s0555 DICKMANN, BERNARD F. (1888-1971)
PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION, 1918-1967
1,991 photographs, 1 scrapbook

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS

Bernard F. Dickmann was perhaps the most outstanding and colorful mayor the city of St. Louis has ever had. He served as mayor through the depth of the Great Depression with enthusiasm, flair and passion for achievement that inspired city residents during those hard times. As part of a democratic administration he was able to accomplish great things for the city by taking advantage of Franklin Roosevelt’s many public works program. He left a legacy of buildings, bridges, and monuments that are the essence of St. Louis.

Dickmann was born in 1888. His parents were German immigrants, and the family lived in South St. Louis. After serving in World War I Dickmann joined his father's company, The Joseph F. Dickmann Real Estate Company. He was elected president of the St. Louis Real Estate Board for three terms.

In 1933 Dickmann became the first Democrat elected mayor of St. Louis in twenty four years. He served as mayor until 1941. Dickmann was responsible for passing the Standard Milk Ordinance, the Municipal Merit System, the Public Defender System, the Public Housing Program, and the Anti-Smoke Ordinance which eliminated the soft coal pollution which blanketed St. Louis in eternal darkness. To his administration goes the credit of completing Kiel Auditorium, the US Court and Custom House, and electric street lights throughout the city. Mayor Dickmann was responsible for building the St. Louis Municipal Air Port, Homer G. Philips Hospital, Malcolm Bliss Psychopathic Hospital, the Armory, the Soldiers Memorial, the Jewel Box, the Mills Fountain, the Kings highway overpass and the first St. Louis expressway: Highway 40. Dickmann also initiated the efforts which resulted in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, including the acquisition and clearing of the land and the architectural competition which produced the design for the Arch.

During World War I Dickmann served as one of four inspector generals of civilian defense under Fiorello La Guardia. He was Postmaster of St. Louis from 1943 to 1958, president of the National Association of Postmasters from 1951 to 1952, and Director of the St. Louis Welfare Department from 1959-1961.

Dickmann was director of the Salvation Army for over forty years, a director of the St. Louis Chapter of the March of Dimes, and Exalted Ruler of the Elks, and a member of the National Executive Committee of the American Legion.
In 1949 Dickmann married Mrs. Pat Herrington, of Mt. Olive, Mississippi. He died in 1971.

The Collection contains photographs of many famous people who visited St. Louis including: Harry Truman, Wrong Way Corrigan, Forello La Guardia. The collection also contains a Scrapbook of the Missouri exhibition at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York

FOLDER LIST

BOX 2

BOX 3

BOX 4

BOX 5

BOX 6

BOX 8

Oversize
Photographs 555.1977-1987
Scrapbook of Missouri Exhibit in 1939 Worlds Fair

Photographs 555.1988-555.1991 located in the map case.