The Famous-Barr Photograph Collection documents a wide variety of events and promotions sponsored by Famous-Barr department store to engage with the local community and to bring shoppers into the store. The photographs in the collection come from the office of Helen Weiss, Famous-Barr vice president for public relations and special events. The collection may include photographs inherited from Weiss’ supervisor, Joan Van de Erve, or some 1990s records that belonged to Sherri Gwinnup, vice president of special events. Please also consult the Famous-Barr Company Public Relations Records (A3022).

Many of the photographs in the collections document events specifically designed to promote Famous-Barr stores and merchandise. Photographs showing store openings and re-openings depict extravagana events with special breakfasts, personal appearances, merchandise promotions, and the opportunity for the public to leave handprints in concrete. Some construction progress is also shown for select stores.

Photographs showing the annual Christmas extravaganza primarily date from the 1980s and show events such as Breakfast with Santa, as well as display windows and store decorations. Some earlier and later photographs showing events, display windows, and decorations are also included.

Merchandise promotions include events promoting fragrances, dinnerware, and jewelry, as well as an Esprit fashion shoot. Also included are a significant number of fashion shows sponsored by Elle, GQ, Voue, and Seventeen, with additional fashion shows featuring personal appearances from Liz Claiborne and Miss America 1988 Kaye Lani Rae Rafko.

The collection also contains wide-ranging personal appearances by national celebrities such as Sophia Loren, Kathie Lee Gifford, Robin Leach, and Eartha Kitt, as well as local stars such as Delcia Devon, Ozzie Smith, Bill Wilkerson, and Wendy Wiese. Some celebrities were promoting a product such as perfume or shoes, others were promoting personal projects such as books, and others were simply drawing shoppers into the store.

The collection documents Famous-Barr’s engagement in the local community through their sponsorship of a wide variety of civic events. The most prominent civic event documented in the collection is the annual Fourth of July celebration held on the Arch grounds, with photographs showing crowds, air shows, and fireworks at multiple Fourth of July celebrations. The first Fourth of July event took place in 1964, and Famous-Barr sponsored the event in cooperation with the St. Louis Bicennial Corporation. Other civic events include the annual Gateway Run; a record-breaking tap dance; and the Silver Fox Trot, held in conjunction with the National Senior Olympics.

Following a 1960s trend among large retailers, Famous-Barr held large foreign festivals to transport its customers around the world. The collection documents Scandia, a celebration of Scandinavian countries that included a Viking ship replica that sailed from Chicago to St. Louis and Hail to the British Commonwealth, featuring art, merchandise, and craftsmen from across the British empire. Photographs also show the Beautiful American festival, which celebrated American folklife with musicians, dancers, and craftsmen.

In addition, the collection includes photographs of employee events, such as Famous Friday, and individual employees, including fashion buyer Eula Fulton, Helen Weiss, and Joan Van de Erve. Employees are also shown at work in various departments.

Several research files are also included, containing photographs and promotional material showing Cophenhagen, Denmark; Disneyland; and the American Folklife Festival in Washington, D. C.