A GUIDE TO 
THE EMIL BOEHL COLLECTION
M-169
By
Guy Gray

Copyright 2011
The St. Louis Mercantile Library Association
St. Louis, Missouri

Project Staff
Director: John Neal Hoover
Curator, Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library: Sean Visintainer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary									3
Historical Note									3
Scope Note										3
Series Arrangement									4
Access											4
Digital Images										5
Citation										5
Subject Headings									5
Other Resources									5
Inventory										6

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Creator: St. Louis Mercantile Library
Title: Emil Boehl Collection
Dates: ca. 1870-1910
Language: English
Size: 3 boxes
Collection Number: M-169
Location: 
Special Collections
St. Louis Mercantile Library at UM – St. Louis
Thomas Jefferson Library Building
One University Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63121 U.S.A.

HISTORICAL NOTE
Emil Boehl was a St. Louis photographer who primarily focused his camera on St. Louis streets, buildings, and locales. Born in Calvoerde, Germany, in 1839, Boehl immigrated to St. Louis in 1854. After serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, Boehl returned to St. Louis in 1864 and opened a photography studio with Lawrence Koenig that spring. With Koenig focusing on portraiture, Boehl became one of the most prolific St. Louis scenic photographers active in the latter half of the 19th Century. The Boehl/Koenig partnership lasted until 1897. Boehl retired from photography in 1919 and died later that year on the 12th of December.

SCOPE NOTE
The Emil Boehl Collection consists of three series. The collection contains images dating from 1850 to ca. 1906. The collection’s archival materials include photographic prints and negatives. According to historians Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Boehl’s career was from 1864 to 1919, and he was known to sell prints of Thomas Easterly’s daguerreotypes. In light of those facts, some dates in the Boehl Collection may be labelled incorrectly and/or some images may not be Boehl’s.

SERIES ARRANGEMENT
Series 1: Large Photographic Prints
Series 1 contains photographic prints measuring 11 inches by 14 inches or larger. The majority of the photographs are matte-framed. Some of the images are dated, with the dates ranging from 1850 to 1900. 

Series 2: 1904 World’s Fair
Series 2 contains photographic prints of the 1904 World’s Fair, more formally known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. All of the images depict architectural content such as the various Palaces (e.g.: Palace of Electricity, Palace of Varied Industry, etc.), U.S. state buildings (e.g.: Missouri and Alaska), foreign nation buildings (e.g.: Brazil, Germany, and Japan), the U.S. Government Building, the Sunken Garden, Grand Basin, and Festival Hall. Two overview shots of the Fair are also included. The prints measure less than 10 inches by 10 inches. 

Series 3: St. Louis Streets, Buildings, and Landmarks
Series 3 contains photographic prints and film negatives depicting St. Louis streetscapes, buildings, and landmarks. The series starts with street views arranged alphabetically by street (e.g.: Chestnut, Locust), continues with depictions of individual buildings arranged by building name (e.g.: Mercantile Library, Wainwright), and then ends with categorical folders (e.g.: hotel exteriors, residences, rooftop views) arranged alphabetically. The prints measure less than 10 inches by 10 inches. Some photos are dated, ranging from the 1870s to the early 1900s. 

ACCESS
Some of the material in Special Collection M-169 may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition.

DIGITAL IMAGES
All digital images linked to this finding aid require that a credit line be included with any material used.
Commercial publication projects require the permission of the St. Louis Mercantile Library and may be subject to a use fee. To order publication-quality reproductions or for permission to copy or use any part of the digital images attached to this finding aid for any commercial purposed, please contact the St. Louis Mercantile Library, Special Collections.
The St. Louis Mercantile Library appreciates hearing from anyone who may have information about any of the images in this collection.

CITATION
When citing 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.

SUBJECT HEADINGS
Boehl, Emil.
Saint Louis Mo – History –Pictorial works.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition 1904 Saint Louis Mo – Pictorial works.
Architecture – Missouri – Saint Louis – Pictorial works.
Saint Louis (Mo.) – Buildings, structures, etc. – Pictorial works.

OTHER RESOURCES:
Palmquist, Peter E., and Thomas R. Kailbourn. Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: a Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 2005. Print.
Kilgo, Dolores Ann. Likeness and Landscape: Thomas M. Easterly and the Art of the Daguerreotype. Saint Louis: Missouri Historical Society, 1994. Print.

