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

RS 22/7/0/10
Iowa State University. Homecoming
Records, 1914-[ongoing]


Descriptive summary

creator:

Iowa State University, Homecoming
title:

Records
dates:

1914-[ongoing]
extent:

9.45 linear feet (22 document boxes and 1 half-document box)
collection number:

RS 22/7/0/10
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 Homecoming Records, RS 22/7/0/10, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

Homecoming at Iowa State University is a tradition that began on November 16, 1912 with a football game between Iowa State and the University of Iowa. The idea was first proposed by Professor Samuel Beyer who recognized that many alumni came back for the football game against the University of Iowa.

The first Homecoming celebration was a great success. Classes were cancelled on Friday afternoon and Saturday, students erected "Beat Iowa" signs, a debate was held Friday evening, and an alumni reception and luncheon was held on Saturday morning. Of course, the highlight of the weekend was the football game. Unfortunately, Iowa State lost that first homecoming game, but that didn't stop students and alumni from celebrating together for the rest of the day and into the evening.

Many events have surrounded homecoming in past years. Lawn displays, dances, Homecoming queens, pep rallies and barbeques, Yell Like Hell, and torchathons have all been a part of homecoming celebrations and some still are. The most notorious event to take place during homecoming was the student riot following the 1953 upset of Missouri. Excited students marched on the Knoll demanding a holiday on Monday. When President James Hilton didn't appear, for he wasn't home, the students decided to blockade Lincoln Way. President Hilton refused them the holiday even though the crowd returned the following Sunday and Monday nights.

Over the years, Iowa State's Homecoming celebration has played host to many special guests. None, however, can top the special guest first introduced at the 1954 Homecoming game—Cy, Iowa State's mascot. The costume was made by the Collegiate Manufacturing Company of Ames and the name was supplied through a contest sponsored by the Pep Council. Wilma Beckman Ohlsen of Ames is credited with the winning entry.

Homecoming is currently (as of 2009) organized by the Homecoming Central Committee of the Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC). Typical events during Homecoming include community service projects; spirit displays such as lawn displays, victory lane, and store front window paintings; sporting tournaments including basketball, volleyball, and soccer; and Yell Like Hell, which is a competition between student groups performing skits that include chants and cheers.

 

Collection description

The collection (1914-[ongoing]) contains committee files, meeting minutes, news clippings, progress reports, and publicity materials related to Iowa State University's Homecoming celebration. The records from 1969 through 1990 document homecoming activities and event planning rather well. These materials include extensive committee minutes, correspondence, publications, and other materials related to the organization of execution of homecoming activities. However, the years prior to and since this time period (1912-1968 and 1991-current) are documented almost solely though news clippings, if anything at all.

 

Organization

The collection is listed chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates
25 3 The Iowa State Alumnus: homecoming announcements (photocopies) 1912-1974

