Originally posted by Peter R Thanks very much monochrome. I'm particularly interested in ascertaining the earliest known studio portrait by him. Just read that Baron Matsudaira was residing at 320 Newstead Avenue, I imagine for the duration of the exhibition. Never having had the pleasure of visiting St. Louis, I've no idea what that area of the city was like then/is like now - I imagine affluent (at least then). I'm also intrigued whether Matsudaira did any on-location photography in patron's houses, or, as I imagine, they came to his studios. Cheers.
I can share as much period St. Louis history as you care to know - probably better off-line.
St. Louis was quite wealthy at the turn of the 20th century as a result of westward expansion. In 1900 St. Louis was the most populous city in the country west of Philadelphia. I think it likely patrons visited Kajiwara’s studio, for the most part. 810 Olive was a prestigious office building at the time (corporate headquarters, attorneys, society jewelers and high class services such as society photographers rented space there) and is presently undergoing restoration to its former glory.
320 S. Newstead at the time was a series of professional row houses that were quite nice architecturally but not particularly evident of true wealth. Affluent is an apt label. It is likely he rented a room or rooms from some family during his stay. That is known to have been quite common. The Exposition itself was a short streetcar or carriage ride west-perhaps a mile west. Just a few blocks north the residences were much larger, detached, and reflected true wealth. Most of these mansions survived and remain today - 3-5 acre plots with 20-room homes on them (and large homes on smaller plots, in gated communities with restrictive covenenants, even then). Lindell Blvd was an economic boundary then and is now. A bit west it served as the northern boundary of the Exposition Grounds.
The entire area south of the wealthiest part, south of Lindell, which is two blocks north of 320 Newstead - hundreds of square blocks of row houses including Newstead - was gradually demolished and converted to light industry after WWI, accelerating post-WWII and then fell into terrible decline in the 70’s-80’s as those businesses moved to modern industrial parks.
Today the entire corridor including 800 S Newstead is undergoing massive reinvestment as a biotechnology / bioengineering / IT vibrant business area (not a park, but a community of businesses) and remaining loft warehouses converted into businesses and homes.