INVENTORY
	Series	Box 	Folder	Photo / folder ID	Date	Size	Orientation
	1	1	4th Fa. Chesnut N. 1872 [photo is of 	1872	14.75x13 in	Landscape
	4th Street looking north to Chestnut]
	1	1	Spanish Fort near Mullanphy Stt.	12.25x10 in	Landscape
	1	1	St. Louis Levee. 1850	1850	12.25x10 in	Landscape
	1	1	Christ Church	14x11 in	Landscape
	1	1	Untitled [photo is of the New 	14x11 in	Landscape
	Cathedral of St. Louis on Lindell]
	1	1	Benoist Home 8th & Pine	14x11 in	Landscape
	1	1	Old Marine Hospital	14x11 in	Landscape
	1	1	Early Trolley [photo is of Trolley 93 	14x11 in	Landscape
	Zoological Garden, in front of W. H. 
	Mepham Real Estate]
	1	1	Broadway [streetscape of Broadway 	14x11 in	Landscape
	with Keevil Hatter at 950 Broadway 
	visible]
	1	1	Untitled [photo is of Boatman's Bank 	1900	14x11 in	Landscape
	building; written on back of frame: 
	"March 1900"]
	1	1	Germania Club. 1875	1875	14x11 in	Landscape
	1	1	Gratiot. St. Rebel Prison	11x14 in	Portrait
	1	1	Grants Log Cabin	14x11 in	Landscape
	1	1	Planter's Hotel. 1874	1874	14x11 in	Landscape
	1	1	Old Courthouse. 1870. [Boehl may 	20x16 in	Landscape
	have mislabeled this photo; writing on
	 back of frame says: "1st Theatre / 
	Blacksmith"]
	1	1	Old High School. 1870.	1870	16x20 in	Portrait
	1	1	Untitled [photo is of Grand Republic 	17x14 in 	Landscape
	steamer]	[unmatted]
	1	1	Untitled [photo is of Old Courthouse; 	1870	16x20 in	Portrait
	signed and dated 1870]
	1	1	Chouteau Pond. 1850.	1850	20x16 in	Landscape
	1	1	Old Masonic Bl'g. Oct. 1886.	1886	20x16 in	Landscape
	1	1	Dr. McDowell's Old Medical College 	20x16 in	Landscape
	[subtitle reads: "Ninth and Gratiot 
	Streets. Built in 1840 / The college at 
	Eight and Gratiot Streets was built in 
	1847"]
	1	1	Chouteau Mansion. [written in ink on 	1869	20x16 in	Landscape
	front: "1869"]
	1	1	Untitled [back of frame reads: "Cracker	1870	20x16 in	Landscape
	 Castle / St. Ange and Chouteau, 1870 
	Boehl, Photog. 514 Wash Ave; photo 
	depicts a mansion and the Lafayette 
	Park Trolley]
	1	1	Pierre Chouteau Residence [subtitle 	16x20 in	Portrait
	reads: "East side of main Street south 
	of Washington Avenue built in 1832"; 
	Durkee & Bullock Banking House is 
	also in photo]
	1	1	12th St. From Washington Ave. South, 	17x14 in 	Landscape
	92'. [written on back: "From Bartlett, 	[unmatted]
	Stix Law Firm / Jan. 13, 1964"]
	1	1	Untitled [label on back of frame reads: 	1892	20x16 in	Landscape
	"Twelfth Street, Looking South From 
	Washington Ave. / 1872"]
	1	1	Benoist Residence in 1790 [subtitle 	20x16 in	Landscape
	reads: "Northeast corner of Main and 
	Elm Streets"; date is clearly incorrect]
	1	1	Untitled [Note on back of frame reads: 	20x16 in	Landscape
	"The Old Exhibiton Building / The Public
	 Library is now on the / Site"]
	1	1	Old Jail 6th + Chestnut. 1870.	1870	20x16 in	Landscape
	1	1	Untitled [written on back of frame: 	20x16 in	Landscape
	"Turner Block 4th St. between 
	Chestnut & Pine. E. Boehl, Photog. 514 
	Wash. Ave."]
	1	1	Untitled [photo is of a three-story 	16x20 in	Portrait
	house, with horse, carriage, and driver
	 in front; people are visible in the yard 
	and upper floors]
	1	1	Roof Garden U.T. Blg: 1894 [back of 	1894	20x16 in	Landscape
	frame reads: "From Bartlett, Stix Law 
	Firm / Jan 13, 1964"]
	1	1	Untitled [back of frame reads: "H. 	1889	20x16 in	Landscape
	Shaw's Residence, 7th & Locust 1889"]
	1	1	Lindell Hotel-1865.	1865	20x16 in	Landscape
	2	2	1	Festival Hall& Grand Basin [1 mounted	9x6.75 in	Landscape
	 photograph; note from package 
	transcribed on back of mount]
	2	2	2	Festival Hall [3 photographs; includes 	8x6 in [all]	Landscape
	Festival Hall with East Pavillion, front 
	view, and view from West Bridge]
