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Category Archives: Local History
Review: Outside In : African-American History in Iowa, 1838-2000
Race is a part of all Americans’ history because we all have assumptions about it that affect how we relate within and across racial lines. For that reason, Outside In is a book for all Iowans, not just African-Americans.* Outside-In … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged African-Americans, Black History Month, Davenport, Iowa, Local History
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A Small Tribute To Early Legends of Rock and Roll
February 3, 2009 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the plane crash that killed musicians Buddy Holly, J.P. “Big Bopper” Richardson, Richie Valens, and their pilot, Roger Peterson in Clear Lake, Iowa. Holly, Richardson, and Valens were part of the 1959 Winter … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged 1959 Winter Dance Party, Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, Capital Theatre, Concert of Stars, Richie Valens
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Urban Recycling–Davenport Style
The Burtis House was built in 1857 on east 5th Street in downtown Davenport. Billed as the biggest hotel in Iowa, the Burtis was perfectly positioned to take advantage of the passenger trains coming over the first railroad bridge across … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Burtis House, Crescent Lofts, Crescent Macaroni, Davenport, Davenport Lofts, Iowa, Local History, urban recycling
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Living Memory History: The Blizzard of ’79
Anyone living in the Quad City region is probably happy that the week of January 11 – 17, 2009 is now over.With temperatures in the minus 20’s (Fahrenheit) at night (and during the morning commute) and the highs barely breaking … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Blizzard of 1979, Davenport, Iowa, Local History, snow, Weather Records
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A Collage of Colleges (and a High School, too)
If land is affected by what is built on it—in other words, if a church makes ground holy and a mine makes it holey—then the parcel bordered by Main and Harrison Streets and 11th and 12th Avenues is one of … Continue reading
Archive Adventures: The Davenport City Hospital
Genealogists are always hoping for new discoveries in records and the Davenport City Archives has produced for us again! Davenport actively maintained a “City Hospital” for a brief period of time in 1858 and 1859 and the City Physician. Dr. … Continue reading
Dancing in the Yuletide Glow
Beneath the glittering chandeliers women in formal evening gowns danced with their escorts to the music of a live band. Outside the cold December evening passed, but inside hundreds of people warmed by dancing, drinking, and laughter probably did not … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Bix Beiderbecke, Blackhawk Hotel, Crystal Ball, Gold Room, Visiting Nurse Association
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A Brief Musical Interlude
Our staff here at the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center celebrate the winter holidays each year by exchanging cards, small gifts, mailing cards to our wonderful volunteers, and, in one unfortunate case, writing new lyrics to an old holiday song. Here … Continue reading
Library Closings!
The Davenport Public Library (and therefore our Special Collections Center) will be closed the 24th and the 25th—that’s this Wednesday and Thursday. We will also be closed for New Year’s Eve and New Years Day next week. That’s next Wednesday … Continue reading
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A Capital Theater!
Children arising early with noisy glee. Presents opened to joyful laughter. Special breakfasts, brunches, and of course the traditional dinner. Christmas 1920. Along with all the happiness of the day was the excitement of the thought of going … Continue reading
