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Author Archives: SCblogger
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
Come Visit Special Collections’ New Space!
We’re thrilled to share that the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center is ready to assist patrons with their local history and genealogical questions! Ask our staff members for a tour of our new space. Our hours have been expanded to better … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Davenport Public Library, Museums, Quad Cities Archives Fair
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Special News from the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center!
Moving in Progress: Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center will be closed beginning June 16th for the process of moving to the 2nd floor of the Main Library. Our anticipated opening date is July 12th – date subject to change. We will not be posting … Continue reading
Posted in Library
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Young Mr. Robert “Bobby” Evans
Summer has arrived in our area as thousands of children are enjoying summer vacation. We are joining in the celebration by sharing this casual outdoor photograph of Robert “Bobby” Evans taken c. 1920 from our J. B. Hostetler Studio collection. … Continue reading
Posted in Genealogy
Tagged Grace Evans, Harry Evans, Hostetler Studios, Invasion of Sicily, J. B. Hostetler, Korean War, Omaha Beach, Robert Evans, Vietnam War, WWII
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Pretty in White Crepe de Chine
This negative image was found on our Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Image Archive from our Hostetler Photograph Collection. It is of a young woman named Florence Becker. From our research, we believe her to be Miss Florence Becker born on … Continue reading
Posted in Genealogy, Local History
Tagged Davenport (Iowa), Hostetler Studios, Photographs, Rock Island (Illinois)
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Mamie and Frank?
This photographic postcard is another “from the purged files at the Annie Wittenmyer Home.” The photographer’s stamp, not visible in this reproduction, reads “Trompter, 520 Edmond St., St. Joseph, MO.” The list of children at the Iowa Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Annie Wittenmyer Home, Cyphers, Donahoo, Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home
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Davenport High School Class of June 1905
With high school graduations fast approaching for the Class of 2025, we wanted to take a moment to look at the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections donation 1991-03: The Davenport High School graduating class June of 1905. This collection features two items … Continue reading
