Tag Archives: Local History

A Quiet Spring Wedding in April

One of our favorite types of materials in our collections are photographs, particularly portraiture. We have a number of collections that feature these types of photographs. One such collection is the Free Studio of Photography Collection which contains photographs taken … Continue reading

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

Come Tarry A While: Special Collections on Display at All Three Locations!

The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections staff members designed four displays highlighting materials from its collection. Displays are scheduled to be at each library location throughout the year on a quarterly rotation. Each of the displays discussed below will be at that … Continue reading

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

A Valentine for Special Collections

Love it! A timely Valentine’s Day surprise arrived this week at the RSSC Center, just as we were puzzling over our blog post about the holiday. It was a box of Valentine’s cards belonging to a Davenport girl! Frances Helen … Continue reading

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

Davenporters in the Domain

This coming Monday, January 1, 2024, we celebrate “Public Domain Day,” when copyright protections under U.S. law expire for books published in the year 1928. Works such as D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterly’s Lover, Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, W.E.B. Du Bois’ Dark … Continue reading

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

Thanksgiving in Davenport, 1857

On November 26, 1857, the Right Reverend Henry Washington Lee, Bishop of the [Protestant Episcopal] Diocese of Iowa, delivered a Thanksgiving [1] sermon [2] at the recently-constructed St. Luke’s Church on 7th and Brady Streets in Davenport. In “The True … Continue reading

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

Opening the Box: Davenport Gyro Club Records

We’re opening the box of our recent donation of the Davenport Gyro Club Records. We received this collection this past summer. It contains meeting minutes, membership records, publications, and photographs of its membership and activities. This collection helps us to … Continue reading

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

Melodies and Lyrics from the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center

Musical collections within the scope of a special collections department may sometimes seem like an afterthought or materials to round out a collection. In Davenport and the Quad Cities region, music was integral to many communities settling in this area. … Continue reading

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

The F. J. Stahmer Shoe Company

Not only do we encourage you to join the Davenport Public Library’s “QCMade” events for a behind-the-scenes look at the places where local goods are created in present-day Davenport and surroundings, but also to visit us at the Richardson-Sloane Special … Continue reading

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

Party in the Park 2023 Edition: Lafayette Park

This week kicks off more summer activities encouraging the community to get outdoors together to explore the world around us. For the last few years, the City of Davenport has been hosting “Party in the Park” in neighborhood parks to … Continue reading

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

“The Patch”: An Early Irish Neighborhood

In March, we see the glimmers of spring with new plant growth and holidays that allow us to reflect on the past as well as the future. Today is one such holiday that is as intertwined with American culture as … Continue reading

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