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New exhibit examines the robust history of daily newspapers in St. Louis

An exhibit on the history of newspapers is now on display at the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
(Courtesy: St. Louis Mercantile Library)
An exhibit on the history of newspapers is now on display at the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

During the mid-1800s, St. Louis had between 20-25 daily newspapers operating concurrently.

On Wednesday’s St. Louis on the Air, host Don Marsh talked about a new exhibit at the St. Louis Mercantile Library, "Headlines of History: Historic Newspapers of St. Louis and the World Through the Centuries,” with the library’s director, John Hoover.

John Hoover, director of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, joined host Don Marsh.
Credit Alex Heuer | St. Louis Public Radio
John Hoover, director of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, joined host Don Marsh.

“It’s in 11 parts,” Hoover said. “We start in colonial times and even earlier times when newspapers didn’t look like newspapers at all.”

The last time the St. Louis Mercantile Library, which is located at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, had such a large exhibition of historic newspapers was in 1907.

There are 750 items currently on display. The exhibit features many local papers and some from around the world.

“We’re very adamant of showing newspapers as an artifact,” Hoover said.

Esteemed publisher Joseph Pulitzer founded the St. Louis Post and Dispatch in 1878. Within a few years he renamed it the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Hoover noted that the glory days of newspapers in St. Louis were marked by the intense rivalry between the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, which shuttered in 1986.

The Post-Dispatch remains as St. Louis’ only daily newspaper.

 St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh talked with John Hoover, director of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, about a new exhibit that examines the history of newspapers.

Related Event

What: Headlines of History: Historic Newspapers of St. Louis and the World Through the Centuries

When: October 8, 2017 – September 3, 2019

Where: St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis

St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Alex Heuer joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2012 and is the executive producer of St. Louis on the Air. Alex grew up in the St. Louis area. He began his public radio career as a student reporter at Tri States Public Radio in Macomb, Illinois and worked for a few years at Iowa Public Radio. Alex graduated summa cum laude from Western Illinois University with a degree in history and earned a teaching certificate in 6 - 12th grade social studies. In 2016, he earned a Master of Public Policy Administration with a focus in nonprofit organization management and leadership from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He has won local and national awards for reporting and producing and his stories have been featured nationally on Morning Edition and All Things Considered.