The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Memorabilia:  Robert Hendershott

1904 W.F. Society

Robert L. Hendershott
August 7, 1898 - March 23, 2005

The following information was taken from various obituaries and stories
about the life of Robert L. Hendershott.

The World's Fair Society and St. Louis were saddened to hear of the death of Robert L. Hendershott, the St. Louisan whose life stretched into three centuries. The eldest of 6 sons, young Robert was privileged to walk to and attend the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair with his father (a trolley operator) many times. He recalled the Fair with fondness, the buildings and crowds, the rides and Ferris Wheel, the athletic games (the 1904 Olympics), and the Fair's overall magnificence and excitement. During his childhood, he developed a hobby of collecting antique coins with the help of his grandfather, a Civil War veteran. This led him into a lifetime interest in numismatics, and he worked in and supported many state and national coin collecting organizations. Developing an interest in his hometown's World's Fair, he became an avid collector of 1904 fair souvenirs. In 1994 he authored the definitive catalog of 1904 World's Fair memorabilia:  The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair - The Louisiana Purchase Exposition: Mementos and Memorabilia.

Bob remembered the horse and buggy age, the 1904 Fair, and Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic. He served in the military in both World Wars, worked in the banking industry, owned and managed hotels, and managed regional convention bureaus.

Mr. Hendershott joined the 1904 World's Fair Society in 1990. Though he lived in Jefferson City, he attended many Society meetings and Closing Day banquets. He traveled from his home in Indianola, Iowa to St. Louis to attend both the 2003 Closing Day banquet and the April 30, 2004 Centennial Celebration of the Fair's opening in Forest Park--at the age of 105! Many attendees sought to have their picture taken with him. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay also attended the banquet, and was amazed to meet a person who had attended the Fair in 1904!

He celebrated his 100th birthday in 1998 and was honored at a St. Louis coin show. In return, he gave friends a wooden, round "TUIT" (like a wooden nickel), that listed his slogans for life. They served him well through his 106 years: "Keep Busy", "Think Positive", "Have Goals", and "Have a Hobby".

In 2002, Bob decided to sell most of his extensive collection of 1904 Fair memorabilia. Over 3000 items were auctioned in 650 lots at a major coin show in St. Louis (where else?). It was difficult for him to part with his many special mementos of the Fair, including one of three known bronze busts of Fair President David R. Francis and his treasured Jefferson Guard hat. Once again, he was often photographed and interviewed, either with a World's Fair accordion or wearing the Jefferson Guard hat.

The Hendershotts moved to Indianola Iowa in 2001, and he died at a Des Moines hospital in 2005 after an illness. A memorial ceremony was held on March 30 in Indianola, and the Society sent a bouquet of flowers and a tribute to the service. He was later interred in Florida.

Bob loved meeting and communicating with people. He was always willing to sign his book or pose for pictures, and he loved to tell stories about the wonderful 1904 World's Fair. The entire World's Fair Society mourns his death, and we extended our condolences to Bob's wife Marjorie and their family.

Major displays of 1904 World's Fair memorabilia can be viewed at the Missouri Historical Society's exhibit "Looking Back at Looking Forward", and at the Chatillion-Demenil Mansion, where items from the Meisel collection may be seen.