Steedman materials on view from December through May

Although available to architects and researchers for study on an individual basis, the collection is not often displayed to the public.  From December, 2014 through May, 2015, however, Central Library’s Great Hall will host an exhibit of some of its most important and beautiful items. Don’t miss this chance to view these remarkable materials. Stay tuned for more information and photos of the exhibit.

The Steedman Architectural Library at St. Louis Public Library

The Steedman Architectural Library of the St. Louis Public Library was a gift from George Fox Steedman (1871-1940). Mr. Steedman (pronounced "stedman") was president of the Curtis Manufacturing Company, a St. Louis firm that manufactured industrial machinery, but he had a great love of architecture. In the early years of the twentieth century, he traveled in Europe purchasing many of the most influential and beautiful architectural books ever published, with St. Louis architect Louis LaBeaume as his adviser.

In 1928, he donated to the Saint Louis Public Library Art Department the valuable library of important architectural books that he had assembled, along with funds to build a special room to house the collection, and an endowment for future purchases. The room, designed by leading local architectural firm Mauran, Russell, and Crowell to evoke a 16th century English gentleman's library, opened in 1930.

Steedman's express purpose for this generous gift was “to develop better architectural work in St. Louis” by providing access to “books of an inspirational character to students and practitioners of architecture” and its allied arts.

He also asked the Library to involve the St. Louis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in the selection of books for the collection. To this end, the Chapter appoints Advisers, formerly called Trustees, to advise and support the librarian.

The original library of about 600 volumes was extremely rich, as it included such titles as the 23-volume folio set of the works of Piranesi; 16th century editions of Vitruvius, Palladio, and Alberti; works by Pugin, Viollet-le-Duc, Robert Adam; and much more. Over the years it has been greatly enhanced by judicious and enlightened acquisitions and donations, and now comprises over 1500 volumes. Its strengths are in Classical, Western European, and Early American architecture, and it now includes influential 20th century works, including early Frank Lloyd Wright publications, tracts by Louis Sullivan and Le Corbusier, and Burnham's Plan of Chicago.  Recent acquisitions include books by and about contemporary architects such as Tadao Ando and Zaha Hadid.

A catalog of the collection was published by the Library in 1973, and a supplement was produced in 1983.  In 2005, an extensive online exhibit about the collection was introduced on the St. Louis Public Library's website: 
http://exhibits.slpl.org/steedman/index.asp
This beautifully photographed exhibit showcases some of the most important and beautiful volumes in the collection.