Volume 12, Issue No. 6, Nov/Dec 2020

 

›Nancy Drew, the beloved young female detective portrayed in the iconic Nancy Drew Mystery Series that has sold more than 200 million copies since 1930, is the most popular teen detective in the world. Few know, however, that Iowa author Mildred Augustinewrote the first seven Nancy Drew mysteries and 23 of the first 30 volumes under the pen name “Carolyn Keene.” Barbara Lounsberry, author and Professor Emerita at the University of Northern Iowa, who travels Iowa to speak about Nancy Drew as part of the Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau, shares her extensive research in our captivating cover story that includes rare photographs from the University of Iowa Libraries.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger writes about the centennial of the first transcontinental airmail flight that landed at the Iowa City Municipal Airport.

 

›University of Iowa men’s basketball coach Lute Olson is remembered by Don Doxsie, longtime Quad-City Times sports editor and columnist.

 

›Jerome Thompson, retired State Historical Society of Iowa museum curator, writes about one of his legendary predecessors, Edgar R. Harlan, and Harlan’s relationship with the Meskwaki as he ushered in The Indian Life School.

 

›Mobster Meyer Lansky’s gambling empire included a dog racing track in Council Bluffs

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman pens a heart-warming Christmas column that reveals Ed Griper as the ghost of Christmas present.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach tells how a party line listener helped officials capture a horse thief near Leon.

 

 

 

 

Volume 12, Issue No. 5, Sept/Oct, 2020

 

›This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Football League and Iowans were a big part of its early development and evolution. Though there has never been an NFL team based in our state, hundreds of native Iowans have played in the league, dozens have been among its brightest stars and one of the league’s most influential executives was raised in Davenport. Our cover story, written by veteran sports columnist and editor for the Quad-City Times, highlights Iowa’s professional football pioneers and stars just in time for kickoff of the 100th NFL season.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger encourages Iowans to visit a state park and mark the 100 year milestone of the Iowa’s state park system: our “Places of Quiet Beauty.”

 

›Discover David Connon’s riveting research that identifies soldiers and sailors from Iowa who fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

 

›It’s a wrap! Creative project director and radio host John Busbee concludes his three-part series, “Heartland to Hollywood” as he puts a lens on the business of moviemaking in our state and takes us behind the scenes on films like “Field of Dreams, “The Bridges of Madison County,” “Cold Turkey” and “The Crazies.”

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman shares his memories of a small-town Main Street where everybody knew his name.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach writes about how the 1860 Iowa State Fair was considered a grand success.

 

 

Volume 12, Issue No. 4, Jul/Aug, 2020

 

›Fasten your seatbelt as you are about to take a magic carpet ride through the fascinating life and times of magician and Union spy Horatio Green “Harry” Cooke and his extraordinary relationship with President Abraham Lincoln. Written by nationally renowned author and distinguished Winthrop University professor of history Jason H. Silverman, who served Winthrop for 33 years as a specialist in the history of the old South and Civil War, our riveting cover story explores how Cooke became one of Lincoln’s handpicked Federal Scouts during the Civil War and was promoted to “Chief of Lincoln Scouts” after performing magic tricks for the President. Known as “Lincoln’s Magician,” Cooke was at Ford’s Theatre the night Lincoln was assassinated and he wrote about it in his diary. After the war, he sometimes performed magic shows in his Union army uniform and he would later befriend and influence Harry Houdini.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger remembers Carrie Chapman Catt as we commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment.

 

›Ready for some good vibrations? Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame disc jockey Kyle Martin writes how The Beach Boys sought good vibrations in Fairfield when they moved there in the fall of 1977 to record an album and practice Transcendental Meditation at Maharishi University.

 

›Get the next bowl of popcorn ready! Creative project director and radio host John Busbee delves into Iowans who make the movie industry work in the second part of his three-part series, “Heartland to Hollywood”

 

›Take a gander at Garner as Ashley Rullestad as she writes about this small town’s big personality.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman recalls his childhood visits to Iowa’s own Magic Kingdom: Riverview Park.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach writes about the fiery advocate Carrie Nation, known as the “Saloon Smasher,” and her visits to Iowa.

 

 

 

 

Volume 12, Issue No. 3, May/June, 2020

 

›Pop some popcorn and settle in. John Busbee kicks off his three-part series, “Heartland to Hollywood” by focusing on movies stars from Iowa and their contributions to the movie industry on the big screen and behind the scenes.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger shares his mother’s timely guidance he received about what matters most in life.

