Dickmann, Bernard F. (1888-1971), Papers, 1895-1980 (C3403)
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C Dickmann, Bernard F. (1888-1971), Papers, 1895-1980 3403 2 cubic feet, 2 volumes, 20 reels of microfilm MICROFILM This collection is available at The State Historical Society of Missouri. If you would like more information, please contact us at [email protected]. INTRODUCTION Democratic mayor of St. Louis, 1933-1941, Dickman later served as St. Louis postmaster, 1943-1958, and city welfare director, 1959-1961. Papers include correspondence, diary, newspaper articles, books, reports, photographs, and miscellaneous items related to years as public servant. Scrapbooks containing newspaper coverage of mayoral terms are on microfilm. DONOR INFORMATION The papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Pat Dickmann on 4 April 1972 (Accession No. 3898). An addition was made on 30 December 1980 by the St. Louis Archival Library (Accession No. 4315) and another addition was made on 21 June 1984 by Pat Dickmann (Accession No. 4579). BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Bernard Francis “Barney” Dickmann was born in St. Louis on September 7, 1888. His father, Joseph Francis, emigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1875. Joseph served as sheriff of St. Louis and in 1905 organized the Joseph F. Dickmann Real Estate Company. Bernard attended parochial and public schools as well as business college in St. Louis. He was associated with his father’s company from 1907 until his election as mayor, becoming president upon his father’s death in 1923. The first Democratic mayor elected in St. Louis in twenty-four years, Dickmann served in this position from 1933 to 1941. To his administration goes credit for completion of the municipal auditorium, the Civil Court building, and electric street lights throughout the city. His administration was also responsible for passage of a standard milk ordinance and an anti-smoke ordinance. The Jefferson National Expansion memorial is also associated with his tenure, since the first steps toward its construction were taken then. He was also responsible for the 1941 civil service amendment to the city charter, placing municipal employees under civil service. During World War II Dickmann served as one of four inspectors general of civilian defense under Fiorello H. LaGuardia. He was a member of the 1943-1944 Missouri Constitutional Convention, resigning to become St. Louis postmaster in 1943. He held that position until his retirement in 1958. Following his retirement from the post office, he served as city welfare director, 1959-1961. Bernard Dickmann married Mrs. Pat Herrington of Mt. Olive, Mississippi, in 1949. He died December 9, 1971. C3403 Dickmann, Bernard F. (1888-1971), Papers, 1895-1980 Page 2 SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE The papers have been arranged into the following three series: Correspondence, Printed Material, and Scrapbooks. The correspondence series in this collection is relatively lean. The most complete run of correspondence pertains to the investigation of the St. Louis Post Office following the 1952 presidential election and subsequent change of political party in control of the executive branch. Dickmann’s diary is an almost day- by-day account of meetings with inspectors and post office personnel. The bulk of the collection is secondary source material. Much of this chronicles the history of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, with which Dickmann was involved from his mayoral terms until his death. The scrapbooks document his terms as mayor. The remainder of the printed material reflects Dickmann’s interest in and concern for St. Louis. FOLDER LIST Correspondence Series f. 1-16 General Correspondence, 1900-1980 - Correspondence concerning Dickmann’s mayoral terms and related projects, his duties as St. Louis postmaster, St. Louis politics, election of Raymond tucker as mayor, tribute dinners for Dickmann, and completion of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. f. 2 Plans to include St. Louis Courthouse in Historic American Buildings Survey f. 8-12 Dickmann tribute dinner correspondence. Dickmann’s projects and accomplishments as mayor f. 13 History of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial f. 14-15 Dedication of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and Bernard F. Dickmann Gateway Bridge f. 16 Lambert St. Louis Airport Commission meetings f. 17-24 Post Office Papers, 1951-1958 f. 17-23 Correspondence about Post Office inspections, particularly in St. Louis, following 1952 presidential election. Also material concerning employee vacancies, transfers and requests. f. 24 Diary kept by Dickmann concerning Post Office investigations, individual charges and cases, 11 January 1954-31 March 1955. Printed Material Series f. 25 Speeches, 1959-1968 - Speeches given by Dickmann concerning Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, March of Dimes Tribute Dinner, 1965, and