My mentor and friend Bob McCown, retired Head of the Special Collections Department in the University of Iowa Libraries, died on March 31st of this year. To remember Bob on what would have been his 76th birthday–November 21st–I share the eulogy I gave at his memorial service last spring. Robert A. McCown (1939-2015) Bob McCownContinue reading “Remembering Bob McCown”
Author Archives: Karen Mason
Remembering Emma’s early days
This post was written by Jessica Lawson, Graduate Research Assistant in the Iowa Women’s Archives. The Iowa Women’s Archives had an exciting visit at the end of July! Five women who were active in the feminist community in Iowa City in the 1970s and were early supporters of the Emma Goldman Clinic for Women visited theContinue reading “Remembering Emma’s early days”
eras of emma: the emma goldman clinic through four decades
eras of emma: the emma goldman clinic through four decades Join us for a panel discussion featuring women who have been active in Iowa City’s feminist health clinic founded in 1973. The clinic had its origins in an abortion referral service started by Iowa City’s Women’s Liberation Front in 1971. The Emma Goldman Clinic for Women opened September 1,Continue reading “eras of emma: the emma goldman clinic through four decades”
John Fry: What I Learned from Publishing an Edited Manuscript, Fri, Sept 20, 10-11am
Laura & Earle Smith were barely out of college in 1913 when they left Moravia, Iowa, to try their hand at homesteading near Chugwater, Wyoming. Laura recounted their adventures years later in her memoir Almost Pioneers. Historian John Fry (UI PhD, 2002) came across Almost Pioneers while doing dissertation research in the Iowa Women’s Archives and later edited it forContinue reading “John Fry: What I Learned from Publishing an Edited Manuscript, Fri, Sept 20, 10-11am”
“Life is not all sunshine”
Viola Nesfield Owen papers by Audrey Altman Preserving the history of poor and rural women is a mission of the Iowa Women’s Archives, but it can be challenging because these women rarely leave detailed records of their lives. That’s why we were so excited to receive the papers of Viola Nesfield Owen, donated by GaryContinue reading ““Life is not all sunshine””
Cards from Christmases Past
By Christine Vivian, SLIS student and IWA student assistant One of the lovely surprises of The Iowa Women’s Archives is the number of collections which contain holiday cards, such as the Shirley Briggs Papers. Briggs, an artist and naturalist, created a new hand-drawn card every year for over 50 years. Receiving one of theseContinue reading “Cards from Christmases Past”
Thanksgiving in Osage, 1950s-style
In 1950, Joyce Horton was a junior at the University of Iowa studying speech pathology. She was active in the Foreign Students Association, a group she really enjoyed. A few weeks before Thanksgiving she wrote a letter to the newspaper in her hometown of Osage, Iowa, suggesting that residents invite these students to spend ThanksgivingContinue reading “Thanksgiving in Osage, 1950s-style”
Shirley Briggs and the Iowa Connection to “Silent Spring”
Fifty years ago, Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring,” a lyrical and compelling book about how DDT and other pesticides were damaging the environment and human health. The book called for a change in the way humankind viewed the natural world and became an inspiration for the environmental movement. One of Carson’s staunchest advocates andContinue reading “Shirley Briggs and the Iowa Connection to “Silent Spring””
Biographer of Mary Louise Smith to read on November 10th
As part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Iowa Women’s Archives, Suzanne O’Dea will read from her new biography of Archives co-founder Mary Louise Smith and take questions about her research for the book. Join us for coffee and pastries at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 10th, in the North Exhibition HallContinue reading “Biographer of Mary Louise Smith to read on November 10th”
Vicki Ruiz to present keynote lecture at The Latino Midwest symposium
Of Poetics and Politics: The Border Journeys of Luisa Moreno Opening Keynote Address, The Latino Midwest Symposium Thursday, October 11, 7:00 p.m. Shambaugh Auditorium, The University of Iowa Reception, 8:30 p.m. North Exhibition Hall, Main Library ~ in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Iowa Women’s Archives ~ From the symposium website: Vicki L.Continue reading “Vicki Ruiz to present keynote lecture at The Latino Midwest symposium”