This Month in St. Louis History

Famous people of the arts born in November

Two famous people from the arts-one in photography and one in the movies-were born in St. Louis in Novembers past. The photographer was Walker Evans and the 19th century actor was King Baggot.

Although the names might be unfamiliar, their accomplishments were major.

Also, November was an important date in the history of college education with the beginnings of schools that became St. Louis University and Webster University.

Each month, the Missouri History Museum looks into history of past people and events that shaped our region. Young Saint Louis.com then brings you that information.

 

Photographer Walker Evans

Walker Evans was born on Nov. 3, 1903, at the family home at 4468 McPherson.

His early goals were to become a writer and painter. However, photography captured his artistic interest and he went on to become a nationally known photographer.

Walker's style was very stark and straight-forward. He deplored what he called the "artsicraftsiness" and "commercial" styles of some other photographers of his time.

His stark style produced just the type of picture best suited to show the dire straits of people during the Great Depression.

The best examples were in his book, "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men." That showed portraits of Southern tenant farmers during the Depression.

In 1938, his "American Photographs" show was the first solo exhibition by a photographer at the Museum of Modern Art.

In 1964, he joined the faculty at Yale University. He died in 1975.

Evans has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. It was set in May, 2000, at 6695 Delmar.

For more, visit www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/walker-evans.html

 

King Baggot, actor, screenwriter and director

King Baggot was born Nov. 7, 1879, in St. Louis. He went on to become one of the first stars of the "silent screen" era of American film.

In the early days of film, actors and actresses often worked anonymously, with no star billing like today. But, Baggot and his co-star, Florence Lawrence, became the first actors to get "star billing" on theater marquees.

They also got mention in the print advertising for their motion pictures.

Baggot was also versatile. In the 1914 film, "Shadows," he not only directed the film but also played the parts of 10 different characters. He also directed early cowboy star William S. Hart in his famous Western, "Tumbleweeds."

When talkies came in, his directing career ended and he became a character actor. In all, he appeared in nearly 300 motion pictures.

He died in 1948 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2002, a biography was published, "King Baggot: A Biography and Filmography of the First King of the Movies."

For more, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Baggot. For a biography of Florence Lawrence, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Lawrence.

 

Former Governor Frederick Bates

Frederick Bates was sworn in as Missouri's 2nd governor on Nov. 17, 1824. His home, Thornhill, is now open for tour at Faust Park in northwest St. Louis County.

Bates was best known for bringing legal and administrative control to the Louisiana Territory. This was the second step in the process that started with the exploration by Lewis and Clark.

Nowadays, the trip from Thornhill to St. Charles, then the Missouri capitol, takes only minutes. But, in Bates' day, it was a two-day journey.

The restored Thornhill mansion gives present-day visitors an excellent view of life in the 1800s. Besides the house, there is a summer kitchen, a barn, an ice and smoke house, an orchard and herb garden. There is even a family cemetery.

For more information, visit www.stlouisco.gov/parks/thornhill.html

 

St. Louis University's long history

St. Louis Academy was founded in November, 1818, by the Right Reverend Louis William Du Bourg, bishop of Louisiana. It's the oldest university west of the Mississippi.

The name was changed to St. Louis College in 1820. At this time, the school was in Florissant.

The Jesuits became active in the operation of the college in 1827 and a new campus in St. Louis opened in November, 1829. The school received a charter as a university in 1832 from the Missouri Legislature.

Currently, SLU consists of the college, the school of divinity, the school of philosophy, the school of advanced science, the department of seismology and meteorology, the school of medicine, the school of dentistry, the institute of law and the school of commerce and finance.

For more on SLU, visit www.slu.edu/sluhistory/timeline.html. Click on "start"

 

Founding of Webster University

On Nov. 1, 1915, the cornerstone was laid for the first building of what would be the first Catholic women's college west of the Mississippi. Loretto College was named after the founding Sisters of Loretto.

The first enrollment included five students and eight Sisters of Loretto faculty. At that time, higher education for women wasn't generally available.

It conferred its first degrees in 1919, with a graduating class of two.

In 1924, the school was renamed Webster College. During the 1930s, the school struggled as the country went through the Great Depression. There was some growth in the 1940s and 1950s.

But, the biggest changes started in the 1960s. The first male students were enrolled in 1962. And in 1966, the school began offering courses outside of St. Louis.

The school now offers programs at 68 sites in the U.S. This includes 22 metro campuses, 15 corporate sites and 31 military bases. Its first European campus started in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1978.

Total, the school has 20,000 students worldwide, including 7,250 on the campus in Webster Groves. For more, visit www.webster.edu/buzzwords/ourstory.html .