Volume 11, Issue No. 6, Nov/Dec, 2019

 

›With his paints in one hand and a rifle in the other, John Drake Pusey lived life on the vanguard both literally and artistically, as revealed in our cover story. His adventurous life led him from Council Bluffs to Paris, New York City and Iowa City, where he pursued his art and eventually worked with Grant Wood, to the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and one of Hitler’s bunkers during World War II, to returning to active duty during the Korean War.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger welcomes home a World War II soldier that was missing in action for nearly 77 years.

 

›Michael Morain with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs marks the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad and how an Iowan planned it.

 

›The P.E.O. Sisterhood, which was founded at Iowa Wesleyan University is celebrating its sesquicentennial. Find out more from John Busbee.

 

›Jerome Thompson, retired from the State Historical Society of Iowa, digs into Iowa State’s untold story to build a National Maize Museum on campus.

 

›Ashley Rullestad chronicles the history of Pella and its Dutch traditions, with beautiful photos from Troy Hugen featured.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman shares a heartfelt personal story of Christmas memories and values.

 

›Find out how dogs supported the 51st Iowa Infantry Volunteers in the Spanish American War from Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach.

 

›Read book reviews about Fort Dodge and a Knoxville driver; and we share several rare historical photos along the way to help illustrate Iowa’s fascinating history! 

 

›Historical Happenings

 

›Letters to the Editor

 

›Iowa History Journal Quiz

 

 

Volume 11, Issue No. 5, Sept/Oct, 2019

 

›John Vincent Atanasoff, the “Father of the Computer,” worked closely with Clifford Berry from 1939 to 1942 at Iowa State College (Iowa State University) in Ames to invent the first electronic digital computer. Our cover story written by John Skipper delves into the life and times of Atanasoff and his groundbreaking invention that forever changed the world.›

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger follows the trails blazed out West by Iowa native William Frederick Cody, a.k.a. Buffalo Bill.

 

›Go long with Don Doxsie learning about the legendary 1939 Iowa Hawkeyes football team known as the “Ironmen,” that starred Nile Kinnick.

 

›Get the first-hand account: Jerry Harrington interviews Lonnie Franks and tells how his letter to former Sen. Harold Hughes revealed unauthorized airstrikes over North Vietnam in 1972, the likes of which sent shock waves to the White House.

 

›John Busbee travels the road back in time to research the byway near Columbus Junction known as “Convict Road” that was paved by prisoners more than a century ago.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman recalls the fun and pleasure of scavenging.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach writes about a Center Point doctor’s “land yacht” in the 1920s that was a “vacation machine.”

 

›Discover more about Johnston from Ashley Rullestad as it celebrate’s its 50th anniversary.

 

›Book review: Julie Goodrich reviews “Creating Buxton: The Black Utopia” and we share several rare historical photos along the way to help illustrate Iowa’s fascinating history!

 

›Historical Happenings

 

›Letters to the Editor

 

›Iowa History Journal Quiz

 

 

 

 

Volume 11, Issue No. 4, Jul/Aug, 2019

 

›Timothy Walch, author of the newly released book “Irish Iowa,” writes about a forgotten chapter of Iowa’s Irish heritage that is not included in his book for our cover story entitled “Will the Irish fight? Dennis Mahony and the Civil War.” Walch’s story focuses on Irish Iowans’ service to the Union and its rebellion to it led in part by Dennis J. Mahony, a Dubuque newspaper editor, politician and lawyer.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger writes his column about the 50th anniversary of the death of legendary boxer Rocky Marciano, who died in a plane crash near Newton.

 

›Lost flyboys Part 2: Professor of history Matthew Walsh concludes his exclusive two-part story about World War II airmen Marvin Dille and William Meehan, which includes original artwork drawn by Meehan of his captivity in a German POW camp.

 

›IHJ Exploring History: Pick up where the Mormon Trail begins in Iowa and traces its route across our state with Carson Ode.

 

›Get a peek at Jerry Harrington’s third and final installation of his in-depth series about the ground-breaking work of women’s suffrage leader, Carrie Chapman Catt.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman follows up on his story about East Frisians in Iowa and his German roots.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach tells of a soldier’s mom who investigated camp conditions for the 52nd Iowa Volunteers during the Civil War.

 

›Discover more about LeClaire from Ashley Rullestad and how the Mississippi River, Buffalo Bill and Antoine LeClaire largely define its history and identity.

 

›Book review: “Irish Iowa” explores immigrants’ contributions.

