The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Contemporary Books

1904 W.F. Society

Since 2003-4, many books have recently been written about the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, better known as the 1904 World's Fair, in St. Louis.
  - Older books are sometimes out of print, but can be found in used bookstores or in Internet web sites.
  - Some books about many World's Fairs are also included at the end.
  - Where possible, links to a book's entry at Amazon.com are provided.

All the books listed provide good information about the Fair. The books are grouped together with similar books, and within each group I have listed them in the rough order that I'd recommend them as being informative about the 1904 World's Fair.  But all are enjoyable and worthwhile reading about the 1904 World's Fair.

 

Back to Top

Several recent books for reference or fun reading about the Fair.

1. NEW  St. Louis: The 1904 World's Fair by Joe Sonderman and Mike Truax (forgive me if I toot my own horn a bit on my new/first book).  128 pages, Arcadia Publishing, December 2008.  For seven months in 1904, St. Louis was the greatest city on earth. Millions flocked to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to behold the inventions of the early 20th century, seeing electric lights, automobiles, aircraft, and moving pictures for the first time.  It was an educational experience, a “university of mankind.” Fairgoers visited the Alps, the North Pole, Russia, and Paris and witnessed famous battles. Everyone wanted to ride the great Observation Wheel.  Available from both Amazon.com and Arcadia Publishing.
--  St. Louis: The 1904 World’s Fair tells the story of the greatest Victorian-era world’s fair, and also examines the fair’s legacies and legends.  Features over 200 unusual and never-before published pictures of the Fair, including several some private collections, and covers the Fair's construction, opening, highlights, demolition, and legacy.
--  The Authors:  Joe Sonderman is a lifelong St. Louisan who has written several books on St. Louis history, including Route 66 in St. Louis. He is an avid collector of Route 66 and St. Louis memorabilia and maintains an online archive of Route 66 images. Mike Truax is the current President of the 1904 World’s Fair Society in St. Louis.

2. Still Shining! Discovering Lost Treasures from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair by Diane Rademacher. 143 pages, Virginia Publishing Corporation, October 2003.
A member of the 1904 World's Fair Society, the author's 20-year hobby has tracked down the present history and location of the many of the 1904 World's Fair's most beloved buildings and structures. This book contains original pictures of famous structures and artifacts, and documents where they are and how they look today. A truly remarkable effort, informative and interesting!

3. "Indescribably Grand": Diaries and Letters from the 1904 World's Fair by Martha R. Clevenger. 156 pages, Missouri Historical Society Press, June 1996.
The author makes the reader feel like they are going to the Fair, right along with the four Fair visitors whose diaries she has presented. In addition, she presents a detailed and well-footnoted description the 1904 Fair, including it's award, construction, buildings, exhibits. A informative and wonderfully fun book to read, makes you feel like "you were there".

4. From the Palaces to the Pike: Visions of the 1904 World's Fair by Tim Fox and Duane R. Sneddeker. 256 pages, Missouri Historical Society Press, July 1997.
Images from the Missouri Historical Society's collections, many reproduced from rare glass-plate negatives, show the buildings, the "human exhibits," and even aerial views of the Fair. A special chapter of snapshots taken by fairgoers provides personal views of attractions on the Fair's entertainment district, known as the Pike, and other popular destinations. Excels at the author's goal to publish many pictures not found in other souvenir or contemporary books. Contains more pictures of interior exhibits than most other books, several 1904 Olympic pictures, but no pictures of individual exhibit paintings or of the Jerusalem exhibit.
Some double-page pictures, but just 2 pictures of statues at the Fair. Few state/country building pictures. More pictures of interior exhibits than many other books. No pictures of individual paintings, a few views or rooms in Palace of Art. Several 1904 Olympic pictures. No pictures of Jerusalem (perhaps an oversight?).
Note: Long out-of-print, possibly was reprinted in early 2004 by MHS press.

5. St. Louis World's Fair 365: An Intriguing Day-By-Day Look at the 1904 World's Fair, by Joe Sonderman. 235 pages, Stellar Press, St. Louis, 2004.
Following an informative 4-page introduction, and a 5-page overview of pre-1904 events, the author takes us on a daily 'news tour' of the Fair-related events of 1904. Using many vintage sources, including the several daily newspapers, the author highlights and relates both the well-known facts of the Fair and also many little-known or interesting events about the Fair.

