“Frederick Dunn: St. Louis Modernist” – A Night at Lewis & Clark Branch Library

Date: Wednesday, October 23rd 
Time: 7:30pm-9pm 
Cost: FREE 
Location: Lewis & Clark Branch Library Auditorium, 9909 Lewis-Clark Blvd

Join Modern STL and St. Louis County Preservation Historian Esley Hamilton for his lecture “Frederick Dunn: St. Louis Modernist” at Dunn’s historic (and threatened) Lewis & Clark Branch Library. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Dunn was one of St. Louis’ earliest advocates for Modern design. His works, including St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Nagel & Dunn, 1939) and the National Council of State Garden Clubs Headquarters (Dunn & Stinson, 1959), are among the best in the region. Lewis & Clark Branch Library is no different; completed in 1963, it features incredible stained glass windows by artist Robert Harmon of Emil Frei & Associates and is by far the most architecturally significant building in the St. Louis County Library system. It is also, coincidentally, slated for demolition under SLCL’s 2012 Facilities Master Plan.

If you've never been to Lewis and Clark, arrive early for a (quiet) stroll through the reading room before heading downstairs to the auditorium at 7:30pm. At the conclusion of Mr. Hamilton’s talk he and Modern STL board members will lead a brief discussion on the building's future and what you can do to prevent its demolition.

For more on the library's important place in St. Louis' MCM heritage, check out Modern Stl’s  article on the Lewis and Clark Branch in Docomomo US' September newsletter!