Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library Collections
The Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library is a special section of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, dedicated to preserving and providing access to materials about United States inland waterway history, as well as global waterway transportation.
A list of Pott Library archival collections is available through the Mercantile's website. This index is updated regularly and includes links to finding aids, collection inventories, and other materials for waterway history research.
Contact a curator or schedule a visit to learn more about the collections and make a research appointment.
The Waterways Journal
The Waterways Journal is a weekly news magazine published in St. Louis for the barge and towing industry of the inland waterways, which has long been known as the "Riverman's Bible." The journal began publication in 1891 under the title The River and becameThe Waterways Journal in 1892.New issues continue to be released weekly.
Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library offers multiple ways to access the journal. For more information, schedule a research appointment or contact a curator.
In-Person Research
The library holds print copies of the following issues:
- Vol.22, no.1 (1909) - vol.22, no.52 (1910)
- Vol.37, no.1 (1924) - vol.37, no.52 (1925)
- Vol.39, no.1 (1926) - vol.39, no.52 (1927)
- Vol.42, no.1 (1929) - vol.48, no.52 (1935)
- Vol.50, no.1 (1936) - vol.56, no.52 (1943)
- Vol.58, no.1 (1944) - vol.132, no.52 (2018)
- Vol.132, no.40 (2019) - vol.135, no.38 (2021)
- Vol.136, no.39 (2023) - vol.138, no.39 (2024)
View the library's catalog record to confirm which issues are available.
Microfilm copies are available for all issues published 1891-2001.
Online Research
A portion of The Waterways Journal is digitized and available through the Digital Library.
A journal index for select years is available upon request. Please contact a curator for more information.
The Waterways Journal microfilms and indexing project has been funded by the generosity of the Golden Eagle River Museum, Herman T. and Phenie R. Pott Foundation, the National Waterways Foundation, the J. Mack Gamble Fund of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen and The Waterways Journal Inc.
