First National Bank of Davenport: 150 years of memories and architecture

Posted on June 19, 2013 by SCblogger

This June marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the First National Bank of Davenport.  Although it is no longer with us, its legacy lives on in the architecture of the building that stands at 201 West Second Street.

Image from a 1876 Davenport Business Directory

Image from a 1876 Davenport Business Directory

 The First National Bank was just that—the very first in the country to open under the National Banking Act of 1863, which was passed to ensure stable, uniform currency across the country at a time when many banks were issuing their own private, unregulated tender, making it easy to defraud banks hundreds of miles away.

 The original bank building was three stories high on the corner of 2nd and Main Streets.

First 1st National Bank

Barring a few hiccups, the span of decades between the Civil War and the Great Depression were generally a time of growth for banking houses, and by the 1900s, the First National Building was deemed too small.  It was razed and a six-story building took its place.

According to the January 31, 1923 Davenport Democrat, plans were already underway to replace this building with an even larger one—tenants were given until the first of May to find other offices.  Only a few days later,  a fire raged through the building, and what the flames didn’t destroy was damaged by the heavy ice formed from the spray of the fire hoses.

Image from the February 3, 1923 issue of The Daily Times

Image from the February 3, 1923 issue of The Daily Times

.  Soon after, First National merged with the Union Bank and Trust Company and the newly renamed Union Savings Bank built a nine-story building, designed by Frank A. Childs and William Jones Smith, on the usual corner:

Image from "Welcome to Our New Home" pamphlet, First Bank Center, July 1986 (ephemera collection)

Image from “Welcome to Our New Home” pamphlet, First Bank Center, July 1986 (ephemera collection)

During the 1920s, Union Savings also bought out the Scott County Savings Bank and the Davenport Savings Bank, and their clients considered the bank to be one of the strongest in the area.

But the Great Depression was not a good time for banking houses, or anyone else, and panic destroyed more banks than actual insolvency.  Rumors that Union Savings was in trouble caused a frenzied run on the bank, as frightened depositors lined up to withdraw all their money at once—causing the very failure that they feared.

The Union Savings Bank closed December 26, 1932.  And all the Davenporters who had kept their faith in the fifty-year old institution lost their savings.

But the building, now occupied by a branch of US Bank , still stand as a National and local landmark and an important piece of Davenport History.

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Platting the Past

Posted on June 14, 2013 by SCblogger

Maps are fascinating glimpses into the past—but not always for the obvious reasons.

Take this 1940s era plat book for example, which shows us what a modern and attractive home looked like at the time:

PlatMapFront

This set of plat maps is undated, inside or out, which means the publication date needed to be approximated.  We could compare the development of the city to out date maps, or check the city directories to see when the First Federal Savings and Loan Association was in operation, but that gives us a wider range than we’d like.

Luckily, sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!

If you look to the left of the stylish house, you’ll see the words, “G.I. Loans: Home Purchase, Construction, and Repair.”  The term G.I., which refers to the military, came into common usage during WWII, so we can be safe in assuming that this item was printed in the 1940s, once soldiers started to come home.

PlatMapBack

The back cover confirms our assumption—the Centennial Bridge opened July 12, 1940.

Plat maps are used for many purposes—this one, produced by the First Federal Savings and Loan in Davenport, was most likely used to determine available properties for purchase or development in Davenport . . . and also, naturally, to encourage returning soldiers and others to take out loans for the purpose.

The advertisements scattered throughout the book, from wholesale building supplier to realtors, home insurance companies to civil engineers bear this out—in fact, maps of all kinds can often be read as historical business listings:

PlatMap024--ads  PlatMap018--ads

PlatMap019--ads  PlatMap017--ads    PlatMap012--ads

PlatMap007--ads PlatMap006--ads

But of course, plat maps also document the development of a place, and this set does so beautifully, supplying the names of neighborhoods, additions, lot boundaries, cemeteries, parks, schools, and everything else that might have interested a prospective resident or businessman then—and a curious researcher now:

PlatMap022--cropped

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For They Say When you Marry in June . . .

