Collection Timeline

1872 to 1988

1872
Joseph Arthur was appointed at the November 1877 Board meeting as the first Librarian, with a start date of March 1, 1878, and a salary of $200. Arthur was in the first graduating class and had returned to the college and received a master's degree in November 1877. Under his watch, the collection saw its first weeding project and the creation of a catalog of works that the library held.

1891
Fanny Thomas was appointed Librarian in November 1890 by the Board of Trustees, who approved her recommendation for a course in library instruction during the second semester of freshman year. Rhetoric was reduced from 4 to 3 hours to accommodate this change, and a 1-hour course in Library Work was added. The course covered four major subjects: How to Use the Library; The Classification and Best Reference Books in Each Class; The Best General Reference Books and Their Use; Books and How to Read Them. The course was first taught during the fall of 1891, and though the content and course number have changed over the years, undergraduates are still required to take a library course.

1903
By 1903, a new request for a standalone library building was being made by President Albert Boynton Storms. Increased use of the library had seen students using window sills as desks, and preventing the collection from fires were frequently cited as reasons for a new building. President Storms reached out to architectural firm Proudfoot and Bird seeking input on the design and cost of a new building. William T. Proudfoot provided a basic sketch and suggested the building would cost $80,000. In 1911, the legislature allocated $225,000 for a new library, but movement would be slow in planning the new building. The library remained in Morrill Hall for two more years.

1910~
A call for a library building had started as early as January 1870, but it wouldn’t be until 1890 that the legislature funded a new building to house a library, museum, chapel, gymnasium, and laboratory space. Morrill Hall was dedicated on June 16, 1891, with the new library located south of the central stairway on the first floor, with a capacity of 50,000 volumes.

1917
In 1913, the library was moved from Morrill Hall to the Main Building, as the fireproof building would provide better protection for the collections. The library took up extensive space on the west side of both the ground and first floors, but still did not provide adequate space for books or study. This resulted in the creation of departmental libraries around campus.

1922
With funding secured in 1919, it wouldn’t be until 1922 that real movement started on a new fireproof library building. In September of that year, the Board approved architectural plans by Proudfoot, Bird, and Rawson, and the next month, the ground was cleared, and excavation started for the foundation. The following spring, the foundation was poured, and the ironwork for the superstructure began going up. On October 11, 1923, an informal ceremony was held for the laying of the cornerstone of the building. Classes were dismissed at 11:30, followed by short speeches by a number of dignitaries, and a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone.
Architectural drawing of the west and east elevations of the Iowa State College Library.
Architectural drawing of the main reading room of the Iowa State College Library.

1923
With funding secured in 1919, it wouldn’t be until 1922 that real movement started on a new fireproof library building. In September of that year, the Board approved architectural plans by Proudfoot, Bird, and Rawson, and the next month, the ground was cleared, and excavation started for the foundation. The following spring, the foundation was poured, and the ironwork for the superstructure began going up. On October 11, 1923, an informal ceremony was held for the laying of the cornerstone of the building. Classes were dismissed at 11:30, followed by short speeches by a number of dignitaries, and a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone.
With funding secured in 1919, it wouldn’t be until 1922 that real movement started on a new fireproof library building. In September of that year, the Board approved architectural plans by Proudfoot, Bird, and Rawson, and the next month, the ground was cleared, and excavation started for the foundation. The following spring, the foundation was poured, and the ironwork for the superstructure began going up. On October 11, 1923, an informal ceremony was held for the laying of the cornerstone of the building. Classes were dismissed at 11:30, followed by short speeches by a number of dignitaries, and a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone.
With funding secured in 1919, it wouldn’t be until 1922 that real movement started on a new fireproof library building. In September of that year, the Board approved architectural plans by Proudfoot, Bird, and Rawson, and the next month, the ground was cleared, and excavation started for the foundation. The following spring, the foundation was poured, and the ironwork for the superstructure began going up. On October 11, 1923, an informal ceremony was held for the laying of the cornerstone of the building. Classes were dismissed at 11:30, followed by short speeches by a number of dignitaries, and a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone.
With funding secured in 1919, it wouldn’t be until 1922 that real movement started on a new fireproof library building. In September of that year, the Board approved architectural plans by Proudfoot, Bird, and Rawson, and the next month, the ground was cleared, and excavation started for the foundation. The following spring, the foundation was poured, and the ironwork for the superstructure began going up. On October 11, 1923, an informal ceremony was held for the laying of the cornerstone of the building. Classes were dismissed at 11:30, followed by short speeches by a number of dignitaries, and a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone.

