Iowa Book Gallery
A collection of books own by Rod Library related to Iowa. The physical copies are located either in the stacks or in Special Collections and University Archives.
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A Modern School
A Modern School is a 23-page occasional paper, written by Abraham Flexner and published in 1916 by The General Education Board. Flexner (1866-1959) was an American educator and education reformer. The occasional paper presented here addresses many of the perceived failings of the public school system circa 1916 and suggests several reforms. The General Education Board was established by John D. Rockefeller in 1903. According to the Rockefeller Foundation, the board was established to aid education in the U.S. without distinction of race, sex or creed, and was active in promoting the public school movement in the early part of the 20th century. The General Education Board ceased activities in 1964.
Click here, to go to the A Modern School book.
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Atlas of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1926
Maps and directories for Black Hawk County, Iowa and each of its townships. Also includes a world atlas and U.S. census population figures.
Click here, to go to the Atlas of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1926 book.
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Blue Book for Iowa Women
A collection of brief biographies of Iowa women.
Click here, to go to the Blue Book for Iowa Women book.
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Cedar Falls Centennial, 1852-1952
This booklet accompanied the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Cedar Falls, Iowa. It lists events surrounding the festivities and numerous historical facts about the city.
Click here, to go to the Cedar Falls Centennial, 1852-1952 book.
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Documentary Material Relating to the History of Iowa
This three-volume set, published between 1897 and 1901 by the State Historical Society of Iowa, covers a variety of historical subjects including the acquisition and establishment of the Territory of Iowa, the admission of Iowa into the Union, and the history of local political organization within Iowa. The General Introduction in volume one states, "Scattered through various books and publications...this material has been practically inaccessible to the general body of students. It is to obivate these difficulties, and to facilitate the adoption of scientific methods of study, that the documentary material contemplated in the title is brought forward and published."
Click here, to go to the Documentary Material Relating to the History of Iowa book.
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Fifty Years at the Teachers College
A history of the Iowa State Teachers College, later known as the University of Northern Iowa.
Click here, to go to the Fifty years at the Teachers College book.
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Higher Education in Iowa
A history of higher education in Iowa and descriptions of higher education institutions up to 1893, including faculty, student populations, buildings, and courses of study.
Click here, to go to the Higher Education in Iowa book.
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Historical record of Cedar Falls
This book, published in 1893, is a description and history of the first 50 years of the city of Cedar Falls, Iowa. Included are an 1892 map of the city and photos of city buildings.
Click here, to go to the Historical Record of Cedar Falls book.
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History of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1878
This book provides a history of Black Hawk County, Iowa, from its settlement in 1834 through the book's publication in 1878. Numerous biographical entries and portraits are included, along with more general histories of the state of Iowa and the northwest United States.
Click here, to go to the History of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1878 book.
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History of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1904
This book provides a history of Black Hawk County, Iowa, from its settlement in 1834 through the book's publication in 1904. Numerous biographical entries and portraits are included.
Click here, to go to the History of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1904 book.
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Indian History of Winneshiek County
A history of the Winnebago Indians of Winneshiek County in northeast Iowa.
Click here, to go to the Indian History of Winneshiek County book.
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Iowa in War Times
This history of Iowa's involvement in the Civil War was published in 1888. The author, Samuel Hawkins Marshall Byers, was a member of the Fifth Iowa Infantry during the Civil War, having enlisted in 1861. Byers was eventually captured and spent well over a year in several Confederate prison camps. Following his escape, Byers joined Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's staff until the war's end. In 1869 he was appointed United States Consul to Zurich, Switzerland, and later held the same position in Rome. Byers many works include "The Song of Iowa" the official state song of Iowa.
Click here, to go to the Iowa in War Times book.
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Iowa: The First Free State in the Louisiana Purchase
From Its Discovery to Its Admission of the State into the Union, 1673-1846.
Click here, to go to the Iowa: The first Free State in the Louisiana Purchase book.