Posted on June 6, 2013 by SCblogger

“For they say when you marry in June,
You will always be a bride . . .”

 We can’t be sure whether this rhyme held true for Clara Louise Hass,* who married Walter Kruse on June 2, 1917, but judging from the photographs taken by the Hostetler Studio, her wedding was certainly memorable!

Hass Wedding 1

Miss Hass was the daughter of John H. Hass, president of the Scott County Savings Bank, and her wedding took place in their home on the corner of Forrest Grove Boulevard and East River Drive, in what would eventually be called McClellan Heights.*  The groom was a full partner with Clausen & Kruse, one of the foremost architectural firms in the city.*

Naturally, their nuptials were of great interest to the society section of the Davenport Democrat, which gave almost a full column-worth of description of this singular event in the June 3rd issue:

Hass Wedding 3

 . . . Mrs. Leon Hass, sister-in-law of the bride, was hte matron of honor and a trio of little friends, Catherine Clausen, Frederick Speers and Edward Decker, attended her as flower pages and train bearer.

“The bride was in a gown of white bridal satin, the square neck waist of rose point lace finished with a girdle of white panne velvet. The short sleeves were of shirred tulle, and the full court train fell in graceful folds from the shoulders where it was held with a silver and white chain. The wedding veil of embroidered tulle was held with clusters of orange blossoms and caught to the train with sprays of the same flower.

The bride carried a shower bouquet of lilies of the valley and white lilacs and her only ornament was a sapphire and diamond hair pin, the gift of the groom.

The matron of honor was in Russell pink satin with a bodice of sequins, and  train of rose pink tulle.  She carried a full bouquet of roses and corn flowers.

The flower pages were in rose and white satin vogish costumes of Colonial days.  Miss Catherine’s dress was a slightly hooped skirt of rose satin, slashed, with under ruffles of white embroidered organdy.  She wore a daintily embroidered cap of organdy and lace.  Frederick Speers, who walked with her just ahead of the bride, was in a Colonial caot of rose satin and white satin knee breeches.   Both carried white staff bouquets, formally arranged of roses and corn flowers . . .

Hass Wedding 2The announcement went on to supply a detailed account of the mothers’ outfits and the bride’s traveling outfit, some personal information on the bride and groom, and the names of a few of the out-of-town guests.

It does not mention how the young gentlemen felt about their outfits or their headgear.

This is probably for the best.

_________________________

*We’re aware that we’re taking liberties with song lyrics from the 1954 movie “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” but myths about June brides have been around for centuries . . . and we just couldn’t help ourselves.

**This firm, under several names, designed many of Davenport’s landmark buildings, including the Scott County Savings Bank, the Davenport Municipal Stadium (aka John O’Donnell Stadium, currently Modern Woodman Stadium), and the Petersen Memorial Music
Pavilion in LeClaire Park. The firm is now called SGGM (Scholtz-Gowey-Gere-Marolf) Architects & Interior Designers and is one of the oldest architectural firms in Iowa.

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Aiding the Genealogy Effort: World War I Draft Registration Cards

Posted on May 30, 2013 by SCblogger

On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany.  On May 18, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, and every male resident of the United States between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, regardless of citizenship status, was required to register for the draft.

Some men bypassed this requirement by enlisting outright, and a very few managed to avoid it altogether, but all-in-all, about 98% of the male population under the age of 46 filled out a registration card.

The draft was of great assistance to the American War Effort  . . . and the Registration Cards can be of great assistance to the efforts of genealogists researching their early 20th Century male ancestors.

Not only do these cards  supply the birth date and place of the draftee,  but also the citizenship status, employment, employer, marriage status, and information on his dependents or nearest relative–and even a physical description!

The First Registration Day was held on June 5, 1917, for men born between June 6, 1886 and June 5, 1896.  Starting on June 2, The Daily Times newspaper printed a registration card form for any Davenport men aged 21 to 31 who wanted to save time—it also asked that employers allow their workers to drop in during the day, as the registration office didn’t want to be overwhelmed after business hours!