1923?
With funding secured in 1919, it wouldn’t be until 1922 that real movement started on a new fireproof library building. In September of that year, the Board approved architectural plans by Proudfoot, Bird, and Rawson, and the next month, the ground was cleared, and excavation started for the foundation. The following spring, the foundation was poured, and the ironwork for the superstructure began going up. On October 11, 1923, an informal ceremony was held for the laying of the cornerstone of the building. Classes were dismissed at 11:30, followed by short speeches by a number of dignitaries, and a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone.

1925
The first floor of the new Library opened on January 6, 1925, and a month later, the rest of the building opened to the public. The building had a capacity of 150,000 volumes and seating for several hundred patrons. With this new space, many of the departmental libraries established in 1913 were closed. The books were moved to the new Library to facilitate centralized library services.
After taking over as Head Librarian, Charles Brown worked to professionalize and expand the staff of the library. With a new, larger space and the expanded services, increased staffing was needed to operate the library. By the time the new building opened, all full-time staff had turned over, with four of the seven having degrees in Library Science, and the number of part-time staff increased from 13 to 19.
The first floor of the new Library opened on January 6, 1925, and a month later, the rest of the building opened to the public. The building had a capacity of 150,000 volumes and seating for several hundred patrons. With this new space, many of the departmental libraries established in 1913 were closed. The books were moved to the new Library to facilitate centralized library services.
The first floor of the new Library opened on January 6, 1925, and a month later, the rest of the building opened to the public. The building had a capacity of 150,000 volumes and seating for several hundred patrons. With this new space, many of the departmental libraries established in 1913 were closed. The books were moved to the new Library to facilitate centralized library services.
A man sits at a study carrel in the stacks (now called tiers) in the newly opened library.

1926
The “H” type building consisted of a basement, two floors on the east wing, and three floors on the west wing with a connecting corridor. The basement housed a receiving room, stacks, printing office, incinerator, and living quarters for a janitor. The first floor’s east wing held the assigned reading room and periodicals room, the corridor held offices and restrooms, and the west wing held a faculty reading room, staff lounge, and stacks. The second floor’s east wing was entirely the main reading room, the corridor held bibliographies and catalogs, and the west wing held the cataloging and ordering units of the library, office space, stacks, and cubicles for students. The third floor of the west wing held seminar, and classroom, and additional stacks.
The “H” type building consisted of a basement, two floors on the east wing, and three floors on the west wing with a connecting corridor. The basement housed a receiving room, stacks, printing office, incinerator, and living quarters for a janitor. The first floor’s east wing held the assigned reading room and periodicals room, the corridor held offices and restrooms, and the west wing held a faculty reading room, staff lounge, and stacks. The second floor’s east wing was entirely the main reading room, the corridor held bibliographies and catalogs, and the west wing held the cataloging and ordering units of the library, office space, stacks, and cubicles for students. The third floor of the west wing held seminar, and classroom, and additional stacks.
The “H” type building consisted of a basement, two floors on the east wing, and three floors on the west wing with a connecting corridor. The basement housed a receiving room, stacks, printing office, incinerator, and living quarters for a janitor. The first floor’s east wing held the assigned reading room and periodicals room, the corridor held offices and restrooms, and the west wing held a faculty reading room, staff lounge, and stacks. The second floor’s east wing was entirely the main reading room, the corridor held bibliographies and catalogs, and the west wing held the cataloging and ordering units of the library, office space, stacks, and cubicles for students. The third floor of the west wing held seminar, and classroom, and additional stacks.
The “H” type building consisted of a basement, two floors on the east wing, and three floors on the west wing with a connecting corridor. The basement housed a receiving room, stacks, printing office, incinerator, and living quarters for a janitor. The first floor’s east wing held the assigned reading room and periodicals room, the corridor held offices and restrooms, and the west wing held a faculty reading room, staff lounge, and stacks. The second floor’s east wing was entirely the main reading room, the corridor held bibliographies and catalogs, and the west wing held the cataloging and ordering units of the library, office space, stacks, and cubicles for students. The third floor of the west wing held seminar, and classroom, and additional stacks.
The College hosted dedication ceremonies for the new Library on January 21, 1926, in the State Gymnasium. Invitations were extended to all land grant universities and colleges, all public libraries in the state of Iowa, all colleges and universities in the state of Iowa, Iowa members of the US Congress, members of the State of Iowa Legislature, early graduates of the college, and a number of other colleges and libraries from around the country. Approximately 2,500 people attended the ceremony, followed by a luncheon for invited guests and an open house and reception in the new building.
In 1925, the library instituted the Library of Congress classification system. This saw any new acquisition being cataloged in this system while also reclassifying the current holdings from the Dewey Decimal System. This work was done when time and staff availability allowed, which resulted in the project running until 1963.