 

›Who famously rebuked U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy with a single phrase: “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?” during a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing? An Iowan, of course. John Skipper sheds light on lawyer and native Iowan, Joseph Nye Welch.

 

›Dubuque’s early history is omnipresent; some of which can still be seen today once you familiarize yourself with it. Keep your eyes peeled as Susan Miller Hellert provides an early history of Dubuque.

 

›Over the years, Iowans have endured pandemics and epidemics including the 1918 Spanish flu, the 1957 Asian flu and the 1968 Hong Kong flu. “We are stronger together” rings true during this COVID-19 pandemic as we rally together to support each other and Iowa-based businesses.

 

›Discover Rockwell with Ashley Rullestad as she writes about the northern Iowa railroad town that was founded in 1870.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman celebrates spring as he fondly remembers his mother’s “mooi tuun.”

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach shares how former Wright County teacher, Carrie Vaughn Anderson, was blazing political trails in the early 1900s.

 

 

 

Volume 12, Issue No. 2, Mar/Apr, 2020

 

›Young Kate Shelley gained national fame when she helped rescue passengers from a train accident during a raging storm on July 6, 1881, in Boone County. For more than a century, her act of heroism has captivated generations of Iowans. Discover the timeless tale of Shelley’s bravery and her legend.

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger provides some historical context to the ongoing saga of Iowa’s 2020 caucus.

 

›Longtime Quad-City Times sports columnist Don Doxsie pays tribute to legendary Hawkeye football coach Hayden Fry who was complex, hilarious and thoroughly unforgettable.

 

›Get the in-depth story about Dance Theatre of the Hemispheres in Cedar Rapids and how it fostered cultural awareness. Jane Nesmith shares the story.

 

›Tim Harwood, author and radio broadcaster for the Waterloo Black Hawks, scores the story of Iowa’s first international hockey games held in Waterloo in 1928.

 

›Celebrate with the town of Shelby this summer. Ashley Rullestad writes about the history of Shelby, which celebrates its 150th anniversary June 26-28.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman recalls the sweet aromas of Iowa.

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach shares how waiters predicted in 1915 that an anti-tipping law would lead to cold soup and soft butter.

 

›Read the book review for “Iowa Confederates in the Civil War”; and we share several rare historical photos along the way to help illustrate Iowa’s fascinating history! 

 

›Exploring History

 

›Looking Back

 

›Iowa History Journal Quiz

 

 

Volume 12, Issue No. 1, Jan/Feb, 2020

 

›As we turn the page to the new year, author Rachelle Chase turns back the clock to the start of the 20th century as she delves into the history of Buxton, Iowa’s lost coal-mining town, for our cover story. Buxton, which was formed in 1900, was best known for its groundbreaking racial harmony in which African-Americans were treated equal to whites and thrived as community leaders, making it one of the most unique towns in the nation and a town ahead of its time. ›

 

›Publisher Michael Swanger

devotes his column to Brooklyn native Cpl. Harold P. Keller, the World War II U.S. Marine who was recently identified in the iconic photograph of Marines raising the American flag in 1945 on Iwo Jima.

 

›Author Jerry Harrington pens the story of Iowa’s liquor-by-the-drink conflict and how Gov. Harold Hughes, a recovering alcoholic, pushed for alcohol reform in the early 1960s

 

›Joe DuMond used his national radio fame to create KXEL, a powerhouse Waterloo station, on the strength of his popular radio show, “Josh Higgins of Finchville.” KXEL News Director Jeff Stein shares how DeMond could do it all.

 

›Celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Miller’s Six Pack” and discover how the historic Hawkeye men’s basketball team of 1969-70 went undefeated in Big Ten play with Quad-City Timessports columnist and editor Don Doxsie.

 

›Check out Cherokee with Ashley Rullestad as she tells us about the river valley town that boasts history, culture and scenic views.

 

›Iowa Country Roads columnist Arvid Huisman answers the tough question, “What are Iowans like?”

 

›Iowa Scrapbook columnist, Cheryl Mullenbach demonstrates how cyclical the news can be when it comes to headlines about education.

 

›Read book reviews about Dakotas in exile and Bix Beiderbecke; and we share several rare historical photos along the way to help illustrate Iowa’s fascinating history! 

 

›Book Reviews

 

›Exploring History

 

›Letters to the Editor

 

›Iowa History Journal Quiz

 

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