6. NEW  Reporting Live:  Articles and Letters from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, by Lyndon Irwin. 188 pages, 2008.
In 1904, many cities and newspapers sent reporters to the Fair to report on the event of the year.  The author has gathered and compiled many reports and articles written by Fair visitors, primarily from small towns in Western Missouri.   They provide some unique and sometimes interesting perspectives of the Fair.  Illustrations are included.
Available directly from the author at:  http://www.lyndonirwin.com/books.htm.

7. Inside the World's Fair of 1904: Exploring the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, by Elana V. Fox. 236 pages, 1stBooks Library, April 2003.
With historical references and over 540 pictures, these books provide the most comprehensive view and information about the World's Fair of 1904 available today. The reader reads and sees not only the traditional 'views' of the Fair's buildings, but also inside each building and concession from a perspective not often seen. Unfortunately, the abundant factual and statistical information about the Fair is offset by companion pictures whose quality is leaves much to be desired in this era of modern, electronic pictures.

8. Legacies of the St. Louis World's Fair by Bert Minkin. 100 pages, Virginia Publishing, October 1, 1998.
A compilation of articles on the 1904 World's Fair written by Bert Minkin, that were printed in local St. Louis Newspapers (Suburban Journals). Published in conjunction with (and available from) the 1904 World's Fair Society.

9. Meet Me in St. Louis : A Trip to the 1904 World's Fair by Robert Jackson. 144 pages, HarperCollins Children Books; March 1, 2004. 144 pages.
The author takes the readers on a grand tour of the 1904 World's Fair, including the construction of the Fair, the Palaces and architectures, the Pike, the "Great Wheel", people at the Fair, and special days and events. While written as an overview of the Fair, the author has included several rarely-seen photographs from the archives of the Missouri Historical Society.

10. Beyond the Ice Cream Cone: The Whole Scoop on Food at the 1904 World's Fair, by Pamela J. Vaccaro. Enid Press, April 2004, 174 pages.
A member of the 1904 World's Fair Society, the author provides an overview of the Fair and describes many detailed aspects of Food at the 1904 Fair. From the popular legends and myths, food that was introduced and popularized, restaurants and concessionaires, cookbooks and banquets, any and all aspects of food (and beverages) at the Fair are described.
More information is at the author's website: http://www.beyondtheicecreamcone.com/

11. Meeting Louis at the Fair by Carol S. Porter. 135 pages, Virginia Publishing, March 2004.
The author tells us the in-depth story of Louis Spiering, an architect in St. Louis at the turn of the nineteenth century. After attending the famed Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Spiering worked on the architectural staff designing and building the 1904 World's Fair. Many of his personal photographs from the Fair are also reproduced for the first time, showing many details and 'new' views of the Fairgrounds. Spiering also designed the famed Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, but his life ended tragically early before his talents could be fully realized.
More information is at the author's website: www.csporter.com

12. A World on Display 1904: Photographs from the St. Louis World's Fair by Eric Breitbart, Edrington, Curtus. 108 pages, University of New Mexico Press, May 1997.
The many foreign 'peoples' that were brought to the 1904 World's Fair were placed on 'authentic' display, either in the formal anthropological exhibits or on the Pike, the Fair's amusement area. This book's 75 photos and 107 pages provide insight and information about the Fair that is not readily available elsewhere, either in vintage or contemporary books.

 

Back to Top

A couple of 'oldie-but-goodie' books about the Fair.

1. The World Came to St. Louis: A Visit to the 1904 World's Fair by Dorothy Daniels Birk. 96 pages, Chalice Press, March 1992.
This book is based on a collection of about 150 pictures of the fair taken by the author's father.  A member of the 1904 World's Fair Society, the author turned her presentation slides into a book about the Fair.  The pictures are very good and the information provides a good overview of the Fair. The map of the fair is interesting too, with its comparison to the present day Forest Park.