1927
The first floor of the new Library opened on January 6, 1925, and a month later, the rest of the building opened to the public. The building had a capacity of 150,000 volumes and seating for several hundred patrons. With this new space, many of the departmental libraries established in 1913 were closed. The books were moved to the new Library to facilitate centralized library services.
Shortly after the new library opened, WOI radio listeners began making requests for programming related to books and music. In the fall of 1925, library staff began ten-minute book reviews over the radio. Popularity saw the program grow to daily readings by 1928, and in 1930, a new program was launched with expanded programming. Interest continued to grow from the general public, and soon, demands for borrowing books started coming in. As a result, the library launched what is believed to be the first Radio Book Club in the nation. Twenty coupons could be purchased for $3, with one coupon equaling the rental of one book. By June 1932, this service saw the lending of 4,500 books.

1929
An undergraduate course in library instruction has been required for freshmen since 1891. In 1925, Dean Charles Brown launched a graduate-level library instruction course that was an elective for students. The course was titled Bibliographic Research and listed as Lib 12. It was designed to help graduate students locate printed materials and prepare bibliographies. The course met for four hours once a week and was taught until 1970.
Correspondence to President R.M. Hughes from Dean Brown about library storage space concerns and the possibility of storing materials in the Memoroial Union.

1931
Letter from library director Charles H. Brown to University President Raymond M. Hughes about the library budget. Brown asks Hughes not to cut the library's book budget until he can talk with him.

1933
Action item from the Iowa State Board of Education minutes for the December 12, 1933 meeting reporting that the Board has approved payment for the creation of a mural for the Iowa State library.

1934
Poster depicting the library's reading and book review program done with WOI in 1984.
With an eye to expand and enrich the library’s holdings, Dean Brown worked extensively to develop an exchange program with libraries around the world to bring in scientific serials. He forged agreements with the Directors of the Agricultural and Engineering Experiment Stations and the editors of the Iowa State Journal of Science and the Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science to provide copies of publications in exchange for scientific and technical publications with libraries across the world. The program grew to include over 1,200 institutions, both at home and abroad, and saw the library’s prestige grow to be among the top research libraries in the country.

1935
Letter from library director Charles H. Brown to University President Raymond M. Hughes about the library budget. Brown says that the library needs more funds because of increasing prices of books and periodical subscriptions.
Photograph of the engineering panel of the Iowa State library mural while it is in progress at Grant Wood's studio.

1935~
Photograph of the engineering panel of the Iowa State library mural while it is in progress at Grant Wood's studio.

1936
Article from the Iowa State Student, volume 64, number 4 (September 9, 1936) reporting that Grant Wood has begun painting a mural for the lower lobby alcove of Iowa State's library.
Article from the Iowa State Student, volume 64, number 17 (October 27, 1936) reporting that Iowa State student Eby Grace was the model for one of the figures depicted on the home economics panel of Grant Wood's mural in the library stairwell.
Article from the Iowa State Student, volume 64, number 29 (November 24, 1936) reporting that Grant Wood has started work on new murals for the ground floor of Iowa State's library.

1937
Shortly after the new library opened, WOI radio listeners began making requests for programming related to books and music. In the fall of 1925, library staff began ten-minute book reviews over the radio. Popularity saw the program grow to daily readings by 1928, and in 1930, a new program was launched with expanded programming. Interest continued to grow from the general public, and soon, demands for borrowing books started coming in. As a result, the library launched what is believed to be the first Radio Book Club in the nation. Twenty coupons could be purchased for $3, with one coupon equaling the rental of one book. By June 1932, this service saw the lending of 4,500 books.

1939
Shortly after the new library opened, WOI radio listeners began making requests for programming related to books and music. In the fall of 1925, library staff began ten-minute book reviews over the radio. Popularity saw the program grow to daily readings by 1928, and in 1930, a new program was launched with expanded programming. Interest continued to grow from the general public, and soon, demands for borrowing books started coming in. As a result, the library launched what is believed to be the first Radio Book Club in the nation. Twenty coupons could be purchased for $3, with one coupon equaling the rental of one book. By June 1932, this service saw the lending of 4,500 books.
Poster depicting the library's reading and book review radio programs for WOI in summer 1939.

