Saint Louis

O

Out of the Ghetto Manuscript, 1900-1930 (S0314)
0.01 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

Unpublished manuscript on St. Louis ethnic neighborhoods, 1900-1930.

Counties

Outlook St. Louis, Collection, 1994-1995 (S1046)
0.04 cubic foot, 7 videotapes

 Finding Aid

This collection contains Videotapes of Outlook St. Louis, a WHSL-TV and cable access television program for the LGBTQ community. The program featured episodes that focused on political and cultural events relevant to LGBTQ community.

Subjects

Counties

Dennis Owsley Papers, 1978-1999 (S1238)
44.0 GB

 Finding Aid

The Dennis Owlsey Papers contains filmed lectures, essays, oral history interviews, playlists, and photographs pertaining to his work as a Jazz scholar and critic. Owsley is the long-time host of KWMU's Jazz Unlimited (1983-present), and has written several books on St. Louis Jazz history, including City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895-1973. Materials of interest in this collection include oral histories Owsley conducted with notable St. Louis Jazz musicians, including Clark Terry, Larry Bowie, and Willie Atkins. Other items of interest include photographs Owsley took of Jazz performances in St. Louis, including the St. Louis Jazz Fest in 1988 and the Mid-America Fest in 1983. The materials in this collection are entirely digital and date from 1978 to 2019.

Subjects

Counties

P

Pageant and Masque of St. Louis Collection, 1914; 1975 (S0294)
0.01 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The Pageant and Masque of St. Louis Collection contains an official program of a May 28-31, 1914, performance, including a description of the Pageant, a large dramatic production of the history of St. Louis, and the Masque, a poetic and musical interpretation of the pageant’s history.

Subjects

Counties

Emile Paillou Letters, 1929-1931 (C2050)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

To Margie [Mrs. Ralph Tennal], Sabetha, KS, from St. Louis concerning Francesca Paillou.

Subjects

Counties

Lucille Papendick Collection, 1912-1967 (S0015)
0.25 cubic foot, 8 folders

 Finding Aid

The Lucille Papendick promoted art and cultural education programs throughout her life and after her death through a fund she set up to support cultural, arts, and education organizations and the community. The collection contains programs from concerts, plays, recitals, and dance programs in St. Louis by visiting performers at theaters throughout the St. Louis area.

Counties

Paraquad Records, 1981-2002 (S0956)
17 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Paraquad Records contain correspondence, grant files, legislative materials, and newspaper clippings pertaining to the organization's mission to help people with disabilities to live independently in the St. Louis area.

Counties

Parks Air College Collection, 1932 (R1412)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The Parks Air College Collection contains an admission packet for Parks Air College sent to Harold S. Macreading II, in 1932. The packet includes a brief history of the school, description of school facilities, detailed flight course descriptions, and information on the ground, executive, and mechanics' schools.

Counties

William E. Parmenter Papers, 1944-1946 (R1334)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The photocopied journal is the writings of William ""Ted"" E. Parmenter from May 1944 to January 1946 during his tour of duty in the United States Navy.

Pasadena Hills Records, 1947-1989 (S0709)
11 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The St. Louis County Court incorporated Pasadena Hills in 1843. The Stifel Company was the first property owner in Pasadena Hills: Carter Realty became the second. A Board of Trustees was implemented in 1949, after Pasadena Hills incorporated into a village. The board is responsible for Pasadena Hills' laws and ordinances. The Pasadena Hills Records include correspondence, legal records, news clippings, maps, architecture drawings, and reports.

Counties

Charles Peabody Diary, 1846 (S0152)
0.01 cubic foot, 1 folder

 Finding Aid

The Charles Peabody Diary collection consists of typescript copies of a diary written by Charles Peabody. The entries document his trip from New York through the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys between May 21 to September 11, 1846.

Counties

Peace Action Committee of Missouri Collection, 1939-1940 (S0172)
0.01 cubic foot, 1 folder

 Finding Aid

The collection contains newsletters, pamphlets, letters, bulletins, and circulars pertaining to the Peace Action Committee of Missouri’s efforts to lobby the United States government against participating in foreign wars. The group supported political candidates in Missouri and urged Congress to pass the Ludlow War Referendum Amendment in the late 1930s.