2. Remembering The St. Louis World's Fair by Margaret J. Witherspoon. 98 pages, Folkestone Pr, June 1983.
The author provides an excellent overview of the Fair, capturing the spirit, variety, and magnitude of the world’s largest exposition. The pictures and drawings enhance the spirit of the Fair, and particularly interesting is the 2-page map of the Fair, with a transparent overlay showing today's roads and remaining Fair structures.

 

Back to Top

Four books about the 1904 Olympics.

1.  NEW    America's First Olympics: The St. Louis Games Of 1904, by George Matthews. 242 pages, University of Missouri Press July 2005.
One small part of the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis was the nation's first Olympic games, and the third in modern times. Although the games were originally awarded to Chicago, St. Louis wrestled them from her rival city. Athletes came from only eleven countries across four continents to compete in state-of-the-art facilities, which included a ten-thousand-seat concrete stadium with gymnasium equipment donated by sporting goods magnate Albert Spalding. The 1904 St. Louis Olympics garnered only praise, and all agreed that the 1904 games were a success, improving both the profile of the Olympic movement and the prestige of the United States. But held within the context of a World's Fair (as the Paris 1900 Olympics had been), they were not the "main focus".  Within a few years the success of the games of 1904 had receded in memory, and suffered a worse fate with the publication of Coubertin's 'official' memoirs in 1931. His selective recollections, exaggerated claims, and false statements turned the forgotten Olympics into the failed Olympics. This fictitious account was furthered by the 1948 publication of An Approved History of the Olympic Games by Bill Henry, which was reviewed and endorsed by Coubertin.
--  America's First Olympics, by George R. Matthews, corrects common misconceptions that began with Coubertin's memoirs and presents a fresh view of the 1904 games, using documentation from 1904. Matthews provides an excellent overview of the St. Louis Olympics over a six-month period, beginning with the intrigue surrounding the transfer of the games from Chicago. He also gives detailed descriptions of the major players in the Olympic movement, the events that were held in 1904, and the athletes who competed in them. This original account will be welcomed by history and sports enthusiasts who are interested in a new perspective on this misunderstood event.

2. St. Louis Olympics, 1904, by George Matthews, Sandra Marshall, Sandy Marshall. 128 pages, Arcadia, June 2003.
This is the first, single-volume photographic chronicle of America's inaugural Olympic Games. Athletes came from eleven countries and four continents competed in state-of-the-art facilities, which included a 10,000-seat stadium with gymnasium equipment donated by sporting goods magnate Albert Spalding. Corrects common misperceptions of the games that featured first-time African American Olympians, an eccentric marathon, and documentation by pioneering photojournalist Jessie Tarbox Beals.

3. 1904 Olympic Games, St. Louis Missouri: Official Medals & Badges, by Jim Greensfelder, Jim Lally, Bob Christianson, and Max Storm. 108 pages, GVL Enterprises, Cincinnati OH, 2001.
Developed in cooperation with the Missouri Historical Society and their collection of 1904 World's Fair artifacts, the authors found and captured the medals and stories not only of the 'official' Olympic competitions, but also of the many events held at the Fair which were not 'official' events.

4. The 1904 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, With Commentary, by Bill Mallon. 287 pages, McFarland & Company, February 1999.
The 1904 Games were included as part of the World's Fair, however, every athletic contest that took place under the Fair's auspices was deemed "Olympic." These activities included croquet and water polo, high school and college championships in football and basketball, as well as the "Anthropology Days" events in which members of "primitive" "tribes" competed against one another. The author demonstrates, after great deliberation, that 16 events of the 21 overall were truly Olympic sports and gives descriptions, scores, and analyses for each (as well as for the five non-Olympic events).

 

Back to Top

Here's several other books, less widely available, that have a "specialty" focus.

1. 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Mementos and Memorabilia by Robert L. Hendershott. 1994.
-- Here's my overview of this Catalog, and an article about the Robert Hendershott's death.
-- Mr Hendershott actually attended the 1904 Fair at the age of 5-6, and died in 2005 at the age of 106 !  A long-time member of the 1904 World's Fair Society, Mr. Hendershott attended the Fair's 2004 Centennial and Closing Day Observance Banquets in 2003 and 2004.
This book's 365 pages include over 2,600 1904 World's Fair items, all photographed (many with two photos). The items of memorabilia in this catalog are divided into 67 categories (and 217 additional sub-categories) of memorabilia! The book contains a Forward, a Publisher's Note by Kurt Krueger (a collector and earlier publisher of a book of 1904 World's Fair Exonumia), an Overview by Eric Newman (a noted numismatist and historian), and a biography of Robert Hendershott.