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Legal and Political Status of Women in Iowa
Published in 1918 by the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI), this monograph, according to the author's preface, attempts "to present a general survey of the status of women in Iowa by pointing out the distinctions between men and women which have been established by law or sanctioned by judicial rulings." The author, Ruth A. Gallaher, earned a B.A. in 1908 and Ph.D. in 1918, both from the State University of Iowa. Gallaher had a long professional association with the SHSI and founded the University of Iowa Archives in 1931. According to the online Biographical Dictionary of Iowa, Gallaher's Legal and Political Status of Women in Iowa "is still considered a substantial early contribution to the field of women's studies."
Click here, to go to the Legal and Political Status of Women in Iowa book.
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Plants of Iowa
This preliminary list of more than 3,000 species includes only the native plants and those that have been introduced from other sections of this country, or other continents, and have escaped from cultivation, and become naturalized and are now a part of the flora of the state.
Click here, to go to the Plants of Iowa book.
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Specification for the Erection of the "Soldiers' Orphans' Home" Cedar Falls, Iowa
Hand-written building specifications for a Soldiers' Orphans' Home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. This building later became Central Hall, or Old Central, on the campus of the Iowa State Teachers College, now known as the University of Northern Iowa.
Click here, to go to the Specification for the Erection of the "Soldiers' Orphans' Home" Cedar Falls, Iowa book.
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Summary of the Archaeology of Iowa
A county-by-county summary of archaeological findings in Iowa.
Click here, to go to the Summary of the Archaeology of Iowa book.
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The First 75 Years
A history of Iowa State Teachers College (previously known as Iowa State Normal School and now known as the University of Northern Iowa), from 1876 to 1951.
Click here, to go to The First 75 Years book.
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The Iowa
This monograph, published in 1911, provides an historical sketch of the Iowa tribe of Native Americans. According to the title page, the information presented is "a reprint from The Indian Record [and Historical Data, 1876], as originally published and edited by Thomas Foster, with introduction, and elucidations through the text by William Harvey Miner." Regarding The Indian Record and Historical Data, the preface states, "The editor, Dr. Thomas Foster, who termed himself 'Indian historiographer' hoped to be able to publish the sheet weekly 'should funds permit.' Evidently lack of finances or the small amount of interest shown in the venture determined against its continuance as it ceased with the third issue."
Click here, to go to The Iowa book.
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The Quakers of Iowa
This volume was written by Dr. Louis T. Jones and published by the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) in 1914. According to the author's preface, "In the present work the author has endeavored to present the essential features of the history of the people called the Quakers, from the time of their first appearance in Iowa down to the present time." In the editor's introduction, Benjamin F. Shambaugh, Superintendent of the SHSI, states, "Although the Quakers have not been numerous in Iowa, the influence of their attitude toward life has bene considerable in the history of the Commonwealth."
Click here, to go to the The Quakers of Iowa book.
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The Story of Iowa: A Children's History
A history of the state of Iowa up through the 1920s, written especially for children.
Click here, to go to The Story of Iowa: A Children's History book.
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Warren Reyerson, ISTC Football 1960 Season 50th Anniversary
This collection consists of a PDF booklet created by Warren Reyerson celebrating the 1960 Iowa State Teachers College football team. The booklet is titled "ISTC 50 Anniversary Dream Season, 1960 - 2010." Warren Reyerson is the son of Mace Reyerson, an ISTC alumni and member of the 1960 football team. The booklet contains photographs, artwork, and text about the 1960 season and the 50th anniversary reunion for this team, which was held in September 2010. Text includes information about individual players, game narratives and statistics, rosters, schedules, and general memories.
Warren Reyerson created this booklet as a way to commemorate the 1960 football season and team at Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa. Reyerson distributed copies of this booklet to members of that team. This 1960 team was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the University of Northern Iowa in 2015. In 1960, this Panther football team completed a perfect regular season with a 9-0 record and an appearance in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.
Click here, to go to the Warren Reyerson, ISTC Football 1960 Season 50th Anniversary book.
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When Cedar Falls was Young
This booklet recounts historical incidents in the early history of Cedar Falls, Iowa, from 1845 to 1866.
Click here, to go to the When Cedar Falls was Young book.