<PAGE> 1

                                                   Exhibit 99.4

                                                   Exhibit to Annual Report
                                                   on Form 10-K of
                                                   Angelica Corporation



                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      Washington, D.C. 20549

                          ---------------

                             Form 11-K

(Mark One)

(x)  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]


     For the fiscal year ended   December 31, 1996
                               --------------------------------------------
                                OR


( )  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]


     For the transition period from ------------------to-------------------


     Commission file number   1-5674
                            -----------------------------------------------

     A.   Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if
different from that of the issuer named below:

                     THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
                    MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN


     B.   Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan
and the address of its principal executive office:

                       ANGELICA CORPORATION
                     424 South Woods Mill Road
                Chesterfield, Missouri  63017-3406


                                    -1-
<PAGE> 2

<TABLE>
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
---------------------------------

<CAPTION>
     (a)  Financial Statements.                     Pages of this
          --------------------                      -------------
                                                    Form 11-K
                                                    ---------

<S>                                                    <C>
          Report of Independent Public Accountants       5

          Statement of Net Assets Available for          6-7
          Plan Benefits - December 31, 1996 and
          December 31, 1995

          Statement of Changes in Net Assets             8
          Available for Plan Benefits - Fiscal
          Year ended December 31, 1996

          Notes to Financial Statements                  9-11

          Schedule I                                     12

          Schedule II                                    13



<CAPTION>
     (b)  Exhibits.
          --------

<S>
          23.  Consent of Independent Public Accountants.
</TABLE>


                                    -2-
<PAGE> 3

      THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
      MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN

      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES
      AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
      TOGETHER WITH AUDITORS' REPORT



                                    -3-
<PAGE> 4

                          THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
                          ------------------------

                         MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN
                         ---------------------------


               FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES
               -----------------------------------------------

                        DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
                        --------------------------

                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                             -----------------

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
  Statement of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits--December 31, 1996
  Statement of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits--December 31, 1995
  Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits for the Year
    Ended December 31, 1996

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES SUPPORTING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
  Schedule I:  Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment
    Purposes--December 31, 1996
  Schedule II:  Item 27d - Schedule of 5% Reportable Transactions for the Year
    Ended December 31, 1996


                                    -4-
<PAGE> 5

                  REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


To Angelica Corporation:


We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for plan
benefits of The Angelica Corporation Missouri Plants 401(k) Plan (the Plan)
as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statement of changes in net
assets available for plan benefits for the year ended December 31, 1996.
These financial statements and the schedules referred to below are the
responsibility of the Plan's management.  Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the net assets available for plan benefits of the Plan
as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the changes in net assets available for
plan benefits for the year ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedules, as listed
in the accompanying table of contents, are presented for the purpose of
additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial
statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of
Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosures under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  The fund information in the
statements of net assets available for plan benefits and the statement of
changes in net assets available for plan benefits is presented for purposes
of additional analysis rather than to present the net assets available for
plan benefits and changes in net assets available for plan benefits of each
fund. The supplemental schedules and fund information have been subjected to
the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial
statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.


St. Louis, Missouri,
  March 21, 1997


                                    -5-
<PAGE> 6


<TABLE>
                                          THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
                                          ------------------------

                                         MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN
                                         ---------------------------

                              STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS
                              ---------------------------------------------------

                                             DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                             -----------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Investment Funds
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------
                                                                         Company                             Interest
                                                                          Stock            Mutual             Income
                                                        Total             Fund              Fund               Fund
                                                      --------          --------          --------          ---------
<S>                                                   <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
INVESTMENTS, at fair value:
  Angelica Corporation Common Stock                   $ 10,653          $ 10,653          $   -             $   -
  American Balanced Fund                                 1,277              -                1,277              -
  Washington Mutual Investors Fund                      31,368              -               31,368              -
  Hartford Life Insurance Company Group Annuity
   Contract                                             58,878              -                 -               58,878
  Society National Bank MGD GIC Fund                   134,825              -                 -              134,825
  Boatmen's Employee Benefit Short-Term Fund             3,380               263               688             2,429
  Loans to participants                                  9,006              -                 -                9,006
                                                      --------          --------          --------          --------
                                                       249,387            10,916            33,333           205,138
OTHER ASSETS:
  Contributions receivable                               2,818                97               608             2,113
  Interest and dividends receivable                        144               134                 2                 8
  Loan payments receivable                                 314              -                 -                  314
                                                      --------          --------          --------          --------
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS                $252,663          $ 11,147          $ 33,943          $207,573
                                                      ========          ========          ========          ========