1

1

Correspondence

1914, 1917

1

2

General information, including programs and souvenirs

1915-1927

1

3

News clippings

1950-1968

1

4

News clippings: Homecoming riot

1953

1

5

General information

1969

1

6

News clippings

1969

1

7

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda

1969

1

8

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1969

1

9

Alumni relations

1969

1

10

Athletic events

1969

1

11

Business manager

1969

1

12

Coordinator

1969

1

13

Publicity

1969

1

14

Publicity: radio and TV

1969

1

15

Publicity: newspaper and magazine

1969

1

16

Sales

1969

1

17

Secretary

1969

1

18

General information

1970

1

19

News clippings

1970

1

20

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda

1970

1

21

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1970

1

22

Alumni relations

1970

1

23

Alumni relations: alumni correspondence

1970

1

24

Alumni relations: alumni events

1970

1

25

Business manager

1970

1

26

Co-chairmen

1970

1

27

Coordinator

1970

1

28

Entertainment

1970

1

29

Lawn displays: cost evaluation

1970

1

30

Lawn displays: lawn displays and judges

1970

2

1

Publicity

1970

2

2

Publicity: newspaper and magazine

1970

2

3

Publicity: radio and TV

1970

2

4

Queen

1970

2

5

Sales

1970

2

6

Secretary

1970

2

7

General information

1971

2

8

News clippings

1971

2

9

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1971

2

10

Alumni relations

1971

2

11

Business manager

1971

2

12

Coordinator

1971

2

13

Entertainment

1971

2

14

Entertainment: concert and dance

1971

2

15

Lawn displays

1971

2

16

Lawn displays: banners and trophies

1971

2

17

Lawn displays: cost evaluation

1971

2

18

Lawn displays: displays and judging

1971

2

19

Publicity

1971

2

20

Publicity: broadcast

1971

2

21

Publicity: co-chairmen

1971

2

22

Publicity: graphics

1971

2

23

Publicity: print media

1971

2

24

Queen

1971

2

25

Sales

1971

2

26

Secretary

1971

3

1

General information

1972

3

2

General information: applications

1972

3

3

General information: correspondence

1972

3

4

News clippings

1972

3

5

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1972

3

6

Alumni relations

1972

3

7

Athletic events

1972

3

8

Athletic events: Yell Like Hell

1972

3

9

Athletic events: football game activities

1972

3

10

Business: sales

1972

3

11

Co-chairmen

1972

3

12

Coordinator

1972

3

13

Entertainment

1972

3

14

Interim

1972

3

15

Lawn displays

1972

3

16

Publicity

1972

3

17

Queens

1972

3

18

Secretary

1972

4

1

General information

1973

4

2

General information: programs

1973

4

3

News clippings

1973

4

4

Homecoming Central Committee: meeting notes

1973

4

5

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1973

4

6

Alumni relations

1973

4

7

Athletic events

1973

4

8

Business: sales manager

1973

4

9

Entertainment

1975

4

10

Interim

1973

4

11

Lawn displays

1973

4

12

Secretary

1973

4

13

General information

1974

4

14

News clippings

1974

4

15

Alumni relations

1974

4

16

Business manager

1974

4

17

Co-chairmen

1974

4

18

Coordinator

1974

4

19

Entertainment

1974

4

20

Events

1974

4

21

Lawn displays

1974

4

22

Publicity

1974

4

23

Secretary

1974

4

24

News clippings

1975

4

25

News clippings

1976

4

26

General information

1977

5

1

News clippings

1977

5

2

General information: correspondence

1977

5

3

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda

1977

5

4

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1977

5

5

Publicity

1977

5

6

Secretary: coordinator

1977

5

7

General information: program

1978

5

8

News clippings

1978

5

9

Business manager

1978

5

10

General information

1979

5

11

News clippings

1979

5

12

Alumni relations

1979

5

13

Business manager

1979

5

14

Events

1979

5

15

Host and hostess

1979

5

16

Lawn displays

1979

5

17

Pre-game/post-game

1979

5

18

Publicity

1979

5

19

Secretary-coordinator

1979

5

20

General information