 

›Historical Happenings

 

›Letters to the Editor

 

›Iowa History Journal Quiz

 

 

 

Volume 11, Issue No. 3, May/Jun, 2019

 

›The contrails of their B-17s have long since faded, but the valor of World War II airmen Marvin Dille and William Meehan, who flew into numerous enemy fighter attacks and anti-artillery barrages, never will as their exclusive two-part story takes off. Written by Matthew Walsh, “Lost flyboys” tells the riveting story of two Iowans who flew with the 381st Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps’ Eighth Air Force and were awarded the Purple Heart.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger writes his column about the 50th anniversary of John Wayne’s iconic movie “True Grit,” the focus of this year’s John Wayne Birthday Celebration in Winterset

 

›Discover more about the Everly Brothers’ roots in the small southern Iowa town and how it helped shape early rock ‘n’ roll. You’ll also get  a preview of the annual Everly Heritage Day in Shenandoah.

 

›John Skipper rekindles memories of “The Bahnsen Burner,” MLB pitcher Stan Bahnsen.

 

›Learn more  about women’s suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt in the second of the three-part series by Jerry Harrington.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman recalls his memories of school field trips.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach writes how three Iowans escaped Spain’s civil war in 1936.

 

›Find out about the river town of Waterloo, Iowa’s sixth largest city, from Ashley Rullestad.

 

›Book reviews include Nile Kinnick and a new Midwestern history; and share historic photographs along the way!

 

›Book Reviews

 

›Historical Happenings

 

›Letters to the Editor

 

›Iowa History Journal Quiz

 

 

Volume 11, Issue No. 2, Mar/Apr, 2019

›Mary Eliot Foote’s masterful 1927 oil on canvas of Carrie Clinton Lane Chapman Catt, courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., graces the cover of this issue of Iowa History Journal as we launch our special three-part series about the renowned women’s suffrage leader written by award-winning author Jerry Harrington. Part 1 focuses on Catt’s Iowa roots and early work. Part 2 will delve into her victories and defeats. Part 3 will address her work to help the passage of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote and her towering legacy.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger encourages readers to explore an early western portion of our state through the journals of Lewis and Clark.

 

›Arvid Huisman digs deep to reveal how Arend J. Arends led a wave of German migration to Iowa during the 19th century

 

›Discover the little-known story about the Battle of Athens as John Skipper writes how the tiny town of Croton was the northernmost battlefront west of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War.

 

›Don Doxsie pens an in-depth feature about legendary horse jockey Mack Garner, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1934.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman takes a humorous look at his hatred for Iowa winters and how spring can’t come soon enough.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach chronicles how Iowans responded to the Russian famine in 1892 by sending cash and corn.

 

›Get a taste of the history of Le Mars, the “Ice Cream Capital of the World” from Ashley Rullestad.

 

›Book Reviews

 

›Historical Happenings

 

›Letters to the Editor

 

›Iowa History Journal Quiz

 

Volume 11, Issue No. 1, Jan/Feb, 2019

 

›Sixty years after rock ’n’ roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a plane crash near Clear Lake just hours after headlining the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom, legends of the 1959 Winter Dance Party rave on. Iowa History Journal Publisher Michael Swanger chronicles the final days of the Winter Dance Party, including its three Iowa shows and its aftermath. Our cover story also includes rare photographs of Holly, Valens and the Bopper onstage in Iowa during the tour, including the Surf Ballroom, which are among the Holy Grails of rock ’n’ roll photography. See the story page for the photo gallery links. The story of “The Day the Music Died” is ensconced in the annals of popular Iowa history but is worth telling again with new details as interest in it will not fade away.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger writes about the creation and search for rare photographs from the Surf Ballroom in 1959.

 

›The mystery of Black Hawk’s remains has always remained a mystery. Until now. Jerry Harrington speaks with researcher Russell Fry who claims he has discovered Black Hawk’s final resting place.

 

›Jim Volgarino opens up the throttle on racing through the years in Cedar Valley.

 

Jerome Thompson unearths the little-known story of Robert T. Smith’s search for missing World War II servicemen lost in the South Pacific.

 

›Ashley Rullestad reminds readers of the rich history of Red Oak and on the banks of Red Oak Creek.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman recalls enjoying movies, then and now.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach tells how Cynthia Westover Allen was an adventurous child who became a legendary adult.

 

›Book Reviews

 

›Historical Happenings

 

›Letters to the Editor

 

›Iowa History Journal Quiz

 

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