	2	2	3	Palaces & U.S. Government Building 	8x6 in [all]	Landscape
	[15 photographs; images of U.S. Gov 
	Building, Sunken Garden, and the 
	Palaces of: Electricity, Liberal Arts, 
	Mines & Metallurgy, Education & 
	Social Economy, Manufactures, 
	Machinery, Varied Industries, and 
	Transportation]
	2	2	4	Overviews [2 photographs; images of 	9.5x7 in; 	Landscape
	the Fair as seen from above]	9.5x5 in
	2	2	5	State Buildings [2 photographs; 	8.5x6 in; 	Landscape
	images of the Missouri and Alaska 	8x6.5 in
	2	2	6	Brazil, Germany, and Japan Buildings 	8x6 in [all]	Landscape
	[3 photographs]
	3	2	1A	Broadway--Facing North [2 	9x6 in; 	Landscape
	photographs; back of one photo reads:	9x7.25 in
	 "Bway No. from Pine near Olive 1897"; 
	other is titled: "Broadway fr. Pine. N."]
	3	2	1B	Broadway--Facing North and South [2 	9.5x7.5 in; 	Portrait; 
	photographs; Broadway from Olive 	9.25x7 in	Landscape
	facing north, and Broadway from 
	Locust facing south]
	3	2	2	Chestnut Street [2 photographs; 	6.25x8.25 in; 	Portrait; 
	includeds "Chestnut fr: 4th West. 	7x8.75 in	Portrait
	1874" and Chestnut from Broadway 
	west, depicting Hurst's Hotel 
	European and Frisco Line]
	3	2	3	Fourth St. from Vine north 1906 [1 	1906	8x10 in	Portrait
	mounted photograph; image may be of
	 4th from St. Charles Street, as "St. 
	Charles" has been crossed through 
	and "Vine" written in; J. H. Crane 
	Furniture and Lammert Furniture are 
	visible in photo]
	3	2	4	Fourth Street from Pine looking north 	1898	9.5x7.25 in	Landscape
	[2 photographs, both damaged; image 
	identical in both photos, one lists date
	 as 1898; trolley and Rialto Building 
	visible]
	3	2	5	4th Str. Fr. Market Str. N. [1 	9x6.5 in	Landscape
	photograph; Old Courthouse depicted,
	 trolleys and horse-drawn carriages]
	3	2	6	Locust. From 4th West. 1870. [3 	1870	8.5x6.25 in; 	Landscape
	photographs--1 original, 2 copies; 	10x8 in
	image includes Mermod Jaccard 
	Jewelers]
	3	2	7	Locust Street [2 photographs; one is 	1896	7.25x9 in [all]	Portrait
	titled "LOCUST FR: BRDW." and note on 
	back says 1896; on back of other 
	photo: "Locust from Fourth West 
	1897"]
	3	2	8	Olive Street [3 photographs; one 	7.25x9 in [all]	Portrait
	titled: "Olive fr. 4th West."; back of 
	another reads: "Olive from 6th--East 
	1904"; another titled: "Olive fr. Brdwy. 
	West.", Burlington Route visible in 
	photo]
	3	2	9	12th and Pine--Statue of Liberty 	1890	8.75x7.25 in	Landscape
	replica [1 photograph; back of photo 
	reads: "12 & Pine 1890"]
	3	2	10	12th Street [5 photographs; from Pine 	Various	Various
	north; from Washington south, ca. 
	1900; from Washington south; from St.
	 Charles north; from Olive north]
	3	2	11	Washington Avenue [1 photograph; 	7.25x9.25 in	Portrait
	back of photo reads: "Washinton from 
	10th East"]
	3	3	12	Century Building [1 photograph; titled: 	7.75x9.25 in	Portrait
	"Century. Bl'd'g.", note on back]
	3	3	13	Chamber of Commerce interior and 	9.25x7 in; 	Landscape
	exterior [2 photographs; exterior 	9x7 in
	photo titled: "Chamber of 
	Commerce.", note on back: "from 3rd 
	& Chestnut" plus more; interior photo 
	titled: "Chamber of Commerce.", note 
	on back reads: "Merchant Exchange 
	Prt"]
	3	3	14	Columbia Building [1 photograph; 	7.5x9.5 in	Portrait
	titled: "Columbia b'l'dg.", note on back 
	reads: "south east corner eight and 
	Locust / Columbia Building"]
	3	3	15	Commercial Building [1 photograph; 	7.5x9.5 in	Portrait
	titled: "Commercial. Blg."
	3	3	16	Compton Heights Reservoir Park [1 	9x7 in	Landscape
	photograph, 1 negative; titled: 
	"Compton Heights Reservoir Park.", 
	water tower visible in photo]
	3	3	17	Equitable Building [1 photograph, 1 	7x9 in	Portrait
	negative; note reads: "Equitable Bldg. 
