Author Archives: SCblogger

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

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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

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Haunted Houses of Davenport?: An 1874 Account

Nowadays when you turn on the television you see many shows on haunted houses, especially during the month of October. This raised a question in my mind. Did things go bump in Davenport houses long ago? In the spirit of … Continue reading

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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

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Unique State Historical Society of Wisconsin Resources Shared at SC Anniversary Conference

As part of Special Collections’ 30th Anniversary celebration we are having an all day genealogy and local history extravaganza this Saturday Oct 20.   For those of you interested in genealogy, or if you’re just looking for things to do in … Continue reading

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Oct 14 Genealogy Night Cancelled

Due to low registration our fall Genealogy Night even has been cancelled.  Remember, in addition to our regular hours, Special Collections will be open for Genealogy and Local History research on Sunday, November 11 from 1-4PM.  Please contact Special Collections … Continue reading

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October 20 Celebrate History! 30 years of the Special Collections Center at the Davenport Public Library!

Join Jim Jacobsen of History Pays! Historic Preservation Firm for his 2:45 presentation on the Civil War Rendezvous Camps of Davenport including Camps McClellan, Kearney, Jo Holt, Hendershott, Herron, and Roberts/Kinsman. Utilizing maps, drawings and meticulous research, Jacobsen ties together … Continue reading

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Genealogy Night Approaches

October 14 – SECOND SUNDAY – The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center of the Davenport Public Library offers Genealogy Night 4 – 9 p.m. Evening meal and refreshments included. A fee of $10 payable in advance secures your reservation. Funds raised … Continue reading

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30 Years of Myths and Mysteries, Hysterical Histories, Tree-Kickin’ Genealogy…and Much More!

Each department at the Davenport Public Library is valued, and the month of October affords an opportunity to celebrate the 30th birthday of one gem in particular – the hidden pearl in the Main Street Library – the Richardson-Sloane Special … Continue reading

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Truth in Advertising: Wagener’s Sewing Machine

Advertising can be a hit-or-miss business sometimes. Some ads click with readers or viewers while others leave them simply unimpressed, or worse, make a negative connection to the object being advertised. We recently ran across the advertisement below in the … Continue reading

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