1980

5

21

General information: Central Committee evaluation

1980

5

22

General information: sub-committee descriptions

1980

5

23

News clippings

1980

5

24

Homecoming Central Committee: meeting notes

1980

5

25

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda

1980

5

26

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1980

5

27

Advisor

1980

5

28

Alumni relations

1980

5

29

Business manager

1980

6

1

Coordinators

1980

6

2

Coordinators: Cy-squad

1980

6

3

Events

1980

6

4

Host and hostess

1980

6

5

Interim

1980

6

6

Lawn displays

1980

6

7

Publicity

1980

6

8

Secretary

1980

6

9

General information

1981

6

10

General information: program

1981

6

11

News clippings

1981

6

12

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1981

6

13

Alumni relations

1981

6

14

Alumni relations: cheerleader reunion

1981

6

15

Business manager

1981

6

16

Co-chairmen

1981

6

17

Lawn displays

1981

6

18

Publicity

1981

6

19

Publicity: account executive

1981

6

20

Publicity: ad rep and distribution

1981

6

21

Publicity: artists

1981

6

22

Publicity: newspaper ads

1981

7

1

Publicity: photographers

1981

7

2

Publicity: writers

1981

7

3

General information

1982

7

4

General information: program

1982

7

5

News clippings

1982

7

6

Homecoming Central Committee: meeting notes

1982

7

7

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda

1982

7

8

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1982

7

9

Alumni relations

1982

7

10

Alumni relations: cheerleader reunion

1982

7

11

Business manager

1982

7

12

Business manager

1982

7

13

Co-chairmen

1982

8

1

Coordinator

1982

8

2

Events

1982

8

3

Host and hostess

1982

8

4

Lawn displays

1982

8

5

Operations

1982

8

6

Publicity

1982

8

7

Secretary

1982

8

8

General information

1983

8

9

General information: program

1983

8

10

Homecoming Central Committee: meeting notes

1983

8

11

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda

1983

8

12

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1983

8

13

Business manager

1983

8

14

Co-chairmen

1983

8

15

News clippings

1983

8

16

Cy-squad

1983

8

17

Events

1983

8

18

Events: bar night

1983

9

1

Events: pep rally and kick-off

1983

9

2

Events: special events

1983

9

3

Events: torchathon

1983

9

4

Events: tournaments

1983

9

5

Finance

1983

9

6

Finance: alumni golf

1983

9

7

Finance: cartoon poster

1983

9

8

Finance: coupon book/calendar

1983

9

9

Finance: general fundraiser

1983

9

10

Finance: sales director

1983

9

11

Finance: secretary

1983

9

12

Host and hostess/alumni relations

1983

9

13

Host and hostess/alumni relations: cheerleader reunion

1983

9

14

Host and hostess/alumni relations: pre-game and post-game

1983

9

15

Home promotions

1983

9

16

Publicity

1983

9

17

Secretary

1983

9

18

Written applications

1983

9

19

General information

1984

9

20

General information: homecoming week magazine and calendars of events

1984

9

21

News clippings

1984

9

22

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda

1984

9

23

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1984

9

24

Sub-committee minutes and notes

1984

9

25

Block plans

1984

10

1

Business manager

1984

21

1

Bylaws and policies

1984-1986

10

2

Co-chairs

1984

10

3

Coordinator

1984

10

4

Cy-squad

1984

10

5

Events: general information

1984

10

6

Events: minutes and progress reports

1984

10

7

Events: alumni events

1984

10

8

Events: block plans and scheduled events

1984

10

9

Events: off-campus events

1984

10

10

Events: on-campus events

1984

10

11

Events: pep rally and kick-off

1984

10

12

Events: pregame and postgame

1984

10

13

Expenditures

1984

10

14

House promotions: general information

1984

10

15

House promotions: agenda, minutes, and progress reports

1984

10

16

House promotions: co-chairs

1984

10

17

House promotions: community relations

1984

10

18

House promotions: house display

1984

10

19