2. There will be a Wreck: An Account of the 1905 World's Fair Missouri Pacific Train Wreck, by Lyndon Irwin. 150 pages, 2000.
In 1904, there was a head-on collision of two Missouri Pacific trains. One of them was a west bound passenger train packed with excited people on their way to visit the World's Fair in St. Louis. In the wreck, which occurred near Warrensburg, Missouri, 30 people were killed. They were from small Kansas and Missouri towns. A long-time member of the 1904 World's Fair Society, the author has documented the tragedy, its aftermath, and the impact on the families struck by this tragedy.
The 'Wreck Website' at: http://www.lyndonirwin.com/wreck.htm tells part of the story.
Available directly from the author at:  http://www.lyndonirwin.com/books.htm.

3. Standing on a Volcano: The Life and Times of David Rowland Francis (Hardcover) by Harper Barnes. 464 pages, Missouri Historical Society Press, October, 2001.
The noted St. Louis journalist Harper Barnes presents a detailed and interesting biography of the man who was the President of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. David Rowland Francis became both mayor of St. Louis and the youngest-ever governor of Missouri. He then served as Secretary of the Interior prior to leading the efforts to gain the Louisiana Purchase Exposition for St. Louis and serving as the Fair's President. Later, he entered national and international politics as ambassador to Russia from 1916 to 1918, a turbulent era of World War I and revolution.

4. Beautiful Jim Key : The Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World by Mim Eichler Rivas. 352 pages, William Morrow, February 2005.
This story is much more than a tale about a horse from Tennessee; it's also about Jim Key's remarkable trainer, Dr. William Key. Dr. Key was a black man and one-time slave who survived the Civil War, prospered against all odds, and emerged as a wealthy inventor, self-trained veterinarian, and community pillar. Dr. Key's use of kindness and patience to train Jim, rather than beatings and intimidation, gave way to fresh thinking about animal care at a time when animals were considered as mere tools of mankind. Said to have the I.Q. of an 11 year old, Jim Key electrified people at the 1897 Nashville World's Fair, the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, and Boston and other major cities with apparent feats of mathematics, reading, and writing, even making change for a dollar. They won high praise from the press and leaders such as President McKinley, Booker T. Washington, and Alice Roosevelt, and also helped pioneer the animal humane movement, helping to fund societies like the SPCA.

5. 1904 World's Fair: The Filipino Experience, by Jose D. Fermin. 228 pages, University of Hawaii Press, May 2005.
The author wrote this book from a unique perspective: Filipino-born, educated in the Far East, and widely traveled, he tells of the effects that the 1904 Fair's exhibition of Filipinos had on both America and the Philippines. The Philippines were acquired by the U.S. in the Spanish-American War of 1898, and for a time served as "America's Colony". To educate Americans about their new possession, over 1,100 natives were brought to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Though a great financial success, the Philippine Exhibit at the Fair was the object of much publicity and notoriety. It proved controversial because of the imperialistic and racist attitudes of the era. Many Filipinos still feel that the stigma and prejudice from the Fair has continued, even 100 years later.

6. St. Louis' 1904 World's Fair Souvenir Cook Book, by Mrs. S. T. Rorer, reprinted by Don and Lin Uetrecht. Independent Publishing Corporation, St. Louis, 2003, 202 pages.
A faithful reprinting of a genuine 1904 souvenir cookbook, from soups and salads, to fish and meat, to cakes and desserts.

 

Back to Top

Here's some fiction books about the 1904 Fair.

