnson Scrapbook of Jazz Musician, 1930-1970 (S0322)
1 microfilm roll

 Finding Aid

Scrapbook of a Jazz musician and pianist. Eddie Johnson, a piano player on the riverboat Idlewyld, took over a jazz orchestra from Oliver Cobb when Cobb died in 1931. The new band, the Crackerjacks, played St. Louis and nationally toured until it disbanded in 1931. The Crackerjacks recorded its most popular song, "Ya Yas," for the Victor label. The band included saxophonists Tab Smith and Ernest Franklin, and trumpeter Harold Baker. The scrapbooks contain playbills and newspaper clippings.

Joint Community Board Records, 1973-1974 (S0100)
0.01 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The records contain meeting minutes, memos, evaluations, and reports of the Joint Community Board, a community service organization that was located in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. The board was comprised of three Central West End churches—Trinity Episcopal, Second Presbyterian, and First Unitarian—and oversaw the administration and funding of after-school and summer programs for neighborhood youth, as well as neighborhood revitalization projects.

Burnam R. Jones Papers, 1897-1966, 2011 (C4405)
0.4 cubic feet (7 folders)

 Finding Aid

This collection features papers by or pertaining to the life of World War I veteran Burnam R. Jones. There are photographs taken in France as well as photographs from his life before and after the war. There are sketches done by Jones and several memoirs typed by Jones.

Mary Ranken Jordan Collection, 1936-1980 (S0216)
0.01 cubic foot, 1 folder

 Finding Aid

The Mary Ranken Jordan Collection contains a booklet, correspondence, a short biography, and news articles chronicling Mary Ranken Jordan's life and involvement in the St. Louis Women's Christian Association, the Ranken-Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, and numerous other charitable organizations from 1936 to 1980.

"Journey of the Stephanites from Saxony to St. Louis, 1838, and settlement in Perry County, 1839," C. Heinrich pub., no date (C2085)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Journey of the Stephanites from Saxony to St. Louis, 1838, and settlement in Perry County, 1839. Difficulties of ocean voyage to New Orleans and riverboat travel to St. Louis. Economic conditions, prices, religious beliefs, organization of colony, and impressions of Martin Stephan.

Joy Family Letters, 1849-1884, bulk 1864-1865 (C4601)
0.2 cubic feet (4 folders)

 Finding Aid

Correspondence between and pertaining to Lewis D. Joy and Augusta D. [Kent] Joy, 1840s-1880s. Also includes genealogical notes on the family.

Junior College District of St. Louis and St. Louis County, Missouri Records, 1957-1967 (S0692)
0.25 cubic foot, 9 folders

 Finding Aid

The Junior College District of St. Louis and St. Louis County was implemented in April 1962, which consists of a six-member Board to represent the St. Louis County and the St. Louis City. Each Board member serves for six years. The records contain correspondence, board minutes, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings.

Junior Kindergarten Collection, 1962, 1964-1970 (S0042)
0.15 cubic foot, 7 folders

 Finding Aid

This collection includes articles of incorporation, correspondence, reports, lists, and flyers relating to the founding and operation of Junior Kindergarten from 1962, and 1964-1970. Junior Kindergarten was organized in 1965 by the Junior League of St. Louis and Page-Park County YMCA (currently Bayer YMCA) to improve the school readiness of educationally disadvantaged children around St. Louis City before their entrance into a public kindergarten.

Junior League of St. Louis Records, 1914-2005 (S0628)
25 cubic feet, 616 folders, 2 phonograph records, 1 audio tape, 1 16mm film, 2406 photographs

 Finding Aid

The Junior League of St. Louis is an educational, charitable organization that started in 1915, evolving out of the Junior Equal Suffrage League. Their mission is to promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The collection contains board minutes and committee minutes; material relating to the many programs and projects the League has sponsored over the years; the League's publications, including "Topics," "League Letter," and membership directories. Also included are a small artifact collection and an extensive photograph collection depicting all aspects of the organization.

Alfred Kahn Papers, 1959-1988 (S0907)
10 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Alfred Kahn Papers contain correspondence, audio cassette tapes, press releases, and conference materials pertaining to Kahn's career as an African-American environmental activist in the St. Louis region. The materials in the collection reflect Kahn's interest in urban zoning and regional planning. Other topics of interest include materials on the St. Louis Committee for Black Survival, an African American activist group concerned with the urban environment.

Kaiser-Pilgrim Family Papers, 1880s-1930s (C4339)
0.3 cubic feet (9 folders)

 Finding Aid

Assorted photographs of the Kaiser-Pilgrim families, also including genealogical notes and artistic sketches by Martin Kaiser.

Kalb Family Papers, 1909-1985 (S0272)
1 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The Kalb Family Papers consist of correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, patents, and financial reports pertaining to the Kalb family and Kalb Electric Company’s establishment and operation. Founded in 1909 by Ralph Tennent Kalb, Sr., the Kalb Electric Company is a Maplewood-area business dedicated to lighting installation, chandelier and lamp restoration, and custom lighting designs. Kalb, Sr. also served as a City of Maplewood Councilman for nearly 14 years.

Louis and Bernita Anna (Quick) Kallenbach Family Papers, 1897-1960 (S1216)
1 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The collection contains correspondence that Louis and Bernita Kallenbach and their sons, Maurice and Travis, sent to or received from relatives, friends, and business associates. The collection also contains photographs, school report cards, and a bank book.

Kappa Phi Sorority, Sigma Chapter Records, 1926-2019 (S0289)
3.2 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

This collection contains bylaws, meeting minutes, newsletters, photographs, and scrapbooks pertaining to the Kappa Phi Sorority, Sigma Chapter, founded in 1926 by St. Louis-area women who had attended the Elmhurst Evangelical Training School at Elmhurst College (later Elmhurst University) that same year. Membership expanded in the following years to include women who belonged to the United Church of Christ and other Protestant denominations. The group initially focused on awarding young women scholarships to attend Evangelical Leadership Training Schools throughout the country and evolved into raising funds for St. Louis Metropolitan area charities, including the Emmaus Homes and the United Way. The collection contains scrapbooks compiled yearly by Sigma Chapter members, consisting of newspaper clippings, photographs, and correspondence, documenting their social activities and charitable endeavors. Items of interest in the scrapbooks include photographs of the Sigma Chapter's visits to the St. Louis Colored Orphans home in 1941.

Archy Kasson Letter, 1831 (C1880)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

To Isaiah and John Townsend, Albany, NY, from St. Louis, Jan. 17, 1831.

Letter describing his steam saw mill, and giving information about St. Louis and state of Missouri in general.

Ara Kaye Postcard Collection, 1896-1943 (P0395)
3 postcards

Postcards of Union Station, St. Louis, and Santa Fe Depot, Marceline, MO