Contact Info
Archive, Manuscript & Rare Book collections are accessed in Olin Library at the Special Collections reading room.
HOURS: Monday - Friday 9:00-5:00 by appointment
LOCATION: Olin Library, 1st floor, Danforth Campus
REQUESTS / APPOINTMENTS: 314-935-5495 spec@wumail.wustl.edu
*collections stored offsite require advance notice for retrieval and use
Questions about a specific topic? Contact:
University Archives: Sonya Rooney
Rare Books: Cassie Brand
Manuscript: Joel Minor
Local History: Miranda Rectenwald
Dowd Illustration Research Archive: interim curator
Film & Media Archive: Andy Uhrich
WUSTL at the 1904 World's Fair and Olympics
The first buildings on the Danforth Campus were used for the 1904 World’s Fair (officially titled the "Louisiana Purchase Exposition").
Alphabetical list of campus buildings used during the fair, with their first academic use in parentheses:
- Busch Hall: Department of Works for the Fair and was used for architects and engineers (Chemistry)
- University Hall [renamed Brookings Hall 1928]: Administrative Building for the Fair and held staff offices (Chancellor's office and WashU administration)
- Cupples I: Anthropology Building for the Fair and held ethnological exhibits (Engineering and Architecture)
- Cupples II: Jefferson Guard Building for the Fair and held the Jefferson Guards, the Fair’s private police force (Mechanical and Electrical Engineering)
- Liggett Dormitory [renamed Prince Hall]: dormitory used for Fair guests
- Ridgley Library [now Holmes Lounge]: Hall of International Congresses during the Fair; the library's reading room was the focal point for social events, such as a gala ball given by West Point cadets; its second floor was a glittering display of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee gifts
- Tower Hall [renamed Lee Hall, and Umrath Hall]: used as dormitory for out-of-town students and teachers (dormitory)
- Eads Hall: Board of Lady Managers’ Building - headquarters for women’s organizations(Physics)
The 1904 Olympics, the first held in North America, were conducted at the same time as the fair.
Francis Gymnasium and Francis Field were used for various events at the 1904 Olympics (Francis Field remains the University's track, the Gymnasium was replaced with a modern Athletic Complex)
Washington University in St. Louis : its design and architecture by Call Number: LD5793 .P43Includes "Serendipity at the Fair: Washington University and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904" by Pickens (starting on page 51) and map showing original buildings of WU campus at the fair
Relevant archive collections at WashU Special Collections include:
- 1904 World's Fair Collection (finding aid)Small collection of materials about the fair and its history, located at Special Collections (Olin Library).
- Taylor Papers (Finding Aid)Reports and other typed documents regarding building and grounds during the 1904 Fair. Located at Special Collections (Olin Library).
- Stratford Lee Morton Papers (Finding Aid)A portion of this collection includes history of the 1904 Fair, and an attempt to organize a 1953-1954 Fair. Located at Special Collections (Olin Library).
- Charles Henry Dixon Papers (Finding Aid)An alumni of the Manual Training School (formerly run by WUSTL) includes 1904 Fair memorabilia. Located at Special Collections (Olin Library).
- Authur Proetz Papers (Finding Aid)Proetz worked at the 1904 Fair as a high school students. His papers include many recollections about St. Louis history, including his time at the fair. Located at Special Collections (Olin Library).
- 1904 Olympics Collection (Finding Aid)Small collection of materials held at Special Collections (Olin Library).
Digital Photographs of the Fair & Olympics
- Louisiana Purchase Exposition Glass PlatesFrom the collections of the St. Louis Public Library (SLPL) - collection consists of over 7500 images of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis. Many of the images feature the construction of the Fair.
- Chicago Daily News Photographs of 1904 OlympicsSearch for Subject : Olympic Games (3rd : 1904 : Saint Louis, Mo.)
- 1904 Fair Photographs and ObjectsDigital materials from the Missouri Historical Society - Library and Archive.
Online Full Text Sources
Most titles are available through Google Books; some require a WUSTL key log-on.
Best Bets
- World's Fairs: a Global History of Expositions This link opens in a new windowExplore the phenomenon of world's fairs from London's Crystal Palace in 1851 to North American exhibitions and twenty-first century expos. Through official records, monographs, publicity, artwork, artifacts and other primary sources, this resource provides access to digitized materials from multiple archives. Includes extensive documents about the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition / St. Louis World Fair. See Fair Directory for full list of 200+ events included, from 1821 - 2017.
