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John Lang Scrapbook

 Collection
Identifier: A3221

Scope and Contents

The scrapbook contains mostly newspaper clippings in English and German relating to the 28th Ohio Infantry and to the St. Louis Police Department. The front cover of the scrapbook is embossed, “J. Lang & Co. / Hotel Garni & Restaurant / No. 8 N. Fifth St. St. Louis,” and the first few pages are a guest register. The pages appear in numerical order, and blank pages have been removed from the disbound volume. The scrapbook spans from 1866 to 1892 with a large gap between 1867 and 1880. Many of the Civil War clippings concern the 28th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and there is one about the Battle of Droop Mountain (p.58). There are also several clippings about Civil War generals including John S. Marmaduke (p.17), August Moor, William V. Averell, and the death of George T. Sherman. Additional Civil War items include a leaflet of a Camp Fire Drill for Col. Hassendeubel Post No. 13 of the Department of Missouri, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR); GAR song lyrics; and an 1888 reprint of the ordinance abolishing slavery in Missouri from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Several of the police department clippings allege misconduct within the department such as blackmail and police relief association fraud (1889). Related clippings report alleged transgressions of other city officials such as James Butler, city attorney (p.33). Some clippings relate to specific cases: Mrs. Charles Clarke’s postal privacy and her husband’s allegations of “safe blowing” and Julia Utz who was handcuffed to a man when taken into police custody. There are also notices of prices for entirely new summer and winter uniforms for the police department in 1889. Other St. Louis-related clippings include coverage of Henry Shaw’s funeral in 1889 (p.30), a story about famous men who lived at Jefferson Barracks (p.37), and a story celebrating the 127th anniversary of the City of St. Louis (p.51).

Dates

  • 1866-1892

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical Sketch

John Lang was born in Wissembourg, Alsace, France, near the German border, about 1839. In June 1854, he followed his father to the U.S. and discovered upon arrival that his father had died. Lang lived in Cincinnati and enlisted in the 28th Ohio Infantry with the rank of corporal on June 11, 1861. Lang was discharged with the rank of adjutant on July 23, 1864. From 1865 to 1868, John Lang and Henry F. Arnold operated John Lang & Co. at 7 and 8 North Fifth Street in St. Louis. They began as wine dealers in 1865, and St. Louis city directories listed Arnold as the operator of a saloon at the address. In 1867 and 1868, John Lang & Co. owned the Hotel Garni which was listed as both 7 and 8 N. Fifth Street. John Lang also resided at the North Fifth Street address. Apparently, Lang and Arnold dissolved their partnership because Lang joined the St. Louis Police Department in February 1868 and resided at 1713 Columbus. In 1869, there were two Hotel Garnis listed in the St. Louis City Directory at different addresses and with different proprietors. John Lang joined both the Missouri Department of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masons. He served as a sergeant with the St. Louis Police Department for 40 years. Lang was fluent in French, German, and English and used his language skills in his job. He had three children: Fred A. Lang, Mrs. Charles E. Krummenacher, and Mrs. Fred Dunkel. On July 11, 1908, Lang collapsed at police headquarters and died the following morning at his daughter’s residence.

Extent

0.07 Cubic Feet ( (1 oversize box))

Language of Materials

English

German

Arrangement

The pages are in numerical order.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The volume was donated in 2020 (accession number 2022-036).

Sources Consulted During Processing

1. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Lang obituary (July 11, 1908).

2. St. Louis Globe-Democrat Lang obituary (July 12, 1908).

Processing Information

Processed with funding from The Stuart Foundation, Inc. by Kristina Perez, 2022.

Creator

Title
John Lang Scrapbook
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Kristina Perez using ArchivesSpace
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510