WWI Registration Card

In retrospect, this was a reasonable concern:  Scott County registered 6,827 men between 7 am and 9 pm.

A Second Registration Day was held exactly one year later for men born between June 6, 1896, and June 5, 1897.  This was primarily for men who had turned 21 since the previous Registration Day and for men who had not, for whatever reason, previously registered.  Just to make sure everyone was ‘caught’, there was a supplemental registration held on August 24th.  Scott County rounded up 583 more draftees in 1918.

The Third Registration was held on September 12, 1918, and called for men born between September 11, 1872, and September 12, 1900, who had not previously registered.  This greatly broadened the scope of the draft and Scott County was able to register 2, 267 men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five this final time.

Most of the men in this last registration did not have a chance to serve before the War ended two months later, but their information is still on file—and still accessible to the interested researcher!

Our Special Collections Center has World War One Draft Registration Cards for Scott County and some other Iowa Counties on microfilm, as well as for Rock Island, Illinois.  You may also access these through Ancestry.com—our library has a subscription that you are welcome to use at any of our three locations!

 

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“An Honor to their Friends at Home, to the State, and their Country”

Posted on May 21, 2013 by SCblogger

The Davenport Public Library will be closed Monday, May 27, in honor of those who gave their lives so that we could have the opportunity to live ours in freedom.

dplvm89-000636

The Scott County Soldiers’ Monument was erected as a memorial to the Scott County soldiers who died in the Civil War, but over the years, it has become a reminder of all who have fought to defend our country.

It is built of a single piece of solid English granite on a foundation of Nauvoo stone. Fifty feet above the base is a pedestal with an eight-foot figure of an infantry soldier of 1861. On each side are bias relief panels with emblems representing the armed forces of the nation and eulogies for the fallen.

To the south is the United States coat of arms, and the words, “Erected by the citizens of Scott County, In Memory of the Fellow Citizens who Died in Defense of the Union 1861-1865.”

To the west, the sabers and revolvers of the cavalry, and the epitaph, “Proved themselves the Bravest of the Brave—General H. W. Halleck.”

To the east are the anchor and shot of the navy, with, “An Honor to their Friends at Home, to the State, and their Country.”

And to the north, the crossed cannons of the artillery and the quote of another of the fallen: “They died ‘That Government of the People by the People and for the People Might not Perish from the Earth’—A. Lincoln.”

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A Sad Loss: Credit Island Lodge

Posted on May 14, 2013 by SCblogger

On the morning of May 2, 2013, Davenport’s history suffered a sad loss: the historic Credit Island Lodge was severely damaged by fire.

Blueprints in the Richarson-Sloane Special Collections Center show the original plans were designed by Clausen & Kruse Architects located at 910 Kahl Building* and dated August 23, 1923.

Credit Island Inn 003

Credit Island Lodge Blueprint – Clausen and Kruse, August 1923

By September 23, 1923 the Davenport Democrat and Leader reported that contractors J. F. Nebergall and Son**  had started work on the building.  It was finished in 1924.

The lodge was originally designed for the golfers enjoying the island’s golf course, and included caretaker accommodations.  The site enjoyed many parties, gatherings, and celebrations over the years as rooms could be rented for events. In 2011 the Lodge’s interior was redone as part of a restoration of Credit Island Park.

dplvm89-000852

Credit Island Lodge c. 1924

Over the years, the building survived wind, weather, and many Mississippi River floods, which eventually ruined the back nine holes of the nearby golf course.  Ironically, the protective barrier still surrounding the building from the previous month’s flood*** posed a challenge to the firemen’s attempts to save the building.

At this posting, the fire has been provisionally determined to be accidental. The City of Davenport does not know if the lodge will be rebuilt or not.

dplvm89-002024

A later view of the Credit Island Lodge

(posted by Amy D.)

_________________________________

*The Kahl building’s street address is 326 W. 3rd Street, Davenport, IA. 910 Kahl Building probably refers to the floor and office space within the building.

