Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Administrative History Project Records, ca. 1931-1984Finding Aid by Jennifer L. Rawlings
August 2003 INTRODUCTION TO THE COLLECTIONSharon Brown created this field collection while writing the Administrative History of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial hired Brown, an interpretive ranger with an M.A. in history, on a one year term appointment as historian in order to write this history. The history was published as: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Administrative History, 1935-1980 in 1984. Since the publication of Brown’s book, later park historian Bob Moore has added a second volume entitled Urban Innovation and Practical Partnerships: An Administrative History of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 1980-1991.Sharon Brown’s Administrative History explored the creation of the memorial and the construction of the Arch. First, Brown examines first the idea of a memorial along the St. Louis riverfront and the formation of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association headed by Luther Ely Smith. Then she investigated the opposition, legal action, and all areas of park planning that the supporters of the project contended with during the late 1930s. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial faced more problems as the United States was drawn into the second World War and the war effort took precedence over construction of a memorial. Eventually, the United States emerged from the war and emphasis returned to the memorial as planners prepared for a national architectural competition. Brown delved into the problems planners endured in moving the elevated railroad tracks and beginning construction of Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch. She documented the Gateway Arch’s construction between 1963 and 1965. Finally, Brown summarized developments within Jefferson National Expansion Memorial from the Gateway Arch’s dedication until 1980. The work focuses on political and financial issues rather than detailed information on the administration or personnel at the park. Most of the collection consists of notes, drafts or galleys produced by Sharon Brown in the creation of her administrative history. The collection also contains her records from an article she wrote for Network News Exchange about history resources in the National Park Service. While writing this article she corresponded with other park service personnel about this issue and this correspondence is included in the collection. The collection also contains a list Brown made of possible items to be used in an exhibit about Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. When Sharon Brown wrote this history, several archival collections she used were not yet processed. Because items sometimes shift location during processing, some of her many citations “JNEM Archives” do not give much information about the current location of the items. If you need to see any of this original material, please consult with the park archivist. Information obtained from this collection must be properly cited, whether used in publication or in other formats. A citation suggested for this collection is: National Park Service Gateway Arch National Park Archives
Administrative History Collection Box___, Folder___ Researchers are advised that before records, photographs, and any other unpublished materials from this collection can be published or exhibited, permission from the National Park Service must be obtained in writing. |
Last updated: June 23, 2025