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
City of St. Louis, Mayor's Office Records at WU Special Collections
This guide provides an overview of archival sources (records and documents) available to researchers about the St. Louis Mayors, and other regional politicians, such as Board of Aldermen and Secretary to the Mayor. Between 1943 and 1981 documents from the St. Louis Mayor's administrations were donated to the Washington University Archives. Other administrations have chosen to place their documents in other libraries and archives, which are listed at the end of this guide
- Joseph DarstTerm 1949-1952 (See Series 4 of the Raymond Tucker Papers)
- Raymond R. Tucker
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Term 1953-1965
Series 1: First administration Office Files, 1953-1957
Series 2: Second Administration Office Files, 1957-1961
Series 3: Third Administration Office Files, 1961-1965
Series 4: Files from Mayor Darst, 1949-1952;
Series 5: Civic Progress Incorporated
Series 6: Campaigns and Bond Issues
Series 7: Board Bills
Series 8: Speeches
Series 9: Mayor's Office Accounts
Series 10: Appointment Books
Series 11: Invitations and Proclamations
Series 12: Scrapbooks
Series 13: City Journal
Series 14: Miscellaneous Publications
Series 15: Additional Acquisitions - Alfonso J. Cervantes
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Term 1965-1973
Series 1: First Administration files, 1965-1969.
Series 2: Second Administration files, 1969-1973
Series 3: St. Louis Bicentennial files, 1964
Series 4: News clippings (1969-1973) - James F. Conway
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Term 1977-1981
Series 1: Appointments and Resignations, 1977-1979
Series 2: General Office Files, 1977-1981
Series 3: Community Development Agency Files (CDA), 1977-1981
Series 5: Press Releases, Proclamations, Speeches, 1977-1981
Series 6: News clippings, most 1977 (few 1980s)
Series 7: Miscellaneous Reports
Series 8: St. Louis Legislation
Other political records archived at WU
Inventories of archived records from regional political leaders:
- Joseph Badaracco Records
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St. Louis City Board of Alderman, President (1972-1975) - C.B. Broussard Records
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St. Louis City Board of Alderman, member (1969-1975) - A.J. Wilson Records
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St. Louis City Executive Secretary to Cervantes & Poelker (1971–1976)
Mayor's Records at Other Libraries
Locations of other Mayoral papers
Please contact the holding archive or library for more information.
- William Carr Lane 1823-1829 (Mayoral Terms 1823-1829 & 1837-1840)
- John. F. Darby 1835-37 & 1840-41 (Mayoral Terms 1835-37 & 1840-41)
- Peter G. Camden 1846-47 (Mayoral Term 1846-1847)
- Luther M. Kennett 1850-53 (Mayoral Term 1850-1853)
- Oliver D. Filley 1858-61 (Mayoral Term 1858-1861)
- Chauncey I. Filley 1863-64 (Mayoral Term 1863-1864)
- Henry Overstolz 1876-1881 (Mayoral Term 1976-1881)
- David R. Francis 1885-1889 (Mayoral Term 1885-1889)
- Rolla Wells 1901-1909 (Mayoral Term 1901-1909)
- Louis P. Aloe (acting mayor for Kiel in WWI; Kiel Mayoral Term 1913-1925)
- John Peters (Mayor’s Secretary, 1933)
- James S. Thomas 1864-69 (Mayoral Term 1864-1869)Collection M-92 Thomas, James
Papers of Mayor Dickmann and Mayor Schoemehl, Jr.
- Bernard F. Dickmann 1933-41 (Mayoral Term 1933-1941)(Records C 3403) available on microfilm at any branch of the State Historical Society of Missouri
- Clarence Harmon 1994-2001 (Mayoral Term 1994-2001)ID: 4/1/PP 06
Secondary Sources
- Brief History of St. Louis Mayorsvirtual exhibit from the St. Louis Public Library (digitally archived as of 2016)
St. Louis politics : the triumph of tradition by Call Number: JS1385 .S74 2002 (Olin L2)- The influence of racial and national groups in St. Louis politics, 1908-28 byCall Number: LD5791.8 AM29 F149 c.2 (Archives)1929 Thesis
The sidewalks of St. Louis : places, people, and politics in an American city by Call Number: F474 S25 L57 1991 (Olin L3 & Archives)- An American city: four years' progress; St. Louis, 1949-1953 byCall Number: NA9127 S2 C62 A5 (Art Library)
Holy Joe : Joseph W. Folk and the Missouri idea by Call Number: F466.F65 P56 (Olin L3)One of Missouri's best-known leaders of the Progressive Era, Folk epitomized the moral reformer in politics.
Standing on a volcano : the life and times of David Rowland Francis by Call Number: F474.S253 F733 2001 (Olin L3 & Archives)He was mayor of St. Louis, governor of Missouri, and ambassador to Russia from 1916 to 1918.
Lion of the valley : St. Louis, Missouri, 1764-1980 by Call Number: F474.S257 P75 1998The go-to book for St. Louis history. Also available via GoogleBooks http://books.google.com/books