**J. F. Nebergall & Son’s office was listed as 301-302-303 Central Office Building in the 1923 Davenport City Directory. The street address would have been 230 W. 3rd Street, Davenport.

***As Credit Island is closed to all but emergency personnel when the Mississippi floods, we have no flood photographs in our collection from the site.

(posted by Amy D.)

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The Colorful Wedding Announcement of Miss Helen Watts

Posted on May 8, 2013 by SCblogger

Included in our Hostetler Photograph Collections is a set of glass negatives  showing the former Miss Helen Kelsey Watts in her wedding gown, in which she married Mr. Homer Brown Payne.

Payne Wedding 2

While researching these images, we located a wedding announcement, published in the Davenport Democrat on May 17, 1914—a nice long one, too, as both Ms. Watts and her groom came from well-to-do families.

Finding marriage announcements can be a little tricky—they were published anywhere from the day of to several months after the actual wedding, depending on the time period.  But we have several newspaper indexes that make the search that much easier—one of them is even available on our website, and is accessible from your own home computer.

These article are usually well worth the effort; early wedding photographs may be beautiful slices of time,  but most of them—and all the glass negatives in our collections—predate color photography.

Luckily the newspaper provides all the visual details, but describing the entire scene in loving color:

Payne Wedding1

The matrons of honor…were dressed alike in cream colored silk lace gowns made with dainty apron effect of pink chiffon taffeta edged with knifeplaiting, the girdle of pink satin ending in large butterfly sash bows of the same delicate shade of rose.

They wore pink lace castle caps trimmed in dainty little nosegays and with larger clusters of pink satin rosebuds on each side, and they carried staff bouquets of white baskets filled with lilacs, the basket handles tied with bows of pink tulle…

Payne Wedding

The bride entered on the arm of her father…She was in an exquisite gown of ivory while chiffon panne satin made simply, the drapery falling away into the lines of a long, pointed train; this was caught just above the waist line with a garniture of rose buds. The short tunic-like drapery of the skirt had a deep under flouncing of point d’Alencon, and the bodice with its round neck and short sleeves was entirely of the dainty lace.  The long bridal veil fell to the hem of the wedding gown and was caught with tiny bunches of orange blossoms to the little Juliet cap of tulle.  This had an inner ruching of the point d’Alencon that was fashioned as a frill, the points caught back to the cap. The bride wore the wedding gift of the groom, a ring of diamonds set in platinum, and carried an immense bouquet of lilies of the valley.

Details of the reception, photographs of which are not in our collection, are also thoughtfully supplied:

 The [Outing Club] rooms were all beautifully decorated for the occasion in the lavender and pink bridal colors…The large ball room was trimmed in garlands of huckleberry, the balcony rail stair balustrade, arc ways and openings were all festooned with the foliage, with bridal wreath and lilacs used profusely in artistic arrangement.  The wicker room mantle was filled in a banked with ferns and palms, and baskets of lilacs, snapdragons, roses, lilies of the valley and the different spring flowers in season, were used about the rooms and on the radiators, and in the super room where a buffet luncheon was served during the evening.

The announcement provides more than just color commentary:  the article is packed with choice bits of information about the bride and groom, their friends, their families, and even their financial prospects!  The destination of the honeymoon was apparently kept secret from the newspaper, but it did mention that the newlyweds would be setting up home at 29 Edge Hill Terrace, in the fashionable “Camp McClellan” neighborhood.

Clearly marriage announcement can be a rich source of family history and genealogical shortcuts—short of a time machine, there’s nothing better than a good marriage announcement to fill in the rest of the picture!

(posted by Sarah)

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Throwback Thursday: The Quad-Cities USA Campaign

Posted on May 2, 2013 by SCblogger

While adding items to our Ephemera collection, we found brochures for the Quad Cities U.S.A. campaign—and we couldn’t resist sharing!

________________

“A typical Quad-Cities resident lives in one community, works in another and shops in a third city. It’s urban, but also rural; it’s Midwestern, but not small town; it’s sophisticated, but casual; it’s quality within quantity; and most of all, it’s friendly.”