1941
Within five years of the building opening, stack space was exhausted, and the library was left looking for temporary storage space on campus. They were given space on the unfinished third floor of the Memorial Union (MU), and 40,000 volumes were soon taking up shelves there. In 1936, the books were moved to the Engineering Exhibit Hall after funding to complete the MU was obtained. The scattered collections also began seeing a rise in complaints and hampered services. A new Library Storage Building was approved by the Board, and the $9,000 structure opened in 1940. This building is now the Advanced Machinery Systems Lab.

1944
The Library Loan Desk (now called Circulation Desk) is viewed from the librarian's side, with a male staff member helping a female patron while other staff work with card files and book trucks behind the desk.
Many students wearing military uniforms study in the Main Reading Room (currently called the Periodical Room).
Students peruse books in the New Book Shelf area.
Article from the Iowa State Daily Student, volume 71, number 72 (January 28, 1944) reporting that Christian Petersen has begun working on a pair of statues to flank the stairs in the Iowa State library.

1946
Robert W. Orr, Professor and Director of Libraries, is shown in this portrait taken in 1946.
Article from the Iowa State Daily Student, volume 74, number 199 (August 24, 1946) reporting that Iowa State would open an annex library at Camp Dodge staffed with two librarians.

1949
A woman dressed in a scarf and coat is entering the east door of the library as another person, partially visible, is exiting the library.

1950
Correspondence from Orr to President Friley urging that library capital improvements be requested of the Legislature.

1951
A group of people are being instructed in library card catalog records, Some of the people, seated at a table are examining individual cataloging cards in drawers. Other standing individuals are consulting books.

1952
An episode of "This is Iowa State," which takes viewers behind the scenes of the college library. Director Robert W. Orr discusses the importance of libraries, quotes professors about how they use the library, and shows students using the library.
Correspondence from Orr to President Friley detailing repairs, alterations, and improvements needed to the original library building.

1954
A bird's eye view shows the entire Reference and Reading Room in the library (currently called the Periodical Room).
Mrs. Dorothy Kehlenbeck, Curator of the College Historical Collection is seated at a desk using a typewriter.
Dorothy Kehlenbeck, curator of the College Historical Collection is standing before an open file cabinet drawer examining papers. The collection is located in the corner of the Faculty Reading Room 105.
Library director Robert Orr tells Harold V. Gaskill about his opposition to spreading library collections across campus at various academic departments. Orr is in favor of a centralized library.

1955
A library staff member helps four patrons lining up at the Loan Desk (now called the Circulation Desk), while two staff members work near piles of books behind the desk. A sign on the desk explains procedures for charging books.

1956
This report was prepared by the office of Library Director Robert W. Orr to make the argument for an addition to the library building. It includes proposed additions and remodels for a new addition to the library.

1957
Photo of exterior of temporary building "N", which were former barracks placed on the west side of the library building and housed library instruction and a reading room.

1958
An interview with former library director Charles Harvey Brown, conducted by Dorothy Kehlenbeck, college archivist. They discuss Brown's library career and the achievements and challenges he faced at Iowa State, and the library's development from the 1920s to the 1950s.

1960
The concrete foundation and two levels of the 1st addition are under construction. Vertical rebars and wooden planks are sticking up from the foundation.
This aerial view shows the excavation site for the 1st addition to the library. A war surplus building, Number "N" appears on the far left. It was taken down in 1968 prior to construction of the 2nd addition.

1961
A male student uses a typewriter in the Typing Room of the newly opened 1st Addition.
The 1st addition to the library is being constructed with a rotunda entrance on the south side. A large crane is on the right and a mid 1950's Studebaker is parked on the left.
A library monitor, Mrs. Isabel Matterson, checks the books of three women inside the library Rotunda (south) entrance.
Newsletter article, issued by Orr, about the library addition and building updates for the fall 1961 semester.

1962
An episode of a children's television program explaining the different rooms and uses of the Iowa State College Library. Betty Lou McVay hosts and narrates a tour of the library, including the new addition opened in 1961.

