RS 0/11/6
Iowa State University. 
Centennial Celebration Collection, 1955-1959

Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

Descriptive summary

creator:

Iowa State University.  

title:

Centennial Celebration Collection

dates:

1955-1959

extent:

6.04 linear feet (7 document boxes, 5 card boxes, 1 oversized box)

collection number:

RS 0/11/6

repository:

University Archives Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Iowa State University Centennial Celebration Collection, RS 0/11/6, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

In 1958, Iowa State College (University) celebrated the centennial of the founding of the college, which occurred on March 22, 1858, when the charter act establishing a state agricultural college became law.  In 1955, James Hilton, president of Iowa State, appointed a committee to oversee the celebration.  In honor of this event, the college produced a film, Democracy’s College; a book, the Land-Grant Idea at Iowa State College; and several booklets, including “Chronology of Important Events of the First 100 Years” and “Iowa and the New Education . . . the Story of Iowa State College.”  The college also broadcasted radio programs highlighting the college and televised some of the celebration activities. 

The college held several events to celebrate its centennial; the three largest observances included a Founder’s Day Celebration, the centennial VEISHEA, and the centennial commencement.  The first of the celebrations was Founder’s Day, which was held on March 22, 1958 to commemorate the day when the governor of Iowa signed the act establishing the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (Iowa State University). The day began with a processional where faculty, alumni, and honored guests in academic attire walked from the Electrical Engineering Building to the Armory for the convocation.  At the convocation, Herschel C. Loveless (Governor of State of Iowa), Harry H. Hageman (President of the Iowa State Board of Regents), James L. Morrill (President of the University of Minnesota), and James Hilton provided speeches.  The college conferred 11 honorary degrees to alumni and distinguished guests.  Approximately 1200 people attended the convocation.  A luncheon was served following the convocation, where James Jensen (Provost of Iowa State College), Virgil Hancher (President of the University of Iowa) and James Hilton addressed the 600 invited guests. 

Founder’s Day was immediately followed by a three-day symposia where six prominent scientists of the day came to campus to talk on subjects related to major programs at Iowa State.  Speakers included William G. Pollard (Director of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies), Celia Payne-Goposchkin (Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University), and Shields Warren (Professor of Pathology at the Harvard Medical School). 

“VEISHEA presents the century” was the theme for the 1958 VEISHEA.  Filled with the usual VEISHEA activities (open houses, the parade, Stars Over VEISHEA, and canoe races), the celebration focused on Iowa State’s 100th anniversary.  The parade floats featured social and technological advancements from 1858 to 1958 and the open houses reviewed the progress made at Iowa State in its first 100 years.  The Stars Over VEISHEA production was an original musical created for the centennial.  This musical, “Starways,” portrays a series of reminiscences reflecting college life during Iowa State’s first 100 years.

The last of the centennial celebrations, the commencement and Alumni Days were held June 13 – 14, 1958.  The festivities consisted of a graduation ceremony for over 1000 students, a senior prom, and an all alumni centennial luncheon.  At the commencement ceremonies, four faculty members were presented with honorary Doctor of Science degrees for their service to Iowa State.  The recipients were Charles Friley (president emeritus), Florence Fallgetter (head of the Department of Home Economics Education), R.K. Bliss (former director of the Agricultural Extension Service), and H.D. Bergman (dean emeritus of the Division of Veterinary Medicine).  Edwin G. Nourse (former professor of agricultural economics at Iowa State and nationally known economist) was also presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree.  150 other awards and honors were presented to alumni, faculty, and friends of Iowa State at the alumni centennial luncheon.

The Class of 1958 entombed a time capsule in a granite bench (also a gift of the Class of 1958).  The capsule contains a 1958 Bomb (Iowa State’s yearbook), a print of Democracy’s College, VEISHEA program, a copy of the Green Gander (Iowa State’s humor magazine), a copy of the Iowa State Daily (campus newspaper), and a prophecy written by Jerry Landman (president of the Class of 1958).  The time capsule is to be opened by the senior class president of 2058.

 

Collection description

The collection consists of the records of the centennial committee and its sub-committees, including correspondence, meeting minutes, and reports.  The records also include clippings from newspapers and magazines that featured articles about the centennial celebration.  In addition, there are copies of the brochures and booklets produced for the event and copies of speeches given at the centennial activities.  The collection also contains the film (1 16 mm film and 1 VHS tape), film clips (6 16 mm films), script and other materials relating to the centennial film, Democracy’s College.   The records include a scrapbook compiled by Roberta Fritchman (secretary to the president), which contains notes, correspondence and other materials documenting the centennial committee’s efforts.   
 

Organization

The collection is arranged in alphabetical order.

