St. Louis has had an abundance of hospitals. Most St. Louis hospitals started in the city. Although some of the hospitals still exist, almost all have migrated to the suburbs. Some have their original names, whereas others have been purchased by healthcare corporations, leading to subsequent name changes. For a list of St. Louis hospitals, click here.
Numerous epidemics and illnesses have plagued St. Louis. The cholera epidemic of 1849 killed at least 5000 citizens. The flu epidemic of 1918 was deadly. In the early 1900s, approximately 10,000 cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed, with about 7,000 deaths.
Hospital records are private documents in the twenty-first century. However, in the early years, some hospital records were saved and microfilmed. Some St. Louis City Hospital registers dating from 1846 to 1900 are available at the Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center and at the Family History Library.
Dahl, June Williams. A History of Kirkwood, Missouri, 1851–1965. Kirkwood, Missouri: Kirkwood Historical Society, 1965.
Gee, David A. 216 S.K.: A History of the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. Chesterfield, Missouri: David Gee, 1981.
Hunt, Marion. A Goodly Heritage: St. Louis Children’s Hospital Centennial History, 1879–1979. St. Louis: St. Louis Children’s Hospital, 1981.
Saint Louis Medical Society: Centennial Volume. St. Louis: St. Louis Medical Society, 1939.
Last modified: 30-Jun-2016 18:37