SCOPE: This collection consists of photographs taken by Robert Graul on a trip aboard the excursion steamboat Delta Queen from July 1972 trip from St. Louis to Peoria. Annotated photograph album documenting photographer Frank Fiske’s two-week steamboat journey on the Missouri River in 1918.
EXTENT: One scrapbook, 100 photographs
HISTORY: Frank Fiske was a prominent early 20th century photographer who grew up at Fort Yates, near the Standing Rock Reservation. Fiske learned photography at a young age, mentoring under the Fort Yates post photographer Stephen T. Fansler. Fiske took over Fansler’s studio when he was seventeen and spent the next two decades photographing the community of Standing Rock. Fiske was best known for his photographs depicting everyday Lakota life and the changing frontier, but he was also a writer and served as a newspaper editor and assistant steamboat captain.
This album documents Fiske’s journey aboard the steamer Scarab of the Benton Packet Company. The boat departed Fort Yates, North Dakota on June 16, 1918 and arrived in St. Louis on July 2. The album contains 100 silver gelatin photographs that capture largely undocumented aspects of life along one of America's great western rivers. Each image provides viewers the intimate feeling of standing on the deck of the Scarab, alongside Fiske, as he makes his journey. The album includes views of the Scarab and the passing boats, Missouri River scenes and images of the surrounding landscape, military outposts, infrastructure projects, railroads, river towns, historic sites, and more. Fiske gave this album to Captain Isaac P. Baker, owner of the Benton Packet Company of Bismarck, North Dakota.
ACCESS: This is collection P-56. 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.
This collection is also available for online viewing on the UMSL Digital Library as the P-056 Robert Graul Delta Queen Photographs Collection.
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.”
PHOTOGRAPH INVENTORY
1. “The Delta Queen approaches Lock 26 at Alton, down bound on her last trip before being taken out of overnight passenger service. The Queen made a stately and forlorn appearance as she eased into the locks, heightened by the melancholy mood of a still early morning haze.”
2. “Paddlewheel nearly stopped, the Queen eases into the auxiliary chamber at Alton, her early-rising passengers gathering on the forward promenade deck to observe the activity and admire the skill of her master as she glides silently into the chamber.”
3. “The master rings for “All Stop” as the Queen is secured against the lock wall and the upper gates swing shut. With the river at a low stage, the Queen was dropped about fifteen feet this morning. The city of Alton was just beginning to waken and no spectators were on hand to watch the Queen during her final lockage at Alton.”
4. “Alone of the foredeck, a hand coils lines under the watchful eye of the mate and passengers. The landing stage has been secured since its last use at some small river town where passengers boarded.”
5. “WATCHING the lock walls rise beside them, the Delta Queen’s passengers are all well aware that they are experiencing the final act in a chapter of American history. How sad to think that future generation may well be deprived of this unique mode of travel and escape from our society’s breakneck pace.”
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8. “Rivermen know that steamboats have souls, but everyone knows they have a voice. The Queen whistles once heard will never likely be forgotten.”
9. “Some say the paddlewheel is the most efficient means of marine propulsion ever devised; no one will argue that it is the most picturesque. No words can describe the symphony of motion as the pitman travels back and forth; the crank and eccentrics turn, and as she gathers speed, the spray irrigates the mint patch.”
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13. And now she’s gone, as a lock tender watches almost with reverence. Next stop, St. Louis. Then Memphis, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, . . .”
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16. “Passing towboat traffic leaving Lock 26, the Delta Queen is saluted and returns greetings of the morning. As she had appeared out of the mist just under an hour earlier, she disappeared into it going east. And now she is gone, forever. Why must it be so?”
17. “Hear that Calliope”
18. “Watchman Dave Tcigfree”
19. “Plays a few notes”
20. “Prepare to cast off lines”
21. “Big Red Wheel Churns”
22. “Close fit under bridge”
23. “A backward glance at St. Louis”
24. “Fire drill once a week”
25. “Making sure of lifeboat”
32. “Looks longer than life”
33. “Idle time during shore trip”
34. “Above Hardin Bridge”
35. “Landing at Havana, Illinois”
26. “Polish up the rail”
27. “Capt. Wagner oversees mooring”
28. “Deckhands haul away”
29. “Captain VW goes ashore”
30. “Finally secure at Kamponville”
36. “Lightning – No storm”
37. “Captain Ernie with the bones”
38. “Pilot Harry Loudon”
39. “Captain Dennis Trone of the Julia Belle Swain”
40. “Queen starts race – Julia’s engines failed to start”
41. “Queen returns to starting line”
42. Fr. Marquette Monument. Utica, Ill.”
43. “Moored at Starved Rock”
44. Picnic at Starved Rock”
45. “Flying kites off stern”
46. “Refuel at Starved Rock – 15,000 gal. Bunker ‘C’” 47 “Visitors come aboard”
48. “Gang plank entertainment”
49. “Group picture of crew”
50. “Queen is awarded Golden Antlers”
51. “Capt. Wagner consoles Capt. Trone”
52. “Debarkation at Peoria”
53. “Departure for homes”
54. “No hard feelings”
55. “Last Look”