1965
Correspondence and memorandum from Orr to President Hilton about the Library's space issues and building needs.

1966
A periodical space in the library features slanted display shelving for current issues, orange carpeting, and a modern chair.
Library study tables and desks sit on orange carpet next to blue columns in the 1st Addition.
A drawer of the author-title catalog is pulled out, with more catalog cabinets and tables in the background, and bibliographies on shelves on the wall.
Transcript of an interview with library director Robert Orr, conducted by Dorothy Kehlenbeck, university archivist. They discuss Orr's career at Iowa State, recent and anticipated changes to the library building and library work, and the development and use of the college history collection.
An interview with library director Robert Orr, conducted by Dorothy Kehlenbeck, university archivist. They discuss Orr's career at Iowa State, recent and anticipated changes to the library building and library work, and the development and use of the college history collection.

1967
Warren B. Kuhn, Dean of the Library, is showing a reel of microfilm. Boxes of microfilm, an envelope of microfiche, and pam boxes with micro-opaques are displayed on the book truck.

1968
Newsletter article, issued by Kuhn, about the second library addition and an architect's sketch.

1969
A woman is walking on the snow-cleared sidewalk along the north side of the 2nd addition construction. Scaffolding is still visible on the left. Two men are walking in the driveway on the west side of the addition.
Three library patrons read at study carrels while workers shelve books in the stacks of the newly completed 2nd Addition to the library.

1970
Students study at tables while others view art on the wall in the background.

1972
University Archivist Stan Yates examines the contents of a display case from the Christian Petersen exhibit held in 1972.

1974
William Robert Parks,Warren Kuhn and library staff members pose with the one millionth book acquired by the library.
Guests at the one millionth book celebration are examining the volume.

1977
"1967 - 1977: The Decade in Review" section of the 1976/1977 library annual report, compiled by Dean Warren B. Kuhn and addressed to President Parks. The section provides information about library collections, services, staff, and organization.

1978
Appendix, prepared by the ISU Library, detailing the inadequacies and needs of the library building, to support President Parks' convocation address in fall 1978.
Address given by President Parks to ISU staff at the fall 1978 convocation, detailing the need for library improvements and expansions to better serve the ISU community.

1979
"The Birth - and Rebirth - of a Library Building" from the ISU Library Twelfth Annual Report, 1978-1979, compiled by Dean Warren B. Kuhn and addressed to President Parks. The section details progress made on the third library expansion.
Proposed Library Addition III project description and plans, 1979. Prepared by university architect Everett D. Swagert, architects Charles Herbert and Associates, library consultant Donald O. Rod, and cost consultant John Hart Inc.

1980
The main (south) entrance is shown on the newly finished 3rd addition to the library.
Transparency showing the arrangement of titles in the serials catalog for instruction purposes in Lib 160.
Transparency showing a catalog card with Author, Title, and Subject for instruction purposes in Lib 160.
A scale model of what the new 3rd addition to the library will look like.
Group portrait of Library Staff Association members standing on the steps outside the library building at Iowa State University in 1980.
Brochure detailing space issues in the library building, published by the Alumni Association.

1980~
Brochure detailing space issues in the library building, published by the Alumni Association.

1981
One person is using a video camera to record another person who is seated at a desk.
Scaffolding surrounds the south view of the 3rd addition construction.

1983~
Brochure about the ISU Foundation $10 Million Challenge - a capital campaign for a major library expansion.

1984
People are sitting in chairs located on the main floor of the 3rd edition. The spiral central staircase is on one side of the picture and the circulation service area is in the background.
The spiral staircase located in the open interior of the library provides access to the newly constructed 3rd edition.
Article form the Iowa State Daily, volume 113, number 115 (March 23, 1984) reporting that the Iowa Board of Regents has voted to name the Iowa State library after W. Robert Parks and his wife Ellen Sorge Parks.
Program for the dedication of the Parks Library, Friday, June 8, 1984, 10:30 am.
Ceremony includes remarks by Virgil Lagomarcino, Gov. Terry Branstad, S.J. Brownlee, Sam Hamilton (for Carl A. Bluedorn), Warren B. Kuhn, and W. Robert Parks, and unveiling of portrait of Pres. Parks.
The university community is gathered outside for the dedication of the 3rd addition to the library. A man is speaking at the podium. To the right of the podium is the covered portrait of Dr. Robert Parks which was unveiled at the ceremony.

1986
The "Left-sided Angel", a 465-pound cast bronze sculpture, stands eight feet high on a six foot pedestal outside the entrance to the library. In 1986 Stephen DeStaebler, a Midwest-born artist living in Berkeley, California, created the figure with limbs missing from its right side to symbolize the fragility of the human condition.

1988
Two students are working with a projector microfilm machine.