{"id":11032,"date":"2019-11-27T17:28:01","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T23:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.davenportlibrary.com\/sc\/?p=11032"},"modified":"2019-11-27T17:28:05","modified_gmt":"2019-11-27T23:28:05","slug":"20-years-of-the-richardson-sloane-special-collections-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.davenportlibrary.com\/sc\/2019\/11\/27\/20-years-of-the-richardson-sloane-special-collections-center\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Years of the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center celebrates 20 years since its dedication on November 26, 1999. It was a culmination of years of effort and dedication come to fruition, ensuring Loren Ted and Alice (Richardson) Sloane\u2019s dream of a \u201cpremiere genealogy and local history collection\u201d came true. Partnering with the Davenport Public Library\u2019s Special Collections Center, in existence since 1982, the Sloane\u2019s generously donated their research collection, time, and financial resources to create the beautiful space located in the lower level of the Library now known as the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Between the extensive Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society and Library acquisitions, a larger staff was required, jumping from three individuals to five. A half-time Archivist devoted to the City of Davenport\u2019s records also came aboard a few years later. Over the years, the Center\u2019s staffing changed as people left to pursue other opportunities and new people were hired to support the Center\u2019s mission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty years of growth has occurred thanks to generous donors, the establishment of an endowment fund, a foundation, a number of grants, and a lot of hardworking volunteers and staff. One foundation bolstering our mission is the Lorraine Duncan Foundation which was established to support the preservation of and access to local historic records. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today the Center can proudly boast of helping researchers from all over the world, assisting the City of Davenport personnel, and providing reference and resource material to Quad Citizens of all ages as they explore the wide variety of primary and secondary sources available within the Center\u2019s always expanding collection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, programming and outreach activities provided the community an opportunity to learn about the accomplishments and services of the Center and what it has in its collections.\u00a0 One notable community event was the first Quad Cities Archives Crawl that promoted local history and cultural organizations.\u00a0 The activities, the people, and space all experienced alterations and reconfigurations to better serve the public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On November 18, 2019, we celebrated our 20th<\/sup> Anniversary with a delightful open house showcasing remarks from the Library Board of Trustees President, the Library Director, the Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society President, and a recitation of \u201cThe Tally Ho Coach!\u201d by Dale Haake, the current Poet Laureate of the Quad Cities.\u00a0 We displayed hands-on exhibits on local history, genealogy and City Archives collections as well as examples of how we preserve and conserve materials, and materials belonging to the Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society held at the Special Collections Center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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