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Author Archives: SCblogger
Davenport’s West Side Branch: Fairmount’s 20th Anniversary!
On January 14, 2006, Davenport’s new library branch opened to the public! It was the first new addition to the Davenport Public Library’s facilities since the additions of the bookmobile and Annie Wittenmyer Branch. The Davenport Public Library desired to … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged anniversaries, Davenport Public Library, Fairmount Public Library
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100 Years of Father Edward Catich
Edward Michael Catich was born in Stevensville, Montana on January 4, 1906. Father Catich began working at St. Ambrose University in 1939, where he was professor of math & engineering as well as art & music. He became internationally renowned as a … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
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Ringing in the Old
As we approach the New Year, we are featuring some old-but-new books in the RSSC Center’s collection. They are “old” because they have been here in the library for many years, and more obviously, because they were published in the … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Berwald, books, German Americans, Local History, Subscription libraries
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Celebrating the Richardson-Sloane Special Collection Center’s Grand Reopening
On December 12, 2025, the staff of the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center celebrated their new space on the second floor with an open house. Many wonderful guests joined us in marking this momentous event for the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center. … Continue reading
Happy Holidays from Special Collections: Christmas images from Velma Schmidt
Velma Schmidt was born in Davenport, Iowa on March 6, 1886 to Oswald and Agatha (Bruhn) Schmidt. Her father, one of the owners of the Roddewig-Schmidt Candy Company, named a chocolate candy after his oldest child and only daughter. “Velma” … Continue reading
Just Shelved: 2025 County & City Directories
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The 2025 Scott County Iowa Farm & Home Plat & Directory and the 2025 Davenport City Directory are now available in Special Collections. The Scott County Plat & Directory has been published … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Davenport (Iowa), Directories, Just Shelved, Scott County (Iowa)
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Chamber of Commerce Collection Christmases
The images below documenting Davenport’s 1947 and 1950 Christmas parades come from the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center’s “Davenport Chamber of Commerce Photograph Collection” (1986-01). This group of approximately 1,000 images ranging in date from about 1900-1950 was donated to the … Continue reading
Turkey Notes of 2025
Get your pens ready for creating Turkey Notes! For this year’s Turkey Notes blog, we have some special guests who shared their creations with us! As noted in our blog, Turkey Notes: Our 2024 edition, Turkey Notes are a short … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Holidays, poems, Poetry, Thanksgiving Traditions, Turkey Notes
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160 Years of History: The Iowa Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home
It was 160 years ago on November 16, 1865 that the steamboat Keithburg arrived on the levee in Davenport, Iowa. It was an hour earlier than expected, covered in American flags, and carrying 150 children who had lost their fathers … Continue reading
The Haunting Tale of Albert Fahlenkamp
Wilhelmina, or Mina, (Schmidt) Fahlenkamp did not appear to have an easy life. Born to Christ and Maria Schmidt about 1844 in Germany, Wilhelmina had immigrated to the United States with her family in 1860. She married Carsten Fahlenkamp in … Continue reading