The Quad-Cities U. S. A. promotion campaign began around 1980 when a local radio station wanted to promote our area. The Quad-City Development Group coordinated the program with help from local advertising, public relations agencies and industries.

One of the major purposes of the campaign was to promote unity and identity among the collective residents of the several cities that had merged geographically over the last century.  It was hoped that this sense of interdependent community would help promote the Quad-Cities as a place with the benefits of small town life and the advantages of the big city.

So, what are the “Quad-Cities”?

Officially, the counties of Scott (Iowa) and Rock Island & Henry (Illinois) make up the Davenport-Rock Island-Moline, Iowa-Illinois Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, DRIM-SMSA.

But practically speaking, the Quad-Cities is the label for fourteen neighboring municipalities: Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge, Panorama Park and Riverdale in Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Milan, Silvis, Coal Valley, Carbon Cliff, Oak Grove and Hampton in Illinois.

So why aren’t we called the Tetradeca-Cities?

In the beginning, we were the  Tri-Cities:  Davenport, Rock Island, and Moline.

There are several theories about why “Quad” was added to our name:  Bettendorf finally grew up enough to join the party; a road atlas made a mistake and it stuck; or someone noticed that there were a lot of cities inside the quadrangle created by Interstate-80 and Interstate-280.

But whatever the real reason, as more towns and cities were absorbed, it became clear that it would be extremely inconvenient to upgrade our collective name every few years.

So we didn’t.

What happened during the campaign?

The Quad-City Development Group brought the creative talents and funds together for the project. Over $500,000 in Public service air time and advertising space went into the campaign as well as many hours of perception research and concept development.

Some of the taglines used in their brochures include:

“Quad Cities USA – Where the World’s Busiest Highway Meets The Heartland’s Mightiest Waterway”

“…Where The ‘Father of Waters’ meets ‘The Mother Of Invention’”

“…Where Urban Lifestyle And Rural Beauty Sing In Harmony.”QCUSA

A stylized “Q” to symbolize the union of cities was designed by the Deere & Company visual communications department, and a film mirroring Quad-Cities industry, lifestyle, recreation and agriculture was produced by Forward of Illinois Productions, of Morton.

There was even a song commissioned to convey “the upbeat spirit of our metropolitan life.”  Charlie Teague, of Warren, Anderson, Litzenberger & Teague, Inc., wrote the lyrics and Bob Jenkins Associates, of Chicago, composed the music.

But it wasn’t all fun and games.  Several serious incentives were offered to businesses considering relocation or opening branches in the Quad-Cities—or even transporting their goods through what was advertised as a “personal Port of Entry and Foreign Trade Zone.”

That’s pretty cool! You wouldn’t happen to have a copy of that Quad-City theme song around?

We have a copy on 7 inch vinyl in our collection, which we’ve digitized and posted on another blog post for your listening pleasure. We also have a brochure with the lyrics in our ephemera files.

Lyrics:
I know a place
Where there’s work to be done
Where there’s room for me
and who I want to be.
Somewhere I can do the things
I’m good enough to do.
Where I can build my tomorrow.
Where I can live with the eagles.
Fly with the eagles and be free.
Quad Cities U.S.A.
Lookin’ better every day
Quad Cities, you’re the place I want to be.
I want to be.

There’s a river
A stream that works while it plays.
A road through history
Down to the shining sea.
This mighty, rollin’ river,
tells me that I’m home
Where I can build my tomorrow.
Where I can live with the river
Flow with the river and be free.
Quad Cities U.S.A.
Growin’ stronger every day
Quad Cities you’re the place I want to be.
I want to be.

On this good land
The seasons flavor my life.
And it’s good to know
Of things that live and grow.
I can raise my family
Where the good life’s gonna be.
And I can build my tomorrow.
Where I can live on the good land
Grow with the good land and be free.
Quad Cities U.S.A.
Growing better every day
Quad Cities you’re the place I want to be.

