Henry Lee Jost (1873-1950) Papers (KC0270)

Henry Lee Jost was born in New York City on December 6, 1873, to Simeon and Lena (Bahr) Jost. Little is known about his early life.  He was orphaned at age 6, when his father, ill and widowed, left him at the Five Points House of Industry, a mission house, on Manhattan's lower east side.  Jost was later sent to Nodaway County, Missouri, with 25 other "foundlings," and taken in by Judge Dale. As a teenager, Jost worked on a farm near Maryville, Missouri.

At 22, Jost went to Hopkins, Missouri, to study law. He was admitted to the Kansas City School of Law as a senior, and graduated in 1898. Jost was admitted to the Missouri bar in 1898. His first partnership was with Frank Hagerman. In 1908, Jost was appointed assistant city counselor, and later assistant prosecuting attorney. Jost married Minnie Alice Hanks of Oak Grove, Missouri, on August 9, 1911. They had two children, Mary and Henry Lee, Jr.

From 1912 to 1916, Jost served two terms as the Democratic mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. He was affectionately known as "Our Little Henry" by his political friends.  Jost's first inauguration occurred during a blizzard; 25 inches of snow fell in Kansas City in one day. During Jost's first administration, the 16th Amendment (imposing an income tax on the American people) was passed, and the Metropolitan Railway Franchise debate began in earnest in Kansas City. During his second term, Kansas City was made the 10th Reserve Bank District, a $4,250,000 bond issue for public works was passed, and Union Station was dedicated (Jost was the keynote speaker).

Jost, as mayor, has been credited with establishing an efficient city government. He instituted a policy of holding town hall meetings, at which he answered questions from citizens.  During his two terms as mayor, Jost was associated with Joseph B. Shannon and the Rabbit faction.  However, in later years, he supported Thomas Pendergast and the Goat faction. In a third bid for reelection, Jost was defeated by Republican George Herbert Edwards.

Jost returned to private practice. In 1923, he was elected the Democratic Congressman from the 5th District. In Congress, Jost was interested in establishing a national military park in the Westport area to commemorate the Battle of Westport. Disillusioned with Washington politics, he declined to run for reelection in 1925. After returning to Kansas City, he became a partner with the Sebree law firm. Henry Jost died after an operation on July 13, 1950, at the age of 76.

The papers contains material, such as statements and addresses made as mayor, correspondence, financial statements, and legal cases. However, the main part of the collection are scrapbooks which have been microfilmed. They trace the media coverage of Jost's career as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, as well as many civic and political events. Most, but not all of the newspaper clippings are from Kansas City area newspapers. Topics of special interest: The Metropolitan Railway Franchise debate and vote; interurban depot location; licensing of bars and saloons in Kansas City, Missouri; the need to test milk for purity and clean up the dairies; and political warfare between the Rabbits and the Goats. ca. 1898-1958.

4 cubic feet; 13 volumes (MICROFORM).

INVENTORY 

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updated: Friday, August 08, 2008
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