- e-books "Book of the Fair Reel 149"
This link opens in a new window
contains 23 digitized texts published 1903-1906 related to the fair (requires WU log-in when off campus) - e-books "Book of the Fair Reel 152"
- This link opens in a new window
contains 26 digitized texts published 1903-1906 related to the fair (requires WU log-in when off campus)
Anthropology / Indigenous Peoples
- The Ainu group at the Saint Louis expositionBy Frederick Starr
Published photographs of the Fair
- Jackson's famous photographs of the Louisiana purchase exposition, 1803, St. Louis, 1904: over two hundred views and scenesBy C. S. Jackson, Charles Walter Brown
World's Fair Bulletin (Official newspaper of the fair)
- The St. Louis Exposition: August number 1904Part of the Official Fair journal
- THE WORLD'S WORKArticles written in 1903-1904
Overall / General About the Fair
- Out of a fleur-de-lis : the history, romance, and biography of the Louisiana Purchase Expositionby Claude H. Wetmore ; with a foreword by Hon. David R. Francis ; illustrated and containing a map of the exposition grounds and buildings.
- The universal exposition of 1904 (in 2 Volumes)By David Rowland Francis
- Final report of the Louisiana purchase exposition commission, 1906Govt. Print Office, 1906
Online Exhibits
- St. Louis World’s Fair (The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 1904)Source: Library of Congress' Chronicling of America newspaper project. Links to full text articles.
Books about WUSTL & the Fair
Available at WashU Special Collections:
- Washington University in St. Louis : its design and architecture by Call Number: LD5793 .P43Includes "Serendipity at the Fair: Washington University and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904" by Pickens (starting on page 51) and map showing original buildings of WU campus at the fair
- An appeal by Professor S. Waterhouse, of Washington University, to the people of his native state, in behalf of St. Louis as the site of the World's Fair, in 1892Call Number: T860 B1 W3Access this document at the Special Collections reading room, main floor of Olin Library
- St. Louis Car Co. at the Universal exposition, St. Louis, U.S.A., 1904.Call Number: Archives Reference
Can be borrowed from WashU Library
Anthropology goes to the fair : the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition by Call Number: E76.85 .P37 2007
All the world's a fair : visions of empire at American international expositions, 1876-1916 by Call Number: T395.5 U6 R93 1984Publication Date: 1984Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1984
From the palaces to the pike : visions of the 1904 World's Fair by Call Number: T860.B1 F69 1997
Lion of the Valley by Call Number: F474.S257 P75 1998Publication Date: 1998-12-01The go-to book for St. Louis history -- if you have trouble getting a library copy check GoogleBooks
http://books.google.com/books
Standing on a volcano : the life and times of David Rowland Francis by Call Number: F474.S253 F733 2001 (Olin 3 & Archives)ISBN: 1883982170"When he ran the St. Louis World's Fair on 1904, he was said to be the most photographed man in America...."
"Indescribably grand" : diaries and letters from the 1904 World's Fair by Call Number: T860.B1 I53 1996ISBN: 188398209XThe World's Fair : comprising the official photographic views of the universal exposition held in Saint Louis, 1904 by
Call Number: T860.C1 S33 1904 fol.
The book of the Fair, by Marshall Everett [pseud.] ... the greatest exposition the world has ever seen. Photographed and explained. A panorama of the St. Louis expositionCall Number: T860 L1 N4 (Olin Library Stacks)
Books about the 1904 Olympics
The Olympic games at Athens, 1906 by
Call Number: Full Text via GoogleIncludes detailed review of the 1904 games
America's First Olympics by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: FULL TEXT ONLINEISBN: 0826264751
The 1904 anthropology days and Olympic games : sport, race, and American imperialism - edited by Susan Brownell.Call Number: GV706.2 .A17 2008 (Olin Stacks)ISBN: 0803210981
Collections at other archives, libraries, and museums
Please contact each library directly for more information
St. Louis Public Library - Special Collections and Archives
Contact: specialcollections@slpl.org
- SLPL Archive Finding Aids: World's FairMany relevant collections including:
* 1904 St. Louis Auto Tour
* Jessie Tarbox Beals Photographs: Louisiana Purchase Exposition
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition Collection
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition Lantern Slides
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition Maps
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition Official Photographer Photos
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition Photo Albums
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition Postcard Collection
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition Posters
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition Sheet Music Collection
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition: Truman Ward Ingersoll Stereograph Cards
* World’s Fairs and International Expositions
Richardson Library and Archives - St. Louis Art Museum
Contact: library@slam.org
- Louisiana Purchase Exposition [Records], 1901-1909, 1902-1905.Finding aid and name index for materials related to the Palace of Fine Arts and other art exhibited at at the Fair.
Library and Research Center - Missouri Historical Society
Contact: archives@mohistory.org or library@mohistory.org