Counties

Sharon Pedersen Papers, 1975-2017 (S1157)
31 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

This collection contains personal papers documenting the education, work, hobbies, and personal life of Sharon Leslie (Smith) Pedersen (1943-2017). Pedersen, a Kirkwood, Missouri resident, and mother of four, worked as a high school English teacher and librarian, public librarian, and Peace Corps educator in China. She earned degrees in English, philosophy, education, history, library science, and creative writing from the University of Missouri and the University of Colorado. Throughout her life she was an avid outdoorsman, master gardener and was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, International Folk Dance Association of St. Louis, Ethical Society of St. Louis, Wild Ones Native Plant Society, and Washington University Woman's Club. Papers include genealogy and family history, photographs, educational and work records, correspondence, journals, and essays.

Counties

Larry and Margaret Peeno Papers, 1959-2016 (S0306)
9.5 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Maggie and Larry Peeno Papers contain correspondence, meeting minutes, curriculum guides, newsletters, reports, surveys, photographs, and VHS tapes documenting the Peeno’s 50+ year career in art education in Missouri and the United States. Items of interest include curricula developed by Maggie Peeno for the University City School District, including the “We Live in University City” booklet.

Penninger and Bolin Families Collection, 1823-2023 (R1517)
12.5 cubic feet (358 folders, 1 volume, 13 compact discs, 168 photographs, 6 negatives)

 Finding Aid

The Penninger and Bolin Families Collection contains genealogical research conducted and collected by Linda Marie Penninger Henry on the Penninger and Bolin families, of whose descendants many settled in Christian, Dent, Greene, Howell, Jackson, Phelps, Shannon, and Stone counties in Missouri.

People's Art Center Records, 1942-1963 (S0612)
0.4 cubic foot, 11 folders

 Finding Aid

Founded in 1942 with the help of a Works Progress Administration grant, the People's Art Center was the first integrated community arts center in St. Louis. The collection contains a history of the center, articles of incorporation, bylaws, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and reports on leadership dispute in 1963.

Counties

People's Party National Convention Collection, 1971-1973 (S0063)
0.02 cubic foot, 6 folders, 4 reel-to-reel tapes

 Finding Aid

The People's Party National Convention Collection contains position papers, campaign literature, and newspaper clippings documenting the American leftwing's national conventions, held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1972 and 1975. During the conventions, delegates adopted platforms calling for world peace, non-nuclear proliferation, tax reform, and women's and gay liberation.

Counties

Maggie Peoples Papers, 1963-1971 (S0215)
0.01 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The papers of Maggie Peoples document her life as St. Louis-area civil rights leader. The collection includes material from the National Council of Negro Women, Women in Community Service, St. Louis Bicentennial Committee, a photograph, and an oral history interview with Mrs. Peoples.

Counties

Selwyn Pepper Papers, 1928-1995 (S0488)
2 cubic feet, 98 folders, 2 photographs

 Finding Aid

Selwyn Pepper was a St. Louis-area journalist who Began career at "The Scrippage," the Soldan high newspaper. In 1935, Pepper joined the staff of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and covered major news stories, including heatwaves, riverfront bond issue fraud, and the Cardinals' World Series win in 1946. The collection includes correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

Subjects

Counties

Marlin Perkins Papers, 1873-1991 (S0516)
17.6 cubic foot; 353 folders; 2854 photographs; 32 16mm films; 29 audio cassettes, 14 audio discs, 16 items

 Finding Aid

The Marlin Perkins Papers consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, zoo animal feeding records, business contracts, equipment lists, maps, archaeological records, publications, and zoological findings, conservation and ecological writings, scrapbooks, photographs, and film. The materials in this collection are related to Marlin Perkins’ involvement in national and international zoos, wildlife and nature conservation, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, Zoo Parade, and various other dealings involving wildlife.  

Counties

Charlotte Peters Papers, 1930-1977 (S0679)
8 cubic feet, 1412 folders, 630 photographs, 2 audio tapes, 16 videotapes

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

St. Louis television personality Charlotte Peters was the host of the musical variety show The Charlotte Peters Show from 1956 to 1970 on KSD-TV and KTVI. She first appeared on St. Louis television in 1947, performing in To The Ladies. The collection contains Peters' correspondence, scripts and sheet music written by Peters, photographs, newspaper clippings, and videotapes and audiotapes of skits and interviews.

Counties

Joseph Peterson Memoir, 2004 (S0587)
0.1 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The Joseph Peterson Papers consists of a memoir written by Peterson chronicling his life growing up in Texas, his service in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, and his career in the Air Force and Veterans Affairs. 

Counties

Michael Gene Pfefferkorn Papers, 1976-2001 (S1219)
9.25 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The papers of Michael Gene Pfefferkorn contain correspondence, meeting minutes, newsletters, and speeches concerning the historic preservation of St. Louis landmarks and neighborhoods, including the Major John Stevens Bowen House; the integration of St. Louis City Schools during the 1970s; and the establishment of the American Tax Token Society in 1971. Other topics of interest include the publication of the Missouri Journal of Numismatics, which Pfefferkorn edited from 1976 to 2001. The papers date from 1964 to 1993.