Where I can live with the eagles,
Fly with the eagles and be free.
Quad Cities U.S.A.
Lookin’ better every day
Quad Cities, you’re the place I want to be.
I want to be.
I want to be.

(Posted by Cristina)
_______________________________

Sources:

McGowan, Susi. “Quad Cities USA.” Home & Away (AAA Iowa Motor News), 1982: 16f-16i.

“Quad Cities USA: Looking Better Every Day.” Davenport, Iowa: Quad City Development Group, 1982.

“Quad Cities USA: The Connection.” Quad-City Development Group, 1988.

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A Flood of Images: April 2013

Posted on April 25, 2013 by SCblogger

Another flood has come and gone (or at least it is on its way to being gone!). While this one did not crack the Top 10 flood list, it unofficially crested at 19.12 feet on April 21, 2013 at Lock and Dam 15.*

19.12 feet will place this flood at the #13 spot of Historical Crests. It barely edges out the current #13 which was the flood of February 22, 1966 which crested at 19.00 feet.

On Monday, April 22, 2013 pictures were taken of the flood in downtown Davenport. As with A Flood of Images: 2011 photos are shown from east to west in case anyone wants to compare.

***

Looking west from the Arsenal Bridge. River Drive looks like the Mississippi River. Flood Photos - 2013 138Hesco barrier at corner of Iowa St. and River Drive.Flood Photos - 2013 142

Another view Hesco barrier taken from Bechtel Park at Iowa St. and River Drive. Flood Photos - 2013 156Dillon Fountain corner of Main Street and River Drive.Flood Photos - 2013 114

The Levee Inn – Locally famous for the flood crest markings in the corners of the building.Flood Photos - 2013 122LeClaire Park and Bandshell along the river. You can see water up to the tops of the seats. The train tracks are under water too. No jazz concert today!Flood Photos - 2013 128

Modern Woodmen Park – With walkway in place the games go on!Flood Photos - 2013 078

Myrtle Street and River Drive in west Davenport. Skate Park is closed!Flood Photos - 2013 066

River Drive looking east from Sturdevant St. at Davenport City Cemetery.Flood Photos - 2013 050On a positive note, the grass is green and our feathered friends don’t mind the water at all! City Cemetery along River Drive in west Davenport.Flood Photos - 2013 031

As the flood of April 2013 passes there is one question on our minds. With all the snow still up north could this be a repeat of 2008? That year the Mississippi crested on April 29th at 19.24 feet and again on June 16th at 21.49 feet. We certainly hope not!

*Update – June 27, 2013: We are preparing for our 4th crest of 2013. It has been a busy year on the Mississippi River (and other local rivers too).

Following are the crest dates and levels for 2013:

1) Mississippi River crest officially on April 21, 2013 at 19.12 feet. This crest currently resides at #13 in the Top 20 Highest Mississippi River Crests.

2) Crest 15.93 feet on May 14, 2013.

3) Crest 16.34 feet on June 5, 2013.

4) Crest expected July 1, 2013.

(photos and post by Amy D.)

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Library Leadership: Directors We Have Known

Posted on April 18, 2013 by SCblogger

In honor of National Library Week, we thought we’d take a look at those who have led the Davenport Public Library over the past 111 years.

Even with this brief amount of information, it’s interesting to note how the education, geographical origins, position longevity, and gender-based differences of our directors have changed over the course of a century:

Marilla Waite Freeman
Term: October 1902 – February 1905

The first director of the Davenport Public Library was born in 1870 in Honeoye Falls, New York.   She received her library training at the University of Chicago under John Dewey.  She died in White Plains, New York on October 29, 1961.

Stella V. Seybold
Term: May 1905 – February 1906

Ms. Seybold was born in 1879 in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from the University of Cincinnati.   She assisted Ms. Freeman in selecting German books for the Davenport Public library collection before being named Director, a position she held until she married Frank J. Heinl   in February of 1906. She passed away September 28, 1966, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Grace Delphine Rose
Term: 1906 – March 1920

Ms. Rose was born June 10, 1870 in Pennsylvania.  While Director, she was appointed the president of the Iowa Library Association for 1912 and served as Camp Librarian at Camp Bowie Texas in 1918. After leaving Davenport, she established various library branches at factory buildings and in schools.   Ms. Rose died May 25, 1958, in Kern, California.

