St. Louis Public Library, Rare Books and Special Collections

Open to the general public for reference use. Items in Rare Books & Special Collections do not circulate. Unless restrictions have been placed by donors, all processed collections are open for public use. St. Louis Public Library Archives date from the library's founding in 1865 as the Public School Library Society of St. Louis, and include institutional records and publications, as well as photographs, ephemera, and other materials. The St. Louis Media Archives, established in 1987, is a collection of local media-related materials, including materials on journalism, broadcasting, advertising, and public relations. Within the collections are printed and manuscript material, photos, items related to radio and television programming, oral histories, memorabilia and promotional materials. The Grolier Collection contains 100 volumes illustrative of the history of writing and the book. Among the collection are items such as cuneiform tablets written in Sumerian about 2375 BC, an Egyptian religious text on papyrus and a vellum scroll of the Book of Esther in Hebrew letters, as well as illuminated manuscript leaves and leaves from early printed works, early printed books and fine editions. Topics covered by collections include the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis Pageant and Masque, Reedy’s Mirror, local restaurant menus, typesetting, local community organizations, and local interest.

Address:
1301 Olive Street
St. Louis MO 63103

Phone: (314) 539-0370

Email: specialcollections@slpl.org

Contact: Amanda Bahr-Evola, Ph.D.