 

Container list  

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

FILM

K-2858

“100 year birthday party for ISC” – WOI broadcast (16 mm film)

1958

1

1

100th anniversary of choosing a location for Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (Iowa State University)

1959

1

2

“1858-1958: Iowa State College Centennial”

ca 1958

1

3

Alumni recognition luncheon

1958

1

4

Attendance for centennial events

1958

1

5

“Bibliography for general histories of ISC”

ca 1958

1

6

Brochures and booklets

1958

1

7

Centennial audio-visual materials listing

1958

1

8

Centennial book award

1959

1

9

Centennial booklet manuscript

1958

1

10

Centennial celebration birthday party

1958

1

11

Centennial celebration plans

1957

1

12

Centennial commencement (1 5 x 7 B&W photograph)

1958

1

13

Centennial Committee – advertising award given by the Art Director’s Association of Iowa

1959

1

14

Centennial Committee – correspondence

1955

1

15

Centennial Committee – correspondence

1956

1

16

Centennial Committee – correspondence

1957

1

17

Centennial Committee – correspondence

1958

1

18

Centennial Committee – correspondence

1959

1

19

Centennial Committee – meeting minutes

1956-1957

2

1

Centennial Committee – meeting minutes

1957-1958

2

2

Centennial Committee – meeting notes in shorthand

1956

2

3

Centennial Committee – meeting transcripts

1956-1957

2

4

Centennial Committee – meeting transcripts

1957-1958

2

5

Centennial Committee – organizational chart

1958

2

6

Centennial Committee – reports: final report

1958

2

7

Centennial Committee – reports: final report draft

1958

2

8

Centennial Committee – reports: progress reports

1957-1958

2

9

Centennial Committee – “Suggestions for those planning centennial celebrations”

1958

2

10

Centennial Committee – sub-committees lists and memberships

1956-1958

3

1

Centennial Committee – sub-committees reports

1956-1957

3

2

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Alumni Committee

1956-1958

3

3

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Budget Committee

1956-1958

3

4

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Food, Housing, and Reception Committee

1957-1958

3

5

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Founder’s Day Committee

1957

3

6

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Honorary Degrees and Awards Committee

1957

3

7

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Invitation Committee

1957-1958

3

8

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Publications Committee

1956-1958

3

9

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Student Centennial Committee

1957-1958

3

10

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Symposia Committee

1956-1958

3

11

Centennial Committee – sub-committees: Transportation Committee

1957-1958

DVD

DVD 002 440

Centennial film – Democracy’s College (16 mm films – re-release of 1958 version)

1962

DVD

DVD 002 514

Centennial film – Democracy’s College (16 mm films – re-release of 1958 version)

1967

FILM

K-6051, K-6072 -- K-6076

Centennial film – Democracy’s College (16 mm films –“Centennial Show Clips”)

1958

VIDEO

V 151

Centennial film – Democracy’s College (VHS video cassette of the 1958 release)

1958

3

12

Centennial film – Democracy’s College – basic treatment notes

1957-1958

3

13

Centennial film – Democracy’s College – development montage

1957

3

14

Centennial film – Democracy’s College – legislative sequence

1957

3

15

Centennial film – Democracy’s College – modern day sequence

1957

Map Case

C 409     D 01

Centennial film – Democracy’s College – props in film (copies of the act which founded the college and a newspaper)

1958

3

16

Centennial film – Democracy’s College – script

1958

3

17

Centennial film – Democracy’s College – source materials

1957

4

1

Centennial First Day Covers

1958

4

2

Centennial luncheon

1958

4

3

Centennial luncheon – speakers: Hancher, Virgil, “Higher Education in Iowa”

1958

4

4

Centennial luncheon – speakers: Hilton, James, closing remarks

1958

4

5

Centennial News

1958

4   6   Centennial radio series 1958  
4   7   Centennial scrapbook compiled by Roberta Frichtman volume 1 (1 of 3) 1958  

4

8

Centennial scrapbook compiled by Roberta Fritchman, volume 1 (2 of 3)

1958

4

9

Centennial scrapbook compiled by Roberta Fritchman, volume 1 (3 of 3)

1958

4

10

Centennial scrapbook compiled by Roberta Fritchman, volume 2 (1 of 2)

1958

4

11

Centennial scrapbook compiled by Roberta Fritchman, Volume 2 (2 of 2)

1958

4

12

Centennial slide show script

1958

5

1

Centennial stationery

1958

5

2

Centennial telecast on WOI-TV

1958

5

3

Centennial VEISHEA

1958

5

4

“Century of Science with Practice at Iowa State College” by E. D. Ross

1958

5

5

Chronology of Important Events of the First 100 Years

1958

5

6

City of Ames resolution 3995 – commending the college on its 100 years

1958

5

7

Commemorative Papers from the Iowa State College Centennial

1958

5

8

Congratulations

1958

5

9

Congratulations from prominent people

1958

Map Case

C 409     D 01

Congratulations from the University of Iowa Alumni Association in Honor of Iowa State College’s Centennial

1958

5

10

Controversy over the “first Land-Grant College”

1955

5

11

Faculty art exhibit

1958

5

12

Faculty Women’s Club centennial luncheon

1958

Artifact Collection