Closed for Memorial Day
The Davenport Public Library will be closed
Monday, May 27, 2013
For Memorial Day
We will reopen on Tuesday, May 28, at 9:30.
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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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Category Archives: Local History
Davenporter of Note: Bailey Davenport
January 9th was the 123rd anniversary of the death of Bailey Davenport, the second son of Col. George Davenport. And although he didn’t live in Davenport for a good portion of his life, we think the title of this blog … Continue reading
The Stockmen’s Savings Bank Heist: Part II
Part I of the Heist is here. ________ It was late morning on Thursday, December 15, 1921, that Harry Hamilton and Roy Purple of Davenport put their plan of becoming bank robbers into action. The Daily Times and The Davenport … Continue reading
The Stockmen’s Savings Bank Heist: Part I
December 1921 was not looking to be a merry holiday for many people in Davenport and Scott County. The country was struggling to get out of a sharp recession that had begun in 1920. Times were tough and jobs were … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Bank Heist, Bank Robbers, Harry Hamilton, Iowa, John Looney, Long Grove, R. K. Brownlie, Rock Island News, Roy Purpell, Roy Purple, Stockmens Savings Bank
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A Holiday Gift for Mr. LeClaire
So what do you buy yourself for the holidays when you own nearly the whole town? While that is a question few of us will ever have to ponder, it was probably a yearly dilemma for Antoine LeClaire by the mid-nineteenth … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Antoine LeClaire, LeClaire House, Marguerite LeClaire
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Alexander Clark of the First Iowa African Infantry
Who would have thought that a man from the small town of Muscatine, Iowa, would have been the first person to offer to raise African American troops to serve in the Iowa regiment during the Civil War? First, one probably … Continue reading
What’s in a Name? The Annie Wittenmyer Home
On November 16, 1865, one hundred and fifty orphans arrived in Davenport to take up residence of the newly established Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home. Over the years, evolved and expanded over the years as the original residents grew up, eventually accepting … Continue reading
The Annexation Vote of 1957
At the municipal election on November 5th, 1957, the citizens of Davenport voted on a proposal to annex two separate areas totaling 28 square miles to the City of Davenport. The first area covered 11 square miles west of the … Continue reading
Just Shelved: Family Trees, Hoosier Histories, and a Generous Legacy
Donald and Marietta Southwood were both long-time supporters of our Special Collections Center. They worked countless volunteer hours indexing and organizing resources and assisting patrons with their research. Mrs. Southwood passed away April 1, 2005, and Mr. Southwood followed on … Continue reading
Posted in Genealogy, Library, Local History
Tagged Donald Southwood, Just Shelved, Marietta Southwood, new resources, Resources
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Local History Film Screening–and More!
As part of our 30th anniversary celebration, we will be having a special screening of local history film footage from our Archive & Manuscript Collections. The films will be shown this Saturday, October 20th at 1:30pm in the Film Room, … Continue reading