The Blog of Special Collections and University Archives at Iowa State University
Physical education and kinesiology (exercise sciences) have long been an important part of the Iowa State education. Today we celebrate that tradition with some snapshots of exercise activities on campus over the years.
Feel free to walk, skip, run, bike, however you choose to move, over to the reading room on the 4th floor of Parks Library to see our collections in person!
Here’s a #FlashbackFriday looking back on when the London Orchestra came to Ames, IA in 1974!
The London Symphony Orchestra came to Iowa State during the Ames International Orchestra Festival in 1974. This was the first year the festival featured an orchestra from outside the United States.
The orchestra performed several sold-out concerts in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, each with a different soloist. Sounds like an incredible event!
If you’re interested in reading more about past Iowa State highlights, all copies of the Bomb are available digitally!
Bridesmaid, wedding, day and two visiting dresses all with large bustles. (published by Les Modes Parisiennes:Peterson's Magazine 1883)June is a perennially popular month for weddings, so today we are taking a glance at the wedding attire of days gone by. Today’s Throwback Thursday image is from our fashion plate collection and is from an issue of Peterson’s Magazine in 1883. The two dresses on the far left are a bridesmaid’s dress and a wedding dress. As you can see, the tradition of wearing a white dress must date back from at least the late-19th century. It looks like it was also popular to have the bridesmaids wear a brightly colored dress for the occasion.
If you’re interested in seeing more fashion images, please visit our digital collection. You can also visit the archives to see the originals in the Mary Barton Fashion Illustration Collection.
Today’s Throwback Thursday photo was taken at the Ag Day Parade in 1920. The parade was in conjunction with the Agricultural Carnival which was held at Iowa State from 1912-1915, then again in 1919-1921. In 1922, the Carnival was absorbed, along with other events, into the VEISHEA celebration.
Perhaps the sentiment behind “Iowa’s Crops to the Rescue” had to do with helping to feed the people of Europe after the detrimental affects of WWI. Often the artifacts in the archives tell part of a story, and it is up to the researchers to help piece together the evidence to tell a whole story.
Come visit the archives from 9-5, Monday-Friday to see what stories you might be able to tell!
Once again it’s time to head to the bookstore, find your classes, and get ready to hit the books.
Good luck with this semester and welcome back to campus!
In honor of RAGBRAI coming to Ames on Tuesday the 24th, here’s a picture of the women of the Bicycle Club in 1898. The scan is taken from a glass slide with some deterioration which is why there is some fading (but hey, the photo is 120 years old!)
Good luck to all the RAGBRAI riders next week, and feel free to make the archives one of your stops while you’re in Ames!
The photo wasn’t dated, but I would guess this was taken in the 1950s. Dead Week is the perfect time to share a photo of students studying in the Library Rotunda in front of our Grant Wood murals.
During Dead Week in 2018, the Rotunda is more suited for a relaxing break than studying since we will have some four-legged friends visiting for Barks @ Parks.
Study hard and good luck with finals next week!
For today’s Throw Back Thursday picture, we have the recommended March fashions from 1846. Would you like wearing any of these dresses?
This image comes from a collection of fashion plates that you can learn more about here. We also invite you to explore the rest of the digitized collection, provided by University Library Digital Initiatives. Maybe you’ll get some inspiration for a new spring or summer wardrobe!
Winter in Iowa can prove challenging! Be careful out there and remember that each day that goes by gets us one day closer to spring.
Staying in to avoid the cold and ice? Check out the digital collection of the Bomb, or better yet, help us transcribe it!
This week and next the library is open 24/7 to provide a space for students to prepare for semester finals. Apparently spending “countless hours” at the library is nothing new to ISU students!
Good luck with finals, everyone!
Cardinal Tales 