Photo exhibit captures decades of Cape history

A visual record of life in Cape Girardeau from 1925 through 1995 can now be seen at Southeast Missouri State University's Kent Library.

The university unveiled photographs from the Herbert L. and Paul Lueders Photographic Collection on Sunday. More than 30 images were on display, and 30 more were presented in a slide show.

Portraits of prominent residents, such as Fred Naeter, and major events, like the 1950s flood, were captured by the photographers.

The original Lueders Studio at 427 Broadway was established by Herbert L. Lueders in 1925. Upon his retirement in 1957, his son, Paul, assumed control of the business.

For 70 years, the photographers captured images of local landmarks, personalities and events that took place throughout the area.

After Paul died in 1995, his brother, John, who ran the business operations of the studio, donated the Lueders photograph collection to the university in 1997.

Four generations of Lueders family members from seven states were at the exhibit.

"Through these photographs, the memories can last forever," said John L. Lueders, who spoke at the event.

Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the Center for Regional History, said the photo exhibit covers three-quarters of a century of history in Cape Girardeau.

"I don't know of another community in the country that has something like this," he said. "The current value of this collection is enormous, but the historical value is priceless."

While Paul Lueders was a photographer, Nickell said he wanted to be remembered as an artist.

"When Paul was asked what he wanted people to remember about him, he said, 'I did my best, that's all. I will let my work speak for itself, it is permanent," Nickell said.

The exhibit was partially funded by a preservations grant from the Missouri Historical Records Advisory Board, which awarded a $19,880 grant to the Special Collections and Archives unit in 2004 to rehouse the collection in archival containers and prepare the exhibit.

The Lueders Photographic Collection will be on display in Kent Library until Dec. 16, when it will become available as a traveling exhibit.

"We are very fortunate to have this exhibit open up here," said librarian Lisa Speer. "We appreciate that the Lueders family donated this to the university."

jfreeze@semissourian.com