TRACES “Bus-eum”: At Home in the Heartland

Posted on October 15, 2015 by SCblogger

On Thursday, October 22 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. the Eastern Avenue branch of the Davenport Public Library will be hosting the TRACES “Bus-eum”. This mobile museum is crossing Iowa sharing the history of the state in a retrofitted school bus.

During the visit, the Bus-eum will explore At Home in the Heartland. This eighteen panel exhibit explores how the Midwest developed differently from other regions, Iowa’s unique settlement patterns, and how these factors have both positive and negative influences today.

The exhibit features historic images, text, and videos. There is also a 90-minute workshop called Grindin’ Ol’ Bones: Exploring Together Social Context behind Family History.

The Davenport Public Library – Eastern Avenue Branch is located at 6000 Eastern Avenue, Davenport. This event is free and open to the public. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this unique opportunity!

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Beginning Genealogy Class and Genealogy Night!

Posted on October 8, 2015 by SCblogger

In honor of National Family History Month, we’re offering a FREE Beginning Genealogy Class this Saturday October 10th from 9:30-10:30am at the Main Street Library. Learn how to get started researching your family history using the materials (and staff!) at the library.

After you’ve learned the basics, join us for Genealogy Night on Sunday, October 25th from 3:00-8:00pm at the Main Street Library. Come to the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center to use our resources, ask questions of staff and volunteers from the Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society, talk to other researchers, and eat some yummy food. Registration for Genealogy Night is needed. The cost is $10.00. Call us at (563) 326-7902 to reserve your spot!

National Family History Month

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1925 Iowa State Census

Posted on October 1, 2015 by SCblogger

This month as the Davenport Public Library celebrates The Big Read with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 classic The Great Gatsby we are exploring the 1925 Iowa State Census which you may search for free on Family Search.

Unlike the Federal Censuses which were only 1 page long, this State Census has 3 pages of information on your ancestors.

1925 Census Questions

Are you stuck trying to find your ancestor’s mother’s maiden name? If they lived in Iowa in 1925, then you’re in luck! The second page asks for fathers’ name, mother’s maiden name, their age (if still alive) and where they got married.

If you’ve tried the name search and your ancestor does not show up in the search results but you are sure that they lived in Iowa at the time, we suggest you browse through the digital microfilm. It’s just like browsing through the microfilm here at the Library, but you can do it from home for free!

For more help searching the 1925 Iowa State Census, check out the FamilySearch Wiki or come into the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center. We would love to help you in your search.

If you’re curious about what life was like for your ancestors in the 1920’s, come to the special presentation at the Eastern Avenue branch library on Monday, October 26th.

For more Great Gatsby programming please visit www.davenportlibrary.com or visit our Special Collections Calendar on this blog.

Jessica Talk

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The Big Read: The Great Gatsby comes to Davenport Public Library!

Posted on September 24, 2015 by SCblogger
The first reference we found to the Charleston in a Davenport newspaper. The Davenport Democrat and Leader. August 2, 1925. Page 18.

The first reference we found to the Charleston in a Davenport newspaper. The Davenport Democrat and Leader. August 2, 1925. Page 18.

Were the roaring twenties really the berries or just all wet (in 1920’s slang)? Maybe it depended on who you were or the people you associated with that would answer that question. Many authors of the time debated the idea in popular novels of the day.

As the majority of us were not reading these novels during their first releases; we are able to explore those ideas again with The Big Read this October. The Big Read is a program through the National Endowment for the Arts. This year, in partnership with Arts Midwest, the Davenport Public Library is reading F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

First published in 1925, this novel has become an American classic. As the Davenport Public Library is rather keen on the subject we are celebrating this event in grand style. Everyone is invited to participate in reading this book and joining in the many discussions, activities, and programs associated with Gatsby and the 1920’s during the month of October.

This celebration kicks off with Gatsby’s Speakeasy on Friday, October 2 at 6:00 p.m. at the Davenport Public Library – Main Street branch. This family-friendly event is only the start of an amazing month of programming. For more information on this event and other amazing programming, please visit our blog calendar or www.davenportlibrary.com.

The Great Gatsby will be discussed in all regular DPL book and art club meetings in addition in local schools and outreach programs. Not a member of one of our book clubs? Never fear, several Open Discussions have been set up as well.

