{"id":4290,"date":"2026-08-16T20:36:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T20:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/?p=4290"},"modified":"2026-08-19T19:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T19:27:15","slug":"department-stores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/department-stores\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Louis diary: When department stores sold books and wallpaper, bicycles and candied lilacs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The most fun I&#8217;ve had in a long time was at the Missouri Historical Society looking through the archives of long-gone grand department stores which is redundant since they were all grand. These are newspaper inserts from the 1960s advertising annual promotions based on foreign countries accompanied by cultural programs with hundreds of events. In person it&#8217;s breathaking how much larger the papers were then and how intense the ink colors were. I have a feeling the inks and\/or technology for printing this vivid don&#8217;t exist any more or would be so expensive it amounts to the same thing except in fine art printmaking,\u00a0 and yes I spend a lot of my time examining printing inks because someone has to.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Under Three Flags&#8221; celebrated St. Louis&#8217; bicentennial and the day of its founding when the city &#8220;flew in succession the banners of Spain, France and the United States&#8221;. Merchandise included tripe, escargot, and candied lilacs. Candied lilacs barely exist in France itself any more (I&#8217;ve looked).<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-4290 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-06-42-L-w.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"113\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-06-42-L-w-113x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-06-42-L-w-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-06-42-L-w-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-06-42-L-w.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-12-L-w.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-12-L-w-150x112.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-12-L-w-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-12-L-w-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-12-L-w-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-12-L-w-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-12-L-w.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-36-L-w.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-36-L-w-150x112.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-36-L-w-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-36-L-w-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-36-L-w-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-36-L-w-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-07-36-L-w.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-w.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"113\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-w-113x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-w-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-w-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-w.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-clw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"116\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-clw-150x116.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-clw-150x116.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-clw-500x388.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-clw-1024x795.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-clw-768x596.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-19-L-clw.jpg 1045w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-05-Lcw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"108\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-05-Lcw-150x108.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-05-Lcw-150x108.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-05-Lcw-500x359.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-05-Lcw-1024x735.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-05-Lcw-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-08-05-Lcw.jpg 1115w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-more-tag mce-wp-more\" data-wp-more=\"more\" data-wp-more-text=\"\" data-mce-placeholder=\"1\"><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>In other years they featured Scandinavia, and the origin countries of St. Louis&#8217; largest immigrant groups of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Ireland, Germany and Italy.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-4290 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-44-Lcw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"104\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-44-Lcw-104x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-44-Lcw-104x150.jpg 104w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-44-Lcw-500x723.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-44-Lcw.jpg 553w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-22-05-Lcw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"108\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-22-05-Lcw-150x108.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-22-05-Lcw-150x108.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-22-05-Lcw-500x359.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-22-05-Lcw-1024x736.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-22-05-Lcw-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-22-05-Lcw.jpg 1113w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-25-38-Lcw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-25-38-Lcw-150x112.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-4297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-25-38-Lcw-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-25-38-Lcw-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-25-38-Lcw-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-25-38-Lcw-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-25-38-Lcw.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-4297'>\n\t\t\t\tEvents calendar\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-18-02-Lw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"108\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-18-02-Lw-150x108.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-18-02-Lw-150x108.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-18-02-Lw-500x359.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-18-02-Lw-1024x735.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-18-02-Lw-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-18-02-Lw.jpg 1114w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>The Italy promotion included a 1962 Silver Ray from the race car maker Nardi, of which only one was ever made and which went on to be one of the most mysterious and myth-laden cars of all time.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-4290 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-00-Lcw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-00-Lcw-150x112.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-00-Lcw-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-00-Lcw-500x373.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-00-Lcw-1024x763.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-00-Lcw-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-21-00-Lcw.jpg 1073w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-19-49-L-rot-w.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"113\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-19-49-L-rot-w-113x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-4301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-19-49-L-rot-w-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-19-49-L-rot-w-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-19-49-L-rot-w.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-4301'>\n\t\t\t\tThe Nardi Silver Ray in St. Louis\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-04.webp'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"81\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-04-150x81.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-4304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-04-150x81.webp 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-04-500x270.webp 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-04-768x415.webp 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-04.webp 800w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-4304'>\n\t\t\t\t&#8230; and at some unknown date and location\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-01.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"85\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-01-150x85.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-4309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-01-150x85.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-01-500x284.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-01-768x436.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-Nardi-Silver-Ray-01.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-4309'>\n\t\t\t\t&#8230; with Nardi and Michelotti, unknown date and location\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>It would be more than fifty years before auto history enthusiasts managed to confirm rumors that it was reconfigured from a much older car that was famous in auto racing history. Enrico Nardi built it using the chassis of a legendary Alfa Romeo racecar he&#8217;d built in 1939, a new engine from the American company Plymouth, and a new body by Giovanni Michellotti, a renowned designer who, bonus trivia, also gave us many charming and decidedly non-legendary models such as Japan&#8217;s Hino Contessa 1300.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/HinoContessa1300-wjpg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4379\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/HinoContessa1300-wjpg-500x349.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/HinoContessa1300-wjpg-500x349.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/HinoContessa1300-wjpg-1024x714.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/HinoContessa1300-wjpg-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/HinoContessa1300-wjpg-768x536.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/HinoContessa1300-wjpg.jpg 1147w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Directory, from Art Needlework and Barber Shop to Venetian Blinds and Yarn (1960s); disco special events poster (1970s). St. Louis natives will note this is from the store Stix, Baer and Fuller while the other items are from Famous-Barr.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-4290 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-04-Lcw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"110\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-04-Lcw-110x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-04-Lcw-110x150.jpg 110w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-04-Lcw-500x681.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-04-Lcw.jpg 587w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-47-Lcw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"109\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-47-Lcw-150x109.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-47-Lcw-150x109.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-47-Lcw-500x364.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-47-Lcw-1024x745.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-47-Lcw-768x559.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-33-47-Lcw.jpg 1099w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-17-Lcw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"121\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-17-Lcw-150x121.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-17-Lcw-150x121.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-17-Lcw-500x402.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-17-Lcw-768x618.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-17-Lcw.jpg 994w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-36-Lw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-36-Lw-150x112.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-36-Lw-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-36-Lw-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-36-Lw-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-36-Lw-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-16-34-36-Lw.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a title=\"\"  href='https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-15-58-20-Lw.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"113\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-15-58-20-Lw-113x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-15-58-20-Lw-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-15-58-20-Lw-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-content\/uploads\/St-Louis-2026\/MHS-library-2026-07-02-15-58-20-Lw.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>I also want you to know that I had the documents in front of me at a table twenty minutes after arriving at the library without an appointment. That included registering, consulting with a librarian, searching the catalog, making the request and staff retrieving them from storage and bringing them to me. Contrast that with how it&#8217;d be here in Germany, or France, as anyone who&#8217;s ever used a library in these places will tell you: There&#8217;d be a year of applications both on paper and online, phone calls, possibly faxes, letters of recommendation and interviews and finally they&#8217;d say you&#8217;re not allowed to see the items. I don&#8217;t know why they even bother having libraries, it&#8217;s just librarians sitting around all day making sure no one ever sees or uses anything they have.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The most fun I&#8217;ve had in a long time was at the Missouri Historical Society looking through the archives of long-gone grand department stores which is redundant since they were all grand. These are newspaper inserts from the 1960s advertising annual promotions based on foreign countries accompanied by cultural programs with hundreds of events. In &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/department-stores\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;St. Louis diary: When department stores sold books and wallpaper, bicycles and candied lilacs&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-art","category-museums","category-st-louis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4290"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4349,"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4290\/revisions\/4349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richardkarty.org\/view\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}