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
</TABLE>


                                    -6-
<PAGE> 7

<TABLE>
                                          THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
                                          ------------------------

                                         MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN
                                         ---------------------------

                              STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS
                              ---------------------------------------------------

                                             DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                             -----------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Investment Funds
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------
                                                                         Company                             Interest
                                                                          Stock            Mutual             Income
                                                        Total             Fund              Fund               Fund
                                                      --------          --------          --------          ---------
<S>                                                   <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
INVESTMENTS, at fair value:
  Angelica Corporation Common Stock                   $ 11,726          $ 11,726          $   -             $   -
  American Balanced Fund                                   109              -                  109              -
  Washington Mutual Investors Fund                      10,538              -               10,538              -
  Hartford Life Insurance Company Group Annuity
   Contract                                             54,441              -                 -               54,441
  Society National Bank MGD GIC Fund                   101,744              -                 -              101,744
  Boatmen's Employee Benefit Short-Term Fund            12,650               304               414            11,932
  Loans to participants                                  5,068              -                 -                5,068
                                                      --------          --------          --------          --------
                                                       196,276            12,030            11,061           173,185
OTHER ASSETS:
  Contributions receivable                               2,935               181               352             2,402
  Interest and dividends receivable                        803               135               613                55
  Loan payments receivable                                  98              -                 -                   98
                                                      --------          --------          --------          --------
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS                $200,112          $ 12,346          $ 12,026          $175,740
                                                      ========          ========          ========          ========

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
</TABLE>


                                    -7-
<PAGE> 8

<TABLE>
                                         THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
                                         ------------------------

                                        MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN
                                        ---------------------------

                      STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS
                      --------------------------------------------------------------

                                  FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                  ------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Investment Funds
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------
                                                                         Company                             Interest
                                                                          Stock            Mutual             Income
                                                        Total             Fund              Fund               Fund
                                                      --------          --------          --------          ---------
<S>                                                   <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
ADDITIONS:
  Participant contributions                           $ 57,587          $  3,478          $  8,122          $ 45,987
  Interest income                                       12,915                19                18            12,878
  Dividend income                                        2,636               580             2,056              -
  Interfund transfers                                     -               (4,018)           10,971            (6,953)
  Change in unrealized appreciation of investments         438              (868)            1,306              -
  Net realized  (loss) gain on sale of investments        (229)             (237)                8              -
                                                      --------          --------          --------          --------
                                                        73,347            (1,046)           22,481            51,912

DEDUCTION-  Participant withdrawals                     20,796               153               564            20,079
                                                      --------          --------          --------          --------
      Net increase (decrease)                           52,551            (1,199)           21,917            31,833

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS AT
   BEGINNING OF YEAR                                   200,112            12,346            12,026           175,740
                                                      --------          --------          --------          --------
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS AT
   END OF YEAR                                        $252,663          $ 11,147          $ 33,943          $207,573
                                                      ========          ========          ========          ========

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
</TABLE>


                                    -8-
<PAGE> 9

                         THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
                         ------------------------

                       MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN
                       ---------------------------

        NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES
        --------------------------------------------------------

                       DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
                       --------------------------


1.    DESCRIPTION OF PLAN:
      --------------------

The following description of The Angelica Corporation Missouri Plants 401(k)
Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only.  More
complete information regarding the Plan's provisions may be found in the plan
document.

General
-------

The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of Angelica Corporation (the
Company) to provide participants an opportunity to defer portions of their
earnings so as to provide supplementary retirement income and a measure of
economic security.  The Company is the Plan Administrator and the assets of
the Plan are held in trust by Boatmen's Trust Company (the Trustee).