House promotions: service projects

1984

10

20

House promotions: spirit sheets

1984

11

1

House promotions: tournaments

1984

11

2

House promotions: yell like hell

1984

11

3

Interview schedule and applications

1984

11

4

Policies and request forms

1984

11

5

Publicity: general information

1984

11

6

Publicity: minutes and progress reports

1984

11

7

Publicity: sub-committee applications

1984

11

8

Secretary

1984

11

9

Student advisors

1984

11

10

Torchathon

1984

11

11

General information

1985

11

12

General information: magazine, catalog, flyers

1985

11

13

News clippings

1985

12

1

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda, minutes, and notes

1985

12

2

Homecoming Central Committee: addresses and phone numbers

1985

12

3

Block plans

1985

12

4

Business coordinators

1985

12

5

Co-chairs

1985

12

6

Co-chairs: notes

1985

12

7

Class reunions for Class of 1960 and 1975

1985

12

8

Cy-squad

1985

12

9

Events: general information

1985

12

10

Events: minutes and progress reports

1985

12

11

Events: alumni events

1985

12

12

Events: off campus events

1985

12

13

Events: on campus events

1985

12

14

Events: pep rally and kick-off

1985

12

15

Expenditures

1985

12

16

House promotions: general information

1985

12

17

House promotions: minutes

1985

12

18

House promotions: budgets

1985

12

19

House promotions: co-chairs

1985

12

20

House promotions: co-chairs notes

1985

12

21

House promotions: Greek involvement

1985

12

22

House promotions: house display and banners

1985

12

23

House promotions: lawn display

1985

13

1

House promotions: resident hall involvement

1985

13

2

House promotions: spirit sheets

1985

13

3

House promotions: tournaments

1985

13

4

House promotions: yell like hell

1985

13

5

Policies and request forms

1985

13

6

Publicity

1985

13

7

Publicity: progress reports

1985

13

8

Publicity: request forms

1985

13

9

Publicity: written applications

1985

13

10

Retreat

1985

13

11

Secretary

1985

13

12

Student advisors

1985

13

13

Torchathon: general information

1985

13

14

Torchathon: minutes and progress reports

1985

13

15

Torchathon: Cy-stride

1985

13

16

General information

1986

13

17

General information

1986

13

18

News clippings

1986

13

19

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda and minutes

1986

13

20

Homecoming Central Committee: addresses and phone numbers

1986

20

27-28

Homecoming Central Committee: general information

1986

13

21

Business manager

1986

20

29

Business manager

1986

13

22

Co-chairs: general

1986

13

23

Co-chairs: notes

1986

14

1

Coordinator

1986

14

2

Coordinator: request forms

1986

14

3

Cy-squad: general information

1986

14

4

Cy-squad: coordinators

1986

14

5

Cy-squad: financial approval and request forms

1986

14

6

Events: general information

1986

14

7

Events: minutes

1986

14

8

Events: alumni events

1986

14

9

Events: co-chairs

1986

14

10

Events: off campus events

1986

14

11

Events: on campus events

1986

14

12

Events: pep rally and kick-off

1986

14

13

Expenditures

1986

20

30

Final reports

1986

14

14

House promotions: general information

1986

14

15

House promotions: minutes

1986

14

16

House promotions: co-chairs

1986

14

17

House promotions: Greek involvement

1986

14

18

House promotions: lawn displays

1986

15

1

House promotions: residence hall involvement

1986

15

2

House promotions: spirit sheets

1986

15

3

House promotions: tournaments

1986

15

4

House promotions: yell like hell

1986

15

5

Policies

1986

15

6

Publicity: general information

1986

15

7

Publicity: request forms and progress reports

1986

15

8

Publicity: co-chairs

1986

15

9

Publicity: letterhead, logo, and button designs

1986

15

10

Publicity: written applications

1986

15

11

Secretary

1986

15

12

Sponsorship coordinator

1986

15

13

Student advisors: general information

1986

15

14

Student advisors: financial approval and request forms

1986

15

15

Torchathon: general information