These programs are supported by FRIENDS of the Davenport Public Library. Additional community partners include the Creative Arts Academy, the Davenport Community Schools, the Figge Museum of Art, the River Music Experience, and St. Ambrose University Library.

These events will be the cat’s meow. We hope to see you there!

 

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Volunteer Round-Up

Posted on September 18, 2015 by SCblogger

Love genealogy and local history? Ever wonder what we do in Special Collections? Have some spare time? Come on down for our special interest meeting on Monday, September 21 at 11:00am. You’ll get a “behind-the-scenes” tour and learn how you may become involved. This program is scheduled before the official Monday opening hours.

Please come to the 4th Street library door to enter. The Davenport Public Library – Main Street branch is located at 321 Main Street in downtown Davenport. You may park for free for up to two hours on the streets around the library or in the parking lot at the corner of 4th and Brady Streets. We’ll be waiting to welcome you!

For more information call the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center at (563) 326-7902 or email specialcollections[at]davenportlibrary[dot]com

Take a look at some of our volunteers in action in this video for a Davenport Public Library Volunteer Appreciation event in 2011.

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Boniger’s Fancy Chicks

Posted on September 10, 2015 by SCblogger

September is National Chicken Month! It’s the perfect time to share one of our favorite photos from the Hostetler Studio Collection, Mr. Boniger’s prize winning chicken.

Photograph of one of Mr. Emil C. Boniger's prize winning chickens.

Photograph of one of Mr. Emil C. Boniger’s prize winning chickens.

Emil C. Boniger won many prizes for his chickens, as you can see from this photograph. The 8th annual Tri-Cities Fanciers Association poultry show took place in November 1912 at Armory Hall. Mr. Boniger won the following prizes for his Buff Wyandottes: 3rd and 4th cock, 4th cockerel, 1st hen, 5th pullet, 2nd and 3rd pen. E. C. Boniger’s first hen went to on win the blue ribbon at the Chicago Coliseum in December 1916.

Photograph of awards that Mr. Emil C. Boniger won for his chickens. The collection of ribbons, trophies, and pennants date between 1908 and 1913.

Photograph of awards that Mr. Emil C. Boniger won for his chickens. The collection of ribbons, trophies, and pennants date between 1908 and 1913.

Mr. Boniger and his wife, Bertha were also photographed by J. B. Hostetler around this time. Emil Casper Boniger was born March 10, 1884 and died June 17, 1939 in Davenport, Iowa. He is buried at Fairmount Cemetery.

Studio portrait of Mr. Emil C. Boniger and his wife Bertha standing next to each other. According to a newspaper article in the Davenport Democrat, the couple celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in June 1913.

Mr. Emil C. Boniger and his wife Bertha. According to a newspaper article in the Davenport Democrat, the couple celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in June 1913.

 

~posted by Cristina

 

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School Days: The new schools of 1940

Posted on August 27, 2015 by SCblogger

Summer vacation has ended in Davenport as children returned to school this past Monday. We thought to celebrate this occasion by revisiting the Fall of 1940.

Seventy-five years ago, many of Davenport’s students were entering the hallways and classrooms of brand new schools.

Six new elementary schools opened that year. They were Jefferson (W 10th & Marquette), Monroe (4th & Cedar), Madison (Locust & Brady), Lincoln (8th & Pershing), Washington (Locust & Eastern), and McKinley (Kenwood Avenue and Middle Road).

The school building program was made possible by a PWA grant from the US government and a bond issue voted by Davenport Citizens. The total cost for construction was $2,500,000. (That’s $41,643,377.67 in 2014 money)

We hope you enjoy the images below of Jefferson, Monroe, Madison, Lincoln, and Washington elementary schools from 1940.

You can almost smell freshly sharpened pencils and the scent of new books coming from the images.

