Monthly Archives: May 2008

Elsie Von Maur: Seventy-Five Years of Quad-City Music

The recent passing of Elsie Von Maur at the age of 106 led us to realize that our collection of Symphony programs reflect almost ninety-two years of music, seventy-five of which may be seen as part of Mrs. von Maur’s … Continue reading

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In Remembrance

Anyone who has gone far enough along Main has passed it– but how many of us have taken the time to look at the large stone memorial in the middle of the street or think twice about why it stands … Continue reading

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Memorial Day Closing

Our library will be closed this Monday in honor of Memorial Day.  We are still open tomorrow, though, so come on in and stock up on genealogy and local history before 5:30!

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Now Available! An Online Davenport Newspaper Index!

We are excited to finally be able to offer our in-house local newspaper index online. This is a subject index for events and articles of local interest from the Quad-City Times, the Leader, the River Cities Reader, and other area … Continue reading

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Just Shelved– Pride in our Hometowns: Portraits of Iowa

Subtitled “Great places to spend the day—or a lifetime,” this photograph-rich book gives both historical and current accounts of twenty-five towns and cities across the state of Iowa.   From small (Adel, Pella, Woodbine) to large  (Clinton, Mason City, Sioux City), … Continue reading

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Just Shelved: The “Lost” Jefferson County, Iowa, Microfilmed Marriages

Okay, so these ten rolls of microfilm weren’t lost, just delayed a bit.   But we’re still very happy they’ve finally arrived! Covering 1839 to 1910 (record vols. A-0 and register vols. 1 and 2 with index), these marriage records are … Continue reading

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We never failed to catch em’!

What an appropriate motto for the Hostetler Studio and its owner and chief photographer, John Benton Hostetler! His talent never failed to catch the sparkle in a hopeful bride’s eyes, the wisdom in a patriarch’s wrinkled face, or the mischief … Continue reading

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Just Shelved—East Georgia Settlers Family Sketches

Eighty-eight members of the East Georgia Genealogical Society submitted 317 biographical sketches of family members for this 728-page volume, but this resource is far above the usual unsubstantiated family stories about Third-Great Aunt Bessie from Elbert County. The main person … Continue reading

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Remembering Patrolman Emil Speth

Ninety-one years ago Davenport Police Patrolman Emil Speth walked the streets of Davenport, Iowa, wearing badge number 13. He was appointed to the department on July 13, 1911, according to an entry in the Davenport Police Roll Call Register January … Continue reading

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Remembering the Effie Afton

Today is the anniversary of the first time a riverboat hit the railroad bridge between Davenport and Rock Island, Illinois. Why is this more significant than any other Mississippi River disaster, or any other time (and there were several) when a boat … Continue reading

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