1986

15

16

Torchathon: agenda and minutes

1986

15

17

Torchathon: co-chairs

1986

15

18

Torchathon: Cy-stride

1986

15

19

Torchathon: major sponsorship

1986

15

20

Torchathon: minor sponsorship

1986

15

21

Torchathon: promotions

1986

15

22

Torchathon: run

1986

15

23

Wine and cheese reception

1986

16

1

News clippings

1987

16

2

Homecoming Central Committee

1987

21

2

Homecoming Central Committee: general information

1987

21

3

Homecoming Central Committee: agendas and minutes

1987

21

4-5

Business manager

1987

21

6

Co-chairs: general information

1987

21

7

Coordinator

1987

22

1

Cy-squad: general information

1987

22

2

Cy-squad: coordinators

1987

22

3

Cy-squad: financial approval and request forms

1987

22

4

Events: general information

1987

22

5

Events: alumni events

1987

22

6

Events: off campus events

1987

22

7

Events: pep rally and kick-off

1987

22

8

Events: special events

1987

22

9

House promotions: general information

1987

16

3

Information booklet

1987

16

4

Program

1987

22

10

Publicity: general information

1987

22

11

Publicity: request forms and progress reports

1987

22

12

Publicity: letterhead, logo, and button design

1987

22

13

Publicity: written applications

1987

23

1

Secretary: block plans and reports

1987

23

2

Sponsorship manager

1987

23

3

Torchathon

1987

16

5

News clippings

1988

16

6

Program

1988

16

7

Budget

1988

16

8

Computer coordinator

1988

16

9

Coordinator

1988

16

10

Cy-squad

1988

16

11

Events

1988

16

12

Follow-up

1988

16

13

House promotion

1988

17

1

Miscellaneous correspondence and committee materials

1988

17

2

Publicity

1988

17

3

Requisitions and receipts

1988

17

4

Requisitions and receipts

1988

17

5

Secretary

1988

17

6

Sponsorship

1988

17

7

Student advisors

1988

17

8

Torchathon

1988

17

9

News clippings

1989

17

10

Program

1989

17

11

Homecoming Central Committee

1989

17

12

Applications

1989

17

13

Coordinator

1989

17

14

Cy-squad

1989

17

15

Events

1989

18

1

House promotions

1989

18

2

Publicity

1989

18

3

Secretary

1989

18

4

Sponsorship

1989

18

5

Stationery

1989

18

6

Student advisors

1989

18

7

Sub-committees

1989

18

8

Torchathon

1989

18

9

News clippings

1990

18

10

Program

1990

18

11

Homecoming Central Committee: minutes

1990

18

12

Homecoming Central Committee: agenda

1990

18

13

Alumni events

1990

18

14

Applications

1990

18

15

Business letters

1990

18

16

Business manager

1990

18

17

Central Committee: general information

1990

18

18

Cy-squad

1990

18

19

Final reports

1990

19

1

Co-chairs

1990

19

2

Interviews

1990

19

3

Kick-off and pep rally

1990

19

4

Kick-off and pep rally

1990

19

5

Lawn display, banner, spirit sheet

1990

19

6

Publicity

1990

19

7

Retreats

1990

19

8

Royalty

1990

19

9

Student Alumni Association

1990

19

10

Secretary/coordinator

1990

19

11

Special events

1990

19

12

Time line

1990

19

13

Torchathon

1990

19

14

Tournaments

1990

19

15

Yell like hell

1990

19

16

News clippings

1991

19

17

News clippings

1992

19

18

News clippings

1993

20

1

News clippings

1994

20

2

News clippings

1995

20

3

News clippings

1996

20

4

News clippings

1997

20

5

News clippings

2000

20

6

Blitz build

2000

20

7

Schedule of events

2000

20

8

News clippings

2001

20

9

Schedule of events

2001

20

10

News clippings

2002

20

11

Schedule of events

2002

20

12

News clippings

2003

20

13

Flyers and brochures

2003

20

14

News clippings

2004

20

15

Activities guide

2004

20

16

Activities guide: gold division

2004

20

17

Brochures and flyers

2004

20

18

Schedule of events

2004

20

19

News clippings

2005

20

20

News clippings

2006

20

21

Flyers and schedule of events

2006

20

22

News clippings

2007

20

23

Concert invitations

2007

20

24

Flyers

2007

20

25

News clippings

2008

20

26

News clippings

2009

23

4

Activities guide

2009
23 5 News clippings 2010
23 6 News clippings 2011