For sale is a 90-year-old birth certificate issued in St. Louis, Missouri. It certifies that Fern Diedrich was born on February 7, 1926. She later moved to Evansville, Indiana, and worked as a beautician. The document bears the stamped signature of Dr. Max C. Starkloff, who was then the health commissioner. Dr. Starkloff was the Chief Medical Commissioner for the City of St. Louis during the devastating national Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1916-18,which afflicted and killed many Americans, among them many St. Louisans. Enterprising and decisive, he obtained an agreement from the Mayor of St. Louis and the city's police and fire departments, as well as the city's religious, sports and entertainment l… Read More eaders, to close all public venues that featured large public assemblies to effectively reduce the contagion that spread the dreaded Spanish Flu among the general public. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen delegated police powers of enforcement and public closure to Dr. Starkloff during the epidemic. His drastic measures for temporary public closures of public sporting and religious events, assemblies and the curtailment of contagion caused the flu epidemic to abate locally within a year, a huge public victory over the disease which had killed hundreds. His career as a St. Louis public figure and national health leader made him a noted celebrity for many years. He died in 1942. His grandson and namesake, Max D. Starkloff II, obtained comparable national fame as the founder of Paraquad, a disabilities-rights group for disabled Americans founded by him.  This certificate measures 6 3/4 by 8 1/2inches. It is in fair to good condition, with tears along the folds, but wouklddisplay well if matted and framed. See my listings for other vintage items. I gladly combine shipping for multiple purchases when they can be packaged together, and I do ship internationally.

Payment is expected within three days. Please e-mail me with any questions, and thanks for looking!