Eligible Participants
---------------------

The participating employers in the Plan are the Company and its subsidiaries.
All full-time union employees at the Company's Missouri plants who have
either (i) completed one year of service with the Company and are age 21 or
older or (ii) completed three years of service, are eligible to participate
in the Plan.

Contributions
-------------

Eligible employees may contribute up to 12% of their annual compensation to
the Plan through payroll deferrals.

Vesting
-------

The salary deferral contributions of each participant's account are fully
vested and nonforfeitable at all times.

Benefits
--------

Participants are entitled to receive the balance of their accounts upon
death, total disability, retirement or termination of employment, or upon
request after reaching age 59-1/2.  Any participants who have suffered a
hardship (as defined by the Internal Revenue Service and the Plan) may also
withdraw all or any portion of their account balances.  As of December 31,
1996 and 1995, the Plan had $-0- and $1,462, respectively, in net assets
available for plan benefits that had been requested to be paid to terminated
participants.  Although not shown separately in the accompanying financial
statements, the liability to terminated participants is shown separately on
the Form 5500.

Loan Provision
--------------

The Plan allows participants to borrow from their accounts, subject to
certain limitations.  Loans bear interest at the prime rate plus 1/2% at the
time the loan was made.  All loans are secured by the participant's account
and are repayable in installments by payroll deductions.


                                    -9-
<PAGE> 10



Investment Programs
-------------------

The investment programs of the Plan are as follows:

      Upon enrollment or reenrollment, each participant directs his or her
      contributions to be invested in one or more of the investment options
      below in increments of at least 10%.  Such direction may be revised by
      participants on a monthly basis.

           Company Stock Fund
               This fund is invested in Angelica Corporation Common Stock.

           Mutual Fund
               Participants may choose to invest in the Washington Mutual
               Investors Fund and/or the American Balanced Fund.

           Interest Income Fund
               This fund is invested in group annuity contracts with Hartford
               Life Insurance Company and Society National Bank.

2.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
      -------------------------------------------

Basis of Accounting
-------------------

The financial statements of the Plan are maintained on an accrual basis.  The
Plan's investments are stated at fair value, as determined by the Trustee,
based upon publicly stated price information.  The "average cost" method is
used to determine the cost of securities sold.  Investments in group annuity
contracts are stated at contract value.

Administrative Expenses
-----------------------

Costs of administering the Plan are generally borne by the Company and are
not charged to the Plan.

Gains and Losses on Sale of Investments
---------------------------------------

In compliance with reporting regulations of the Department of Labor, the Plan
calculates the net realized gains and losses on investments sold or
distributed and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments based
on the market value of the assets at the beginning of the plan year or at the
time of purchase during the year.

Use of Estimates
----------------

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of additions to and deductions from net assets available
for benefits during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from
those estimates.


                                    -10-
<PAGE> 11


3.    INVESTMENTS:
      ------------

The Trustee of the Plan holds the Plan's investments and executes
transactions therein.

The fair market values of individual assets that represent 5% or more of the
Plan's net assets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, are as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                <C>
         December 31, 1996:
             Washington Mutual Investors Fund                        $   31,368
             Hartford Life Insurance Group Company Annuity Contract      58,878
             Society National Bank MGD GIC Fund                         134,825

         December 31, 1995:
             Angelica Corporation Common Stock                        $  11,726
             Washington Mutual Investors Fund                            10,538
             Hartford Life Insurance Group Company Annuity Contract      54,441
             Society National Bank MGD GIC Fund                         101,744
             Boatmen's Employee Benefit Short-Term Fund                  12,650
</TABLE>

4.   INCOME TAX STATUS:
     ------------------

The Company has received a determination letter dated October 6, 1992, from
the Internal Revenue Service stating that the Plan qualifies under the
Internal Revenue Code; as such, the Plan is exempt from federal income tax,
and amounts contributed by the employees are not taxable to the participants
until distributions from the Plan are made.  The Plan Administrator believes
that the Plan, as amended and as currently operating, is in compliance with
all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

5.   TERMINATION OF THE PLAN:
     ------------------------

The Company reserves the right to terminate its participation in the Plan as
of any specified current or future date.