1. Meet Me In St. Louis, Limited Anniversary Edition by Sally Benson. 290 pages, Virginia Publishing, May 2004.
Though written in 1941, this delightful story always takes readers back to a simpler place and time: St. Louis and the Smith family on the eve of the 1904 World's Fair. The family members are all there, Rose, Esther, Tootie, and the rest. We enjoy the family experiences and watch as the family first prepares to move to New York City, but later stays in St. Louis and experience the World's Fair. The new special anniversary edition is enhanced with a picture of Festival Hall on the cover, with a Victorian lady examining the bountiful flower beds. A timeless tale of family and growth!

2. Meet Me At The Ferris Wheel by Joy Dawson. 176 pages, Authorhouse, August, 2004.
Joy Dawson of Wichita, Kansas is a retired long-time English teacher who learned about the St. Louis World's Fair from her father, Rudy, and his brother Frank. Joy spent her early years on the family farm in Northern Missouri where Rudy and Frank had lived as teenagers. Subtitled "An Adventure At The St. Louis World's Fair With 75 Authentic Pictures", Joy uses her family stories and excellent research to tell of the brothers' first trip to the big city of St. Louis and the 1904 World's Fair. Written for ages 9 through 16, the book contains many pictures to illustrate what life was like 100 years ago, and also of the St. Louis Fair. Most captions are taken from vintage books. This is a very enjoyable and fun tale to read for World's Fair fans of all ages!

3. Ice Cream Cones for Sale by Elaine Greenstein. 32 pages, Arthur A. Levine, 1st edition, June 2003.
A book for Kindergarten-Grade 3, the author searches for the official originator of the ice-cream cone at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. where ice-cream vendors rubbed elbows with waffle bakers and five individuals claimed credit for the invention. The author admits that she doesn't know exactly who came up with that idea, but she offers a dreamy speculation. This looks and sounds just right for the age group. The charming pictures provide appealing close-ups, bright colors, and lots of ice cream. It concludes with suggestions on how to eat ice cream cones, research notes, and a substantial bibliography.

4. 1904 by Marcelo Vital and David Montgomery. Published by Van Gogh's Ear, May 2004, 100 pages.
An adventure-filled graphic novel of historical fiction, illustrated in comic book style, with many interesting facts and accurate drawings of the Fair. Nicolo, a teenager in 1904, gets a job at the Fair, finds romance, and stumbles across a plot to 'destroy the Fair.
More information at: http://www.1904iscoming.com/

 

Back to Top

Next, a couple of lesser known, but interesting books, if you can find them.

1. My Dad's St. Louis Boyhood: German Immigrants' Life, 1900-1915: Including Visits to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition by Marian Wenzel. 94 pages, Wenzel Press, January 2000.
A well written account of what it was like to grow up in an extended German family in 1900 in St. Louis, including descriptions of visits to the 1904 World's Fair.

2. Portraits of Native Americans: Photographs from the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition by Charles H. Carpenter. 24 pages (oversize postcards), New Press, July 1994.
Charles Carpenter, chief photographer for the Field Museum, traveled to St. Louis in 1904 to attend the Exposition and take pictures of the people in this exhibit. Portraits of Native Americans presents these photographs for the first time, in an effort to preserve the visually rich moments captured in the incongruous setting of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

 

Back to Top

Finally, two books that cover many World's Fairs.

1. World's Fairs by Erik Mattie. 256 pages, Princeton Architectural Press, October 1998.
The author presents the first illustrated volume with an international history of the most notable world exhibitions. He includes the history of the world's major exhibitions, from the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations in London in 1851 to the upcoming fair in Hanover in 2000. In all, 27 fairs are detailed through their histories, structures, and graphics.

2. All the World's a Fair: Visions of Empire at American International Expositions, 1876-1916 by Robert W. Rydell. 328 pages, University of Chicago Press. Reprint edition, October 1987.
The author writes that the impetus behind America's world's fairs was to boost the economy while maintaining an American authority over the displays. Just as saloons and amusement parks were necessary for America's working class, the World's Fairs were designed for the leisure class. Rydell argues that the world's fairs in America from 1876-1916 were a material vision of political, business, and intellectuals to promote their vision of racial dominance. He argues this theme throughout the book, apparently ignoring the state of mind of the Victorian culture of the time, and the just-beginning science of Anthropology at the turn of the century.

 

Back to Top