Jefferson school is at 1027 N. Marquette. Monroe School is at 1926 W. 4th St. Madison School is at 116 E. Locust. [c. 1940]

Jefferson school is at 1027 N. Marquette. Monroe School is at 1926 W. 4th St. Madison School is at 116 E. Locust. [c. 1940]

Gymnasium at Madison Elementary School, 116 East Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Gymnasium at Madison Elementary School, 116 East Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Classroom in Madison Elementary School, 116 East Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Classroom in Madison Elementary School, 116 East Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Kindergarten classroom in Madison Elementary School, 116 East Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Kindergarten classroom in Madison Elementary School, 116 East Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Auditorium at Madison Elementary School, 116 East Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Auditorium at Madison Elementary School, 116 East Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Library at Lincoln Elementary School, 318 East 7th Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

Library at Lincoln Elementary School, 318 East 7th Street, Davenport, Iowa. [c. 1940]

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Road Construction: Photographic glimpses of past projects

Posted on August 20, 2015 by SCblogger

We once again are surrounded by road construction in Davenport. If you are planning on visiting us at Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center at the Davenport Public Library – Main Street branch between now and the end of December please remember that Harrison Street is closed and Brady Street is now a two-way until the end of the year.

The great news is you still end up right by the library and driving south down Brady Street is pretty interesting with the skyline view and architecture of the buildings.

Since this road change has put construction on our minds, we decided to share some photos of past construction projects for this week.

Here is hoping we have mild weather for late summer into autumn to keep all the construction projects on their expected timeframes.

Looking east on 12th & Vine St. – CWA [28 Mar 1934]

Looking east on 12th & Vine St. – CWA [28 Mar 1934]

Road construction at River Dr. & Gaines St. [ca. 1956]

Road construction at River Dr. & Gaines St. [ca. 1956]

Repair work on brick street – CWA [ca.1933]

Repair work on brick street – CWA [ca.1933]

1458 & 1460 W. 6th St. – CWA [ca. 1933]

1458 & 1460 W. 6th St. – CWA [ca. 1933]

322 E. Locust St. / 1902 Iowa St. – CWA [ca. 1933]

Relaying brick on Locust St. – CWA [ca. 1933]

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She’s a Real Go-Getter: Wilma Zabel at the 1925 Iowa State Fair

Posted on August 13, 2015 by SCblogger

In late August and early September of 1925, Misses Wilma Zabel and Gertrude Koch of the Lincoln Township Go-Getters 4-H Club represented Scott County at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Their demonstration on the making of hooked rugs did very well at the Mississippi Valley Fair on August 19th and secured them a spot at the state competition.

Wilma and Gertrude went on to win first place at the state championship in Des Moines and were sent to the National Farm Bureau gathering in Chicago the first week of December 1925, where they gave the same demonstration before President Coolidge. They also won the championship for the four projects of girls club work: food, clothing, approved footwear, and home furnishings. Because they won that competition, they were sent to represent Iowa at the interstate fair in Sioux City in September 1925.

Wilma Annie Zabel was born on April 2nd, 1907 to Albert and Annie (Kay) Zabel. According to her obituary, published in the Quad-City Times on December 27, 2003, she worked on the family farm for 55 years and was a member of Farm Bureau and active leader of 4-H for many years.

L to R. Annie (Kay) Zabel, Raymond, Elmer, Albert Zabel and Wilma Annie Zabel at their farm on the SW 1/4 of Sec 9 in Lincoln Township, Scott County, Iowa

L to R. Annie (Kay) Zabel, Raymond, Elmer, Albert Zabel and Wilma Annie Zabel at their farm on the SW 1/4 of Sec 9 in Lincoln Township, Scott County, Iowa (24279 200TH AVE)

This image was published in the book Families of Thode, Zabel, Schultz and Moeller: Davenport, Iowa 1830’s to 1970’s compiled by Lyn Middleman Batdorf and it’s part of our Archive & Manuscript Collections.

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Works Cited

Davenport Democrat and Leader. “Farm Bureau Demonstrates Work of Girls.” August 19, 1925: p.13.

Davenport Democrat and Leader. “Scott County Club Team Off For Des Moines.” August 30, 1925: p.12.

Davenport Democrat and Leader. “Scott Co. Farm Bureau Women Receive Honors.” September 6, 1925: p.12.

Davenport Democrat and Leader. “State Championship is Awarded to Members Scott County Girls Club.” September 6, 1925: p.3.

Davenport Democrat and Leader. “Winning Team of Girls’ Club Goes to Fair.” September 15, 1925: p.12.

Davenport Democrat and Leader. “Will Give Violin Solos, Home Dept. Meeting Monday.” February 14, 1926: p.9.

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