DATES: 1990-1994 [bulk]
Creator: Gilleo, Margaret Pfeffer (1939-2023)
EXTENT: 1 linear foot
SCOPE: This collection includes newspaper articles, legal documents, correspondence, publications, photographs, scrapbooks, and ephemera which document the first amendment case, City of Ladue vs. Gilleo. Topics include the court case before the Supreme and District courts, articles written by Gilleo about the case and her stance against the Persian Gulf War, articles written about Gilleo, correspondence between Gilleo and her supporters, and legal publications about the first amendment and free speech protections.
HISTORY: Gilleo was the plaintiff in the City of Ladue vs. Gilleo case, which was argued before the Supreme Court in 1994. In 1990, Gilleo put up a yard sign at her home in Ladue, Missouri, which stated: "Say No to War in the Persian Gulf, Call Congress Now." The sign was repeatedly removed, which was approved by the police and municipal government of Ladue, due to their broad ban on yard signs. With support from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Gilleo brought a case against the city, including mayor Edith Spinks and members of city council. The District Court struck down the ban as unconstitutional and a first amendment violation, and an appeals court and the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that decision.
ACCESS: This is collection M-734. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.
RESTRICTIONS: None
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.”
INVENTORY
Series 1: Legal papers
- 3 folders
- 2 spiral-bound documents
- 6 books and pamphlets
Series 2: Articles
- 1 folder of newspaper clippings and facsimiles of articles about Gilleo or written by Gilleo
Series 3: Correspondence & Misc. papers
- 1 folder of correspondence and other assorted papers
- 1 folder of printed window signs: "For Peace in the Persian Gulf"
Series 4: Photographs
- 17 loose photographs
- 2 photo albums
Series 5: Scrapbooks
- 2 scrapbook binders
Series 6: Ephemera
- 1 Missouri license plate: "For Peace in the Persian Gulf
- 1 yard sign with picket: "Say No to War in the Persian Gulf, Call Congress Now"
- 1 framed photograph of the Supreme Court
