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1904 World's Fair and Olympics

Primary and secondary sources for researching the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (World's Fair) and 1904 Olympics.

Contact Info

contact special collections

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").  The following is a list of the buildings and their use during the fair, with their first academic use listed in parentheses.

Busch Hall:  Department of Works for the Fair and was used for architects and engineers (Chemistry)

University Hall [ renamed Brookings Hall]:Administrative Building for the Fair and held staff offices (administrative)

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)

Relevant archives at WU Special Collections include:

Digital Photographs of the Fair & Olympics

Online Sources Primary Sources

Books about WUSTL & the Fair

Books about the 1904 Olympics

Online Full Text Books

Most titles are avaiable through Google Books; some require a WU log-on if off campus.

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 

Richardson Library and Archives - St. Louis Art Museum

Contact: library@slam.org

Library and Research Center - Missouri Historical Society

Contact: archives@mohistory.org or library@mohistory.org