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- How did people keep cool before air-conditioning was invented?
In the 1890s, they used the River!
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For your convenience, please explore our page of upcoming genealogical and local history events in the Quad-City area.
Be sure to mark these dates down in your own calendar!
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Author Archives: swesson
Long time Special Collections librarian passes away
Many long time genealogists and local historians will remember Mary Herr, who worked at the Davenport Public Library for more than 40 years. She had a great interest in genealogy and local history and spent her last working years assisting … Continue reading
Meet Frank McElroy
Davenport has had its share of inventors and entrepreneurs over the years. Some, like Alexander F. Victor, with his 16mm film projector and eventual 80 patents, were a great success, revolutionizing their particular industry. Some . . . were not. … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Automatic Shoe Shine Company, Frank McElroy, Inventors
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Come to our Open House Putti Party!
As our loyal readers know, in 1905, W.C. Putnam generously donated to our library a reproduction of a frieze designed by Donatello in the 1400s. The frieze, which hung in the library’s auditorium for decades, was removed when the original … Continue reading
Posted in Library, Local History
Tagged Blackhawk Hotel, Carnegie Library, frieze, W. C. Putnam
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Tales of the Census
Soon, we will all be part of history. How, you wonder? In April of 2010, the new decennial United States Federal Census will be arriving in our mailboxes. The government will be mailing the questionnaire, as it is still not … Continue reading
Looking Back, Moving Forward
We at the Special Collections Center spend a lot of time searching the past. For the first post of 2010, we thought we’d take the time (no pun intended) to reflect on our own accomplishments over the past decade. We’re … Continue reading
Library Holiday Closings!
Our Special Collections Center (and the rest of the Davenport Public Library System as well) will be closed December 24, December 25, December 31 and January 1—that’s Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Otherwise, we … Continue reading
Posted in Library
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The Annual Musical Interlude
Our staff here at the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center celebrate the winter holidays each year by mailing cards to our wonderful volunteers, exchanging small gifts, enjoying enough chocolate to put the Hershey corporation firmly in the black for the year, … Continue reading
A Quiet Salute to a Friend
On December 5, 1971, five men entered the Quality Motel on Main Street and forced their way into the room of Davenport Police Patrolman Leon Washington. The men hit Officer Washington and tied him up, then stole three automatic pistols, … Continue reading
Let’s Talk Turkey (Notes)
It’s what you’ve been waiting for all year: our annual Turkey Note blog post! Since we’ve pretty much covered the basics last year, we thought we’d share some staff-created, Special Collections\library-oriented Turkey Notes for the enjoyment of our loyal readers. … Continue reading
In Honor of Veteran’s Day
We thank all military personnel in the past and in the present for their service to our country. We also thank those veterans who were kind enough to allow us to add their memories to our Oral History project, which includes the interviews of Harold … Continue reading