P28 Judge Elmo M. Hargrave Photograph Collection Finding Aid

The Hargrave collection of 173 black and white 8 x10 in. photographs depict scenes primarily in and around downtown Kansas City, Missouri. They were originally created to document accident sites for later use as evidence in lawsuits people had filed against the city. Hargrave recognized the intrinsic historical value of these images and received permission to save them from destruction. After his death, his close friend Joe Zenitsky contacted the Library to make arrangements for providing these photos to Library customers and to users of the World Wide Web. The bulk of the photographs date from the 1920s. Because of their original intent, they provide a unique perspective on the traditional views of streetscapes, businesses, residences, parks, and other locales.Elmo M. Hargrave was born in Kansas City in 1918. After attending Manual High School, he enlisted in the United States Army. During World War II he suffered severe injuries to his chest and throat, damaging his vocal cords. After teaching himself to speak again, he began to study the field of law to practice speaking. He had a long career as a public servant, eventually rising to the position of Municipal Judge. Judge Hargrave retired in 1983 and died 14 years later.