Until the assets held in the Trust have been fully distributed, the Trustee
shall continue to possess all powers with which it was empowered by the Trust
Agreement and shall have all such other powers as are necessary or
appropriate to the completion of such distribution.

Upon termination of the Plan, plan assets will not be insured by the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation as the Plan is not covered by Title IV of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  In addition, termination of
the Plan must be approved by the Internal Revenue Service.


                                    -11-
<PAGE> 12
                                                                   SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
                                            THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
                                            ------------------------

                                           MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN
                                           ---------------------------

                            ITEM 27a - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
                            ----------------------------------------------------------

                                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                               -----------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Number of
                                                                       Shares or
                                                                       Principal                              Fair
                                                                        Amount              Cost             Value
                                                                      ----------          --------          --------
<S>                                                                   <C>                 <C>               <C>
COMPANY STOCK FUND:
  Angelica Corporation Common Stock <Fa>                                     557          $ 13,646          $ 10,653
  Boatmen's Employee Benefit Short-Term Fund <Fa>                     $      263               263               263
                                                                                          --------          --------
                                                                                            13,909            10,916
                                                                                          --------          --------
MUTUAL FUND:
  American Balanced Fund                                                  87.782             1,293             1,277
  Washington Mutual Investors Fund                                     1,278.255            28,423            31,368
  Boatmen's Employee Benefit Short-Term Fund <Fa>                     $      688               688               688
                                                                                          --------          --------
                                                                                            30,404            33,333
                                                                                          --------          --------
INTEREST INCOME FUND:
  Hartford Life Insurance Company Group Annuity Contract              $   58,878            58,878            58,878
  Society National Bank MGD GIC Fund                                  $  134,825           134,825           134,825
  Boatmen's Employee Benefit Short-Term Fund <Fa>                     $    2,429             2,429             2,429
  Loans to participants, interest ranging from 6.5% to 9.5% <Fa>      $    9,006             9,006             9,006
                                                                                          --------          --------
                                                                                           205,138           205,138
                                                                                          --------          --------
      Total investments                                                                   $249,451          $249,387
                                                                                          ========          ========
<FN>
<Fa> Also a party-in-interest.

       The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule.
</TABLE>

                                    -12-
<PAGE> 13

                                                                    SCHEDULE II


<TABLE>
                                           THE ANGELICA CORPORATION
                                           ------------------------

                                          MISSOURI PLANTS 401(k) PLAN
                                          ---------------------------

                             ITEM 27d - SCHEDULE OF 5% REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS <Fa>
                             ------------------------------------------------------

                                   FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                   ------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                                          Purchases                         Sales
                                                 -----------------------  ------------------------------------------
                                                  Number of     Purchase   Number of     Purchase    Cost of
                                                 Transactions     Price   Transactions    Price      Assets     Gain
                                                 ------------   --------  ------------   --------    -------    ----
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>           <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>
  Description of Asset
  --------------------

Washington Mutual Investors
 Fund                                                  22        $19,887        2        $   383     $   332     $51

Society National Bank MGD
 GIC Fund                                              13         46,880       10         21,348      21,348      -

Boatmen's Employee Benefit
 Short-Term Fund <Fb>                                 127         87,225       65         96,330      96,330      -


<FN>
<Fa> Represents transactions or a series of transactions in excess of 5% of
     the fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year.

<Fb> Also a party-in-interest.

</TABLE>

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule.

                                    -13-
<PAGE> 14

                                                       Exhibit 23
                                                       of 11-K


             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
             -----------------------------------------

     As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation of our report on The Angelica Corporation Missouri
Plants 401(k) Plan financial statements included in this Form 11-K,
into the Corporation's previously filed Registration Statement on
Form S-8 File No. 33-45410.


                                        /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



St. Louis, Missouri
April 22, 1997


                                    14