The Louisiana Purchase Exposition collection contains 16 items, most of which are related to the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, including 14 photographs, 1 letterpress halftone, and an illustrated book cover.
The collection includes the following items, all individually matted in 51 x 40.5 cm boards:
- The front cover of an illustrated handbook (22 x 15 cm) about the fair by Dr. Charles M. Kurtz titled Saint Louis World's Fair, Commemorating the Acquisition of the Louisiana Territory
- A platinum print portrait (mount 35 x 28 cm) of Dr. Kurtz by Hollinger & Co. of New York, likely produced around the time of the exposition
- A letterpress halftone portrait (mount 28.5 x 21 cm) of Dr. Kurtz including an autograph from a later period
- A gelatin silver photograph (19 x 15 cm) by Carl Peter Ording of the sculpture titled North Dakota by Bruno Zimm depicting a semi-nude woman in classical garb
- Twelve gelatin silver photographs (23.5 x 18 cm) of exhibit halls showing framed paintings hanging on draped walls; these are likely views of the exhibition of American and international artists curated by Dr. Kurtz
The centennial celebration of the Louisiana Purchase took the form of a world's fair in St. Louis, Missouri, from April-December 1904. Forty-three states and over 60 countries participated in the event, which drew more than 19 million visitors. Dr. Charles M. Kurtz, a prominent art critic, dealer, and promoter of the arts, served as assistant director of the Art Department under the direction of Halsey Ives. Dr. Kurtz mounted an extensive exhibit of American and international artwork and authored an illustrated handbook titled "Saint Louis World's Fair," and later went on to become the first director of the Albright-Knox Museum in Buffalo, New York.