anniversary of Lindbergh’s flight. Some eulogies. f. 26-34 Newspaper Clippings, 1918-1944 - Articles concerning St. Louis politics, real estate, Dickmann’s mayoral term, elections, and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. f. 28 Scrapbook of National Real Estate Convention, 1932. C3403 Dickmann, Bernard F. (1888-1971), Papers, 1895-1980 Page 3 f. 29 Dickmann’s mayoral term and anti-smoke campaign, 1934-1941. f. 30 See volume 1--scrapbook of clipping re Hempstead County, Arkansas, civilian defense activities, which was presented to Dickmann when he was inspector of civilian defense under Fiorello H. LaGuardia. f. 31-34 Articles on 1944 St. Louis Democratic primaries, Dickmann’s activities as St. Louis postmaster, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, and U.S. Postmaster General Hannegan. f. 35-44 Newspaper Clippings, 1945-1958 f. 35 Expansion of Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport, 1945. f. 36-37 Dickmann’s activities, political figures in Missouri, and proposals for new air terminal in St. Louis. Controversy over using Forest Park as airstrip, 1945. f. 41 Post Office scrapbook containing articles on National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. convention in St. Louis, and election of Dickmann as its president, 1950. f. 43-44 Features on Dickmann’s political career on occasion of his retirement, 1958. f. 45-54 Newspaper Clippings, 1959-1971 f. 45 Dickmann’s appointment as St. Louis welfare director, 1959, and groundbreaking ceremonies for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. f. 47-49 Election of A. J. Cervantes as mayor, and campaign to pass bond issues to complete Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 1965-1967. f. 51-52 Special features on Jefferson National Expansion Memorial dedication including Vice-President Hubert Humphrey’s speech dedicating Gateway Arch, 1968. f. 54 Spanish International Pavilion and Dickmann’s obituaries, 1969- 1971 f. 55-57 Printed Materials, 1940-1968 - Articles, speeches, and miscellaneous items f. 55 Articles concerning James A. Farley, 1940-1967, and third inaugural address of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1941 f. 56-57 Miscellaneous f. 58-62 Books and Pamphlets on St. Louis, 1913-1936 f. 58 Women Prominent in Early History of St. Louis, pamphlet on attitudes toward U.S. cities. f. 59 St. Louis River Front: Report of City Plan Commission (April 1913). f. 60 Charter of City of St. Louis, Missouri, 1914. f. 61 Historical Background of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Plaza by McCune Gill (1935). f. 62 City Problems of 1936: The Annual Proceedings of the United States Conference of Mayors. f. 63-71 Books and Pamphlets on St. Louis, 1944-1949 C3403 Dickmann, Bernard F. (1888-1971), Papers, 1895-1980 Page 4 f. 63 Unveiling Ceremonies, Memorial Tablet, City Hall, September 28, 1944. f. 64 Architectural Competition for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Program (1947). Details of competition and purpose of Memorial. f. 65-69 Study of Proposed St. Louis International Exposition and Sesquicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase, 1953-1954 (1947). f. 70 The Old Cathedral (1949). St. Louis Cathedral’s history and background of River Front area. f. 71 Airport Plan for the St. Louis Region (1949). f. 72-78 Books and Pamphlets on St. Louis, 1956-1970 f. 72 St. Louis City Plan Commission Land Use Plan (1956). Urban planning for industrial, commercial, and residential areas of St. Louis. f. 73 St. Louis: A Fond Look Back (1956). History of St. Louis directed by Charles Van Ravenswaay of Missouri Historical Society. f. 74 St. Louis Commerce (l958). Article on Dickmann. f. 77 St. Louis: The First 200 Years (1964). Updating of St. Louis: A Fond Look Back (l956). f. 78 Lambert-St. Louis Airport 1969-1970 Annual Report. f. 79-87 Reports and Pamphlets of St. Louis, 1934-1940 f. 79 Materials concerning Dickmann’s mayoral term, especially reclamation of river front and proposed Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Comprehensive Program for Reclamation of St. Louis River Front (1934). Photographs, sketches, reports. Detailed account of St. Louis development from settlement to 1930s. Emphasis on impact of Mississippi River, railroads, population, and social conditions on city’s growth. Preliminary sketches and concepts for River Front Memorial Mall which became Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Included is reprint of Exhibit of St. Louis Elevated and Rapid Transit Railroad Company (1853). f. 80 Materials concerning Dickmann’s mayoral term, especially reclamation of river front and proposed Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. f. 81 U.S. Territorial Expansion Memorial Commission (1935). Detailed outline for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial including joint resolution of Congress and Missouri House bill sponsoring the project and establishing the commission. Reports include project’s historical importance,