Author Archives: SCblogger

Socialists and Swimming Pools

Posted on June 15, 2009 by SCblogger

Most people find the building of a swimming pool to be an exciting time; waiting for the project to be completed and the weather warm enough to swim in the clear water. Today, Davenport has many city and private pools … Continue reading →

Posted in Local History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Milestones in local databases

Posted on June 12, 2009 by SCblogger

For those of you who  are statistically oriented, we’re very happy to announce that, thanks to dedicated volunteer Janet Greenlee, the 1925 Iowa Census index on our website now includes 9000 names of Scott County residents. The index to the microfilmed Iowa … Continue reading →

Posted in Local History | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Researching the Records of England

Posted on June 8, 2009 by SCblogger

If you were fortunate enough to attend the Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society meeting on the first of June, you learned all sorts of interesting things about early English records from Pam Langston.  One thing that really surprised me is … Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Graduates of World War II

Posted on June 8, 2009 by SCblogger

The beginning of June this year brings two things to my mind: high school graduations and the 65th anniversary of D-Day.  Thinking of those, I began to peruse our year book collection in Special Collections. The 1942, 1943, and 1944 … Continue reading →

Posted in Local History | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Riverboats We Have Known: The W.J. Quinlan

Posted on June 1, 2009 by SCblogger

After something of a delay, it’s finally looking like spring in the Quad-Cities: the weather is warmer, the boats are on the Mississippi . . . and the orange construction barrels are in full bloom. The promise of bridge delays … Continue reading →

Posted in Local History | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

A Veteran’s View: Harold Labonte

Posted on May 25, 2009 by SCblogger

         In 2001, our own Karen, along with several volunteers, began interviewing local residents for a World War II/Korean War Oral History Project.  Our Oral History Collection now includes the war-related stories of 74 veterans, former civilian workers, and even a war bride … Continue reading →

Posted in Local History | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s in a Name?

Posted on May 21, 2009 by SCblogger

The city of Davenport was named after Colonel George Davenport.  This is fairly well known—at least to most residents of the Quad-Cities—although every once in a while, we still receive a question concerning the invention and manufacturing of long, squared-off … Continue reading →

Posted in Local History | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

New Old Stuff, Old New Stuff!

Posted on May 18, 2009 by SCblogger

New to the Special Collections Center’s Iowa vital records microfilm cabinet is Lee County.  Thirty-five rolls of births, delayed births, deaths, marriages and even a few naturalizations are ready for use the next time you come in. Lee County is … Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy Birthday, Davenport!!

Posted on May 14, 2009 by SCblogger

On this day in 1836, the City of Davenport was platted and named. In order to understand the weight of history behind that simple sentence, one would have to look back at least to the treaty, signed on September 21, 1832, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local History | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just Shelved: Family Histories

Posted on May 11, 2009 by SCblogger

Because our Center can’t purchase every family history available, and because some family histories are beyond the reach of the usual library selection resources, we rely on donations—and the Scott County Genealogy Society—to keep our collection of nine-twenty-nine-point twos*  thriving. … Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, Library | Tagged , | 2 Comments