Sandra Jo Pfefferkorn Papers, 1967-1981 (S1220)
0.25 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The papers of Sandra Jo Pfefferkorn contain evaluations, reports, and writings concerning Central High School and the development of its curriculum, student writing abilities, and student and faculty morale at Central High School. Other items of interest include a 1967-1968 annual report published by the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. The papers date from 1967 to 1981.

Phantom Flyers Newsletters, 1975-1985 (S0795)
0.25 cubic foot, 5 volumes

 Finding Aid

This collection contains issues of Phantom Flyer, published by the McDonnell Scales Modelers Club.

Counties

William J. Phelan Diary, 1917-1919 (S0837)
0.25 cubic foot, 1 volume, 7 photographs

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

William James Phelan, a St. Louis native, served as a Regimental Sergeant Major in the 314th Engineer Regiment, 89th Infantry Division during World War I.  Phelan trained in Camp Funston, Kansas before being sent overseas on the USS Carpathia.  Following the Armistice, Phelan and the 314th were part of the post-war occupation of Germany. Beginning in September 1917, Phelan kept a detailed diary about his experiences during World War I. From shipping out of Union Station, basic training, service near the front line in France and occupation duty in Germany.  Scattered throughout the diary’s pages are mementos, photographs, and insignia related to Phelan’s service in Europe.

Counties

John S. Phelps Letters, 1852, 1856 (SP0097)
0.1 cubic foot (2 folders)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The collection contains two letters written by John S. Phelps during his time as a Missouri Congressman. The first letter is a recommendation of a Naval officer’s appointment as a midshipman. The second letter is in regard to the presidential election of 1856.

Counties

Photos from the Road Collection, 2018-2019 (C4389)

Sean Rost serves as the Oral Historian for the State Historical Society of Missouri and the Missouri Humanities Council. He started this position in January 2018. The images in this collection were taken during Rost's travels throughout the state on oral history projects and on personal time.

Subjects

Physicians for Social Responsibility Records, 1977-1993 (S0660)
7 cubic feet, 211 folders, 9 cassette tapes

 Finding Aid

Physicians for Social Responsibility is a national non-profit organization of doctors and concerned citizens committed to public education on the medical dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear war. The organizers created symposium to present lectures on nuclear hazards that included noted authorities such as Robert Jay Lifton, Helen Caldicott, and H. Jack Geiger, as well as such media figures as Carl Sagan and Benjamin Spock. The records include resource kits, newsletters, subject files, and cassette tapes.

Counties

Pi Lambda Theta, St. Louis Alumnae Chapter Records, 1981 (S0958)
0.8 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

This collection contains meeting and executive committee minutes, correspondence, membership directories, and treasurers' reports relating to Pi Lambda Theta's mission to recognize and students who attain academic excellence.

Counties

Joseph Piatchek Papers, 1927-1976 (S0663)
0.4 cubic foot, 10 folders, 110 photographs

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The Joseph Piatchek papers contain correspondence, certificates and newspapers pertaining to St. Louis area unions, including the Textile Workers Union of American (TWUA) and the St. Louis Cordage Mills Company.

Counties

Ann Pittman Collection, 1972-2004 (S0332)
1.8 cubic feet

 Finding Aid

The Ann Pittman Papers contain correspondence, program booklets, sheet music, and grant applications, documenting her efforts to preserve African American spirituals.

Counties

Ann Pittman Missouri Folklore Project, 1997 (S0598)
0.4 cubic foot, 7 folders, 11 audio tapes

 Finding Aid

This collection contains an oral history project documenting the life of Ann Washington Pittman, an African American song folklorist and singer.

Counties

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri Records, 1930-1990 (S0195)
6 cubic feet, 109 folders, 22 photographs, 13 scrapbooks, 2 audio tapes, 2 16mm films, 2 45 RPM records, 5 microfilm rolls

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri Records document the group's founding in 1932 as the Maternal Health Association of Missouri, its transformation to Planned Parenthood Association of Missouri in 1943, and growth in the post-war period. The collection contains annual reports, correspondence, reports, scrapbooks, and two reel-to-reel tapes.

Counties

Wesley and Peggy Platner Photographs, 1856, 1920-1990 (P0112)
1.33 linear feet

This collection primarily consists of photographs by Wesley Platner, a professor and physiologist at the University of Missouri, and his daughter, Peggy. Photographs span from the 1940s through the 2000s and include images of Columbia, the University of Missouri, people associated with the physiology department, and travel within Missouri and beyond, to Illinois and Disneyland. Peggy participated in the Jefferson City Camera Club and tours sponsored by the City of Columbia; many photos from the 1990s and 2000s are of their expeditions.

