Guide to the Archival Collections.pdf - Missouri History Museum

A1449
Saint Louis Turnverein (Saint Louis, Missouri).
Records, 1852-1933. 1 folder (15 items); 12 volumes
Records and accounts of St. Louis German community's gymnastic association (Turnverein).
Consists of seven minute books (1852-1912), expense book (1850-1853), two membership
ledgers (1855-1863 and 1904-1919), ledger of shareholders' accounts with expense journal
concerning building of a new gymnastic hall (1855-1858), and ledger of gymnastic hall bookings
(1906-1915), tax bills, contracts, mortgage papers, promissory notes, and insurance papers.
In German handscript.
Cite as: Saint Louis Turnverein Records, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1450
Saint Louis Volunteer Firemen Collection, 1826-1945. 4 boxes; 26 volumes; 1 oversize folder
The first of the St. Louis volunteer fire companies to endure more than a few years was the
Central Fire Company No. 1, founded in 1832, and incorporated in 1834. One of only several
volunteer fire companies in St. Louis, it was also the last to disband, in 1859, on the advent of a
paid professional fire department. The professional St. Louis Fire Department first began
operations on September 14, 1857. In addition to the volunteer fire companies, there also existed
the Firemen's Fund Association, organized in St. Louis on February 28, 1841, to raise funds for
the relief of widows and orphans of volunteer fire fighters. In 1864, the association was
transferred from the volunteer companies to the city fire department. Following the demise of the
volunteer fire companies, the Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Historical Society was founded
November 20, 1888, to unite the veterans of the volunteer fire companies and to collect the
history and artifacts of the companies. In June 1891 the Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Historical
Society formed the Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Beneficiary Fund to cover the funeral expenses
of its members.
This collection consists of records relating to fires and firefighters in St. Louis, especially the
volunteer fire companies that existed from 1826-1859. The companies whose records are
represented include Central Fire Company No. 1 (1849-1869), Franklin Fire Company No. 8
(1845-1872), Laclede Fire Company No. 10 (1848-1858), Missouri Fire Company No. 5 (1841-
1858), Mound Fire Company No. 9 (1853-1857), Phoenix Fire Company No. 7 (1843-1849), St.
Louis Fire Company No. 4 (no date), Union Fire Company No. 2 (1833-1851), and Washington
Fire Company No. 3 (1853). In addition, the collection includes a payroll book of the St. Louis
Fire Department (1857-1859); correspondence and service certificates concerning volunteer
firemen; charters, constitutions, and by-laws of St. Louis volunteer companies (1826-1859);
accounts of the Great Fire of 1849 in St. Louis; fire insurance policies; and information on fire
fighting equipment. Also includes records of the Firemen's Fund Association (1841-1886) and
the Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Historical Society (1888-1945).
Finding aid available.
Cite as: Saint Louis Volunteer Firemen Collection, Missouri History Museum Archives, St.
Louis.
A2252
Saint Louis War Against Depression.
Brochure, circa 1932. 1 item (2 copies)
Brochure relates to the effort to find employment for those out of work during the depression.
Cite as: St. Louis War Against Depression Brochure, Missouri History Museum Archives, St.
Louis.