Francis, David Rowland Collection
David Rowland Francis came to St. Louis in 1866. He attended Washington University and became a successful businessman in St. Louis after commissioning his own company, the D.R. Francis and Brother Company. Francis served as mayor of St. Louis from 1885 to 1889 and governor of Missouri from 1889-1893. President Woodrow Wilson appointed Francis as the American Ambassador to Russia during WWI, where he served from 1916-1917. He was the last U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Empire serving during the Russian Revolution of 1917. This collection contains correspondence regarding America in the war and preparations for war in St. Louis.
