M-663 Robert Pettus Photography Collection

DATE: ca. 1966 - 2019

CREATORS: Pettus, Robert (1938-2021)

SCOPE: The collection includes materials created and accumulated by Robert Pettus relating to his career in architectural and fine art photography. The collection contains archival materials, publications, photographs, and some business correspondence in addition to color transparencies, negatives, and prints of architectural projects and fine art subjects. The architectural projects are largely focused in St. Louis, though other U. S. cities are featured as well.

EXTENT: Approximately 18 linear feet.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Robert Pettus trained as an architect but made his career in architectural and fine art photography. His photographic works have appeared in major architectural magazines including: Architectural Record, Architecture, Domus, Japan Architecture, and featured in The New York Times Sunday Magazine. His exhibitions include shows at: Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis (2019), Chicago Architectural Foundation, Chicago (2002); Forum for Contemporary Art, St. Louis (2001), and Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona (2000). Pettus was the recipient of a grant from the Ford Foundation to photograph historic railroad stations throughout the nation. His work is found in several public and private collections including Museum of Modern Art, New York, Library of Congress, and The Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

ACCESS: Portions of this collection are housed off-site. Please contact the staff in advance of your visit to coordinate access to these materials for research purposes.

This collection can be viewed on-site in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room.  Some of the material may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition and other access restrictions. Information on conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building on the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ north campus.

PREFERRED CITATION: When citing the materials from this collection, the preferred citation is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis."

INVENTORY

Below is a collection inventory divided into three series:

1. Archive: includes archival materials, publications containing Robert Pettus' photographs, and some business correspondence.
2. Architecture: arranged alphabetically by project or building name and holds color transparencies, negatives, and prints of architectural projects, largely in St. Louis but in other cities across the United States as well.
3. Fine Art Photographs: color transparencies, negatives, contact sheets, and color prints of fine art subjects, and photographs by other photographers owned by Pettus.

Series 1: Archive

• Box 1: Archival materials, publications with Robert Pettus' photographs, and one contract with the Contemporary Art Museum.