Grace Shellenberger
Term:  March 1920 – March 1933

Ms. Shellenberger was born in Bolivar, Missouri, and attended the Carnegie Library School in Pittsburgh, PA.  She taught courses in children’s library work at the State University of Iowa and worked to extend library service to Bettendorf, Eldridge and Buffalo.

She served as our director until her death on March 29, 1933.

Edna Geisler
Term: August 1933 – March 1946

Ms. Geisler was born in Wilton, Iowa, and received her Library degree from Western Reserve University Library School in Ohio.  She was vice-president of the Iowa Library Associate in 1938.  She left Davenport Public Library to marry J. Andrew Davidson on March 14, 1946.   Mrs. Davidson died Alhambra, California, on August 11, 1967.

Elizabeth Martin
Term: April 1946 – December 1954

Ms. Martin graduated from the University of Iowa and worked for the Davenport Public Library for forty years, taking a leave of absence to work with the Library of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, in Washington D.C.  She died May 16, 1983.

Harold Goldstein
Term: February 1955 – September 1959

Mr. Goldstein was born October 3, 1917, in Norfolk, Virginia, and received his Master and Doctorate degrees from Teachers’ College Columbia University.  He married Julia Deutsch on November 4, 1943, making him the first married director as well as the first male director of the Davenport Public Library.  While director, he revamped the building by relocating the circulation department and adopted modern techniques in the circulation department.

He died in Tallahassee, Florida on December 8, 1986.

Oswald H. Joerg
Term: November 1959 – September 1970

Mr. Joerg received his Masters degree from the Columbia University School of Library Service. He was director when the original Carnegie library began to disintegrate and was responsible for securing a $235,000 federal grant for a new Main Library and for hiring architect Edward Durrel Stone to design it.

He passed away August 8, 1996.

Judith Ellis
Term: 1970 – 1982

Ms. Ellis was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa.  She earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Iowa and received her Master of Library Science from University of Iowa.

She served the Davenport Public Library for seven years as our Administrative Assistant before stepping in as the interim director.  Eventually, she was confirmed in the position.

She passed away in Colorado in 2003.

C. Daniel Wilson
Term: 1982 – 1985

Mr. Wilson served as the associate director of the Birmingham, Alabama Public Library before moving to Davenport.  After leaving Davenport, he served as director of the New Orleans Public Library system.

Kay Runge
Term: 1985 – 2001

Ms. Runge was the Director of the Scott County Library System prior to working for the Davenport Public Library.  She was appointed president of the Public Library Association in 2000 and was later elected councilor to the American Library Association.  After leaving our library, she served as director of Des Moines Public Library.

Meg Sarff
Term: 2001 – 2003

Born 12 April 1946 in Springfield, IL, Ms. Sarff received her Masters  in Library Sciences from the University of Illinois.  She was Assistant Director of our library for twenty years before serving as Director.  In 2003, she became our Customer Service manager before retiring in 2005.

She passed away August 20, 2011, in Springfield, Illinois.  We miss her.

LaWanda Roudebush
Term: 2003 – 2013

Ms. Roudebush first worked at the Davenport Public Library as a reference librarian loaned to the Southeastern Regional Library System.  Later, she was in charge of our Business collection, and spent some years as our HR manager, and then as a branch manager.  She left Davenport in 1992, and, after working at two library systems in the Chicago suburbs and serving as director for the Fort Dodge Public Library, moved back as our director.

During her decade as director, she oversaw the construction of two new branch library buildings and the establishment of new library technology and operating systems during uncertain economic times.

We wish her all the best in her retirement!

And finally, we welcome our newest director, KennethWayne Thompson, who took up the directorship of our library April 8th of this year.   We can’t wait to see how his guidance will shape our library in the years to come!

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