	/ NW cor. 6th & Locust"]
	3	3	18	Globe-Democrat Building--Pine from 	6.25x9 in	Portrait
	6th West [1 photograph; notes on 
	back]
	3	3	19	Mercantile Library Building [1 	6.5x9 in	Portrait
	photograph]
	3	3	20	Merchants-Laclede Building [1 	6.75x9 in	Portrait
	photograph; note on back reads: 
	merch. Laclede Bldg / S.W. Cor 4th & 
	Olive"]
	3	3	21	Mermod-Jaccard Building [1 	7.25x9.25 in	Portrait
	photograph]
	3	3	22	National Bank of commerce Building [2	6.25x9 in; 	Portrait
	 photographs; one photo titled: "New 	8x10 in
	Bank of Commerce", other photo has 
	pencil on front stating: "National Bank 
	of Commerce 1914"]
	3	3	23	Nugents Department store [1 	9.5x7.5 in	Landscape
	photograph]
	3	3	24	Odeon Building [1 photograph]	9.25x6.75 in	Landscape
	3	3	25	Old Catherdral--Interior and Exterior [2	6.5x9 in; 	Portrait; 
	 photographs, 1 negative; negative is 	9.25x6.75 in	Landscape
	of exterior photo]
	3	3	26	Old Jail [1 mounted photograph; title 	11x8.5 in	Landscape
	reads: "Old Jail--6th & Chestnut]
	3	3	27	Olympic Theatre Building [1 	9.25x7.25 in	Landscape
	photograph, 1 negative]
	3	3	28	Post Office/Old Custom House [1 	8.75x6.5 in	Landscape
	mounted photograph, 1 negative; Old 
	Post Office]
	3	3	29	Planter's Hotel [2 photographs, 1 	7.25x9.25 in; 	Portrait; 
	negative; photo of exterior of hotel 	9.5x7.75 in	Landscape
	and the interior of the hotel's Turkish 
	Den; negative is of exterior]
	3	3	30	St. Louis Union trust Building--Central 	7x9 in	Portrait
	National Bank Building [1 photograph; 
	building is known by both names]
	3	3	31	Security Building [1 photograph; note 	7.25x9.75 in	Portrait
	on back reads: "Security Bldg. / S.W. 
	cor. 4th & Locust"]
	3	3	32	Southern Hotel--Exterior and Interiors 	9x7 in [all]	Landscape
	[4 photographs, 3 negatives; exterior: 
	Broadway and Elm; interiors: dining 
	room, billiard room, parlor; negatives 
	of exterior, billiards, parlor]
	3	3	33	Turner Block [1 mounted photograph; 	11.5x8.25 in	Landscape
	back reads: "Turner Block 4th between
	 Pine & Chest / in 90s; St. Louis Daily 
	Record visible in photo]
	3	3	34	Union Station [1 photograph, 1 	9x7 in	Landscape
	negative]
	3	3	35	Wainwright Building [1 photograph, 1 	9x6.25 in	Portrait
	negative; note on back of photo: 
	"something new in architecture"]
	3	3	36	Civic Buildings--Courthouse and City 	8.5x7.25 in; 	Landscape
	Hall [2 photographs]	8.6x6.5 in
	3	3	37	Club and Organization Buildings [4 	Various	Various
	photographs; Mercantile Club, 
	University Club, Columbia Club, St. 
	Louis Club]
	3	3	38	Community Gates and Gate Houses [5 	Various	Landscape
	photographs; Portland Place, 
	Hortense Place, Westmoreland, 
	Vandeventer Place 1890, Washington 
	3	3	39	Fairgrounds [1 photograph; includes 	9.25x6.75 in	Landscape
	view of Club House and Grandstands]
	3	3	40	Hotel Exteriors [6 photographs; 	Various	Various
	includes: Grand Avenue Hotel, Beers 
	Hotel, The West End Hotel/The 
	Residential Hall; St. Nicholas Hotel, 
	Silver Moon Hotel, Lindell Hotel 1867]
	3	3	41	Railcars and Trolleys [6 photographs, 1	Various	Landscape
	 negative; includes images of trolleys 
	and a locomotive, plus Bellefontaine 
	streetcar, and a view of 3rd and 
	Washington Avenue Loop 1890--
	negative corresponds to this image]
	3	3	42	Residences [2 photgraphs, 2 	Various	Landscape
	negatives; Benoist Home: print not 
	vintage; Lindell from Taylor; negatives 
	are of both images]
	3	3	43	Rooftop Views from Courthouse, 	Various	Landscape
	Missouri Trust Building, and Chemical 
	Building [8 photographs; from 
	Courthouse facing: south, southeast, 
	west, north, & northeast; from MO 
	Trust: southeast, northeast; from 
	Chemical Building: southwest]