M-112: St. Louis Globe-Democrat Collection

DATE: 1875-1986

CREATOR: St. Louis Globe-Democrat

SCOPE: Acquired by the Mercantile Library in 1986, when the newspaper ceased publication, this vast collection covers the history, culture and life of the St. Louis region and the state of Missouri. The clips and photos cover a wide array of topics, from individuals, to events, to a multitude of other subjects.

EXTENT: 

Clippings Files: Known as the newspaper "morgue," over 10,000,000 separate articles were cut out and filed by the newspaper between the 1920s and 1980s. The clipping files also include much material preserved from various competing newspapers (Post and Star), giving this newspaper morgue unusual depth. Currently the library is compiling an on-line database of clipping envelope headings, with more headings added each day. Also, a special listing of banks and financial institutions located within the collection is available.

»Search Name or St. Louis Subject

Two complete sets of microfilm are held for the paper, including reels comprising the issues of the predecessor Democrat. Available at the University of Missouri - St. Louis Thomas Jefferson Library, microfilm/periodicals call number AN1 .S2 G54 (May 20,1875-Oct.29,1986). Microfilm is recommended if searching for an article with a specific date, or for information prior to the mid-1920s.

Images: Filed in a separate series are over 225,000 photographs and approximately 700 glass plate negatives dating from the 1920s through the 1980s. A portion of this collection is digitized and available on the Digital Library.
»Globe Photograph Collection

Also included in the collection are the business records of the newspaper, giving a picture of the growth, progress and demise of a major urban daily and bound volumes of final editions for both the Globe-Democrat and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

HISTORY:  In their earliest days, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat's predecessors--The St. Louis Democrat (founded in 1852 as The Daily Missouri Democrat) and The St. Louis Globe (founded in 1872) were staunch advocates of freedom and anti-slavery in Missouri. The Globe-Democrat eventually became the most widely-read morning paper in St. Louis, with a huge circulation, and used this base of support to promote civic responsibility and great causes regarding urban improvements.

A casualty in the 1980's of dwindling circulation due to competing forms of media, less income from advertising, and crippling strikes, the Globe-Democrat went the way of many urban dailies in the past generation, leaving a record of unmatched documentary and journalistic achievement as represented in its files.

ACCESS: This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the material in Special Collection M-112 may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition. For collections marked limited access, researchers are advised to contact the library at least three business days in advance of their visit to submit a request to view the physical material.

Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building.

In observance of security procedures, certain services may not be available shortly before the daily closing time.

Preferred Citation: When citing the material from this collection, the preferred citation is: From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.