DATES: ca. 1850-1950
CREATOR: Philips, Franklin A.
SCOPE: This collection represents a small portion of an originally much larger collection of steamboat photographs and prints ca. 1850-1950, collected by Franklin A. Philips. This collection consists of 236 large format photographs of steamboats, steamboat interiors, steamboat crew, Currier & Ives prints (photographs of the prints), river town levee scenes, and Civil War river scenes. Most of the photographs are of individual vessels, which are listed in the inventory with the capital letters format; for example: SAINT PAUL.
EXTENT: 2 boxes of photographs.
HISTORY: These photographs were donated to the Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library so that researchers would be able to study these images now and in the future. According to an appraisal these photographs were part of a larger incomparable collection of approximately 500 images. The majority of the photographs centered on Mississippi River and Ohio River steamboats, with the exception of James River photos dating from the Civil War.
PROVENANCE: This collection was purchased from Mr. Franklin Phillips in two installments over time, in 2003 and in 2012. In addition, Mr. Phillips donated additional photographs to the Library each point of purchase.
ACCESS: This is collection P-18. 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 collections of the Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.”
INVENTORY
Below is a list of vessel photographs, cabin photographs, and photographs of Currier & Ives prints found in the collection.
Vessels
- Alberta No. 3
- Allegheny
- America and United States Collision
- Andes
- Annie P.
- Annie P. Silver
- Armada
- Artemus Gates
- Bell in Belfry
- Bell of Bends
- Capitol
- Charles R. Cox
- Chesapeake
- Chesapeake (Way’s Packet Directory 0999)
- Chris Greene
- Civil War, Loading Horses
- Cotton Blossom
- Defender
- Delta Queen Bell
- Dick Fowler
- Edward J. Gay
- Emma Graham
- Era No 10
- Evergreen
- Exporter, Jeanne Barrett and others
- Express
- Floating Chapel
- General Wood
- Golden Crown
- Great American Water Shows
- Howard Boatyard
- Island Queen
- J.C. Kerr
- Jim Wood
- Jo Horton Fall
- John K. Speed
- John L. Lowry
- John W. Cannon
- Kate Adams
- Katydid
- Lizzie Bay
- Lookout
- Majestic
- Mary Houston
- Megiddo Mission Ship
- Messenger No. 2
- Monongahela
- Nashville Levee
- Old Hickory
- Howard Boatyard
- Island Queen
- Pargoud
- Phil Sheridan
- R. Dunbar
- Raymon Horner
- Red River Dam
- Red River Scene
- Richard Roe
- Richmond
- S.L. Elam
- Saint John
- Sidney
- Silver Moon
- Southland
- Tarascon
- Tell City
- Tell City Pilothouse
- Tom Greene
- U.S. Corps of Engineers Lower Mississippi Riparian Work
- Washington
- Yocona
- Andes Cabin
- Avalon Cabin
- Cabin
- Fleetwood Cabin
- Grand Republic Cabin
- Greenland Cabin
- Homer Smith Cabin
- J.M. White Cabin
- Morning Star Cabin
- Telegraph Cabin
- Telegraph Cabin
Prints
- Currier & Ives, “The Champion of the Mississippi, Race for the Buckhorns” (Steamships Morning Star, Queen of the West)
- Currier & Ives, Great Race on the Mississippi (Steamships Robert E. Lee, Natchez)
- Currier & Ives, High Pressure Steamboat Mayflower
- Currier & Ives, “High Water” in the Mississippi (Steamship Stonewall Jackson)
- Currier & Ives, A Home on the Mississippi
- Currier & Ives, Midnight Race on the Mississippi (Steamships Memphis, James Howard)
- Currier & Ives, Moonlight on the Mississippi, Great Republic
- Currier & Ives, A Race on the Mississippi (Steamships Diana, Eagle)
- Currier & Ives, “Rounding a Bend” on the Mississippi, The Parting Salute
- Currier & Ives, “Wooding Up” on the Mississippi (Steamship Princess D.H. Pike)