Platt and Thornburgh Paint Company Books, 1889-1900 (C2332)
0.32 cubic feet (2 volumes)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains books of a St. Louis, MO, paint company. Vol. 1 is an inventory book, 1889-1891. Vol. 2 is an order book, 1899-1900.

Counties

Platt and Thornburgh Photo Scrapbook, 1900-1920 (S0959)
1 scrapbook, 18 photographs

 Digitized Materials

This collection consists of a photograph scrapbook of a lead paint company in St. Louis, Missouri.

Counties

Plattin Valley Mining Company Collection, 1907 (R1043)
(1 folder)

 Finding Aid

This is a certificate for 300 shares of stock in the Plattin Valley Mining Company of St. Louis, Missouri. The certificate was issued to Charles Brockhoff on May 23, 1907 and was signed by Dr. Henry F. Bartens, president, and Alexander J. Bartens, secretary.

Counties

Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church Programs, 1945, 1975-1980 (S0120)
0.1 cubic foot

 Finding Aid

The Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church Programs contains church service programs and anniversary booklets documenting the church’s history as one of the oldest Black churches in St. Louis.

Counties

Political Issues of the Seventies Collection, 1973-1978 (S0137)
0.15 cubic feet, 7 folders

 Finding Aid

This collection contains published and unpublished papers, newsletters, flyers, brochures, political circulars, and articles about various issues that occurred during the 1970s, including racism, highways, taxes, and foreign relations. Archivists collected the papers from the from US-China People's Friendship Association; National Committee to Support the Marion Brothers; Free J.B. Johnson Committee; Socialist Workers Party; the New American Movement; the West End Militant Forum; the 1976 St. Louis school tax increase, and the Alliance Against Racism.

Counties

Political Tracts, no date (C3765)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Printed tracts by an unidentified author describing corruption in the Republican Party in St. Louis in the early 1900s.

Counties

Braxton Pollard Collection, 1930-1945 (P1014)

Photographs of St. Louis, including the MUNY and St. Louis Art Museum, and a portrait of Sally Rand.

Counties

Post Family Papers, 1884-1940 (CA6592)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

The papers of a St. Louis family include estate papers pertaining to Erastus and Justus Post, land transactions with Samuel N. Adie, and family genealogy of John and Elizabeth Post.

Counties

Eliza G. Post Papers, 1815-1830 (C0540)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Itemized expenses for move to St. Louis, MO, from New York, 1815. Diary, 1826-1830, enumerating visitors and overnight guests while family lived in Bonhomme, St. Louis County, MO. Copies of daguerreotypes of Justus and Eliza G. Post.

Counties

Justus Post Letter, 1817 (C1976)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

To John Post, Addison, VT, from St. Louis, MO, Dec. 5, 1817.

Land speculation, weather, and crops. Encourages brother to move to Missouri.

Counties

Justus Post Letters, 1816 (C0388)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Photostat copies of letters from St. Louis, Missouri Territory, to his brother John Post in Vermont commenting on land prices, condition and availability.

Counties

Postcard Collection, 1902-1956 (S0064)
0.15 cubic foot, 1 folder

This collection contains postcards of Missouri cities and towns from 1902 to 1956. Subjects include Charles Lindbergh, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the St. Louis riverfront, buildings, parks, and streets.

Counties

Paul William Preisler Papers, 1902-1971 (S0235)
22 cubic feet, 322 folders, 597 photographs

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The Paul William Preisler Papers document Preisler's career as a union organizer, lawyer, photographer, and biochemist in St. Louis. They contain correspondence, legal papers, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Subjects of interest include civil liberties, legislative redistricting, and Socialism. Photographs include images of Hooverville, Labor leaders, strikes and protests, and political parties. 

Counties

Reuben C. Prewitt World War II Notes, 1945 (C3326)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Notes on Air Force experiences. Cross-country trip to Seattle and description of voyage from Seattle to Iwo Jima and situation at Iwo Jima.

Gloria Pritchard Papers, 1910-1983 (S0150)
1 cubic foot, 254 photographs

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The papers of Gloria Pritchard contain correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings pertaining to Pritchard's life and career as an African-American radio host and activist. Prichard was known for her radio shows, "World of Women (1957-1965) and "Great Negro Artists" (1960-1961) on KATZ. She was also active in Democratic politics, African-American Women's Clubs, and Civil Rights groups.

Counties