MS 91
Descartes L. Pascal
Papers, 1890-1937, n.d.

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

Descriptive summary

creator:

Pascal, Descartes L. (1870-1937)

title:

Papers

dates:

1890-1937, n.d.

extent:

12.04 linear ft.  (1 document box, 1 half-document box, 16 glass plate negative boxes, and 1 oversize box)

collection number:

MS 91

repository:

Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Original materials are restricted.  Use copies (box 19) are available for researcher use.

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Descartes L. Pascal Papers, MS 91, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note
 
Descartes L. Pascal (1870-1937) was a photographer, farmer, and pioneer seed corn breeder.  Pascal was born in De Witt, Clinton County, Iowa, where he raised corn, shorthorn cattle, and Berkshire hogs.  Pascal became interested in corn breeding after 1900 and developed the Grand Champion ear of pure bred Reid’s Yellow Dent corn in 1907.  He also wrote and published articles on corn breeding; spoke at colleges, farmers’ institutes, and chautauquas; judged corn breeding contests in Iowa; and served as secretary to the Iowa Corn Growers Association.   Pascal was also a practicing photographer.

 

Collection description
 

The collection (1890-1937, n.d.) includes a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and memorabilia related to Pascal’s achievements in corn breeding, and corn breeding in Iowa generally.  Also included are 180 glass plate negatives and two tintypes made by Pascal, documenting rural Iowa from the 1890s through the 1910s.  Included are family portraits (interior and exterior), family groups, school children, men and women with guns, acrobats, tight rope walkers, several people reenacting a duel, windmills, haystacks, barns, livestock, farmhouses, fields, small town streets, and construction of a school.  Use copies are available in box 19.

 

Organization
 

The collection is arranged in two series:

Series 1, Scrapbook, 1905-1937, n.d.
Series 2, Glass plate negatives and tintypes, 1890-1910, n.d.

Description of series

Series 1 Scrapbook 1905-1937, n.d.
extent: 1.41 linear ft.
description: Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and memorabilia related to Pascal’s achievements in corn breeding, and corn breeding in Iowa generally. Includes the original and a duplicate photocopy.

Container list

Box Folder Title Dates
1 1 Scrapbook (original-- please use photocopy in box 19, folder 1) 1905-1937, n.d.
19 1 Scrapbook (photocopy) 1905-1973, n.d.

 

Description of series

Series 2 Glass plate negatives and tintypes 1890-1910, n.d.
extent: 10.63 linear ft.
description: The collection includes 180 glass plate negatives and two tintypes made by Pascal, documenting rural Iowa from the 1890s through the 1910s. Included are family portraits (interior and exterior), family groups, school children, men and women with guns, acrobats, tight rope walkers, several people reenacting a duel, windmills, haystacks, barns, livestock, farmhouses, fields, small town streets, and construction of a school. When noted, prints can be found in box 19.

Container list

Box Folder Title Dates
2 1 Boy on horse (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 2 School group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 3 Children and wash (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 4 Large group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 5 Large group (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 6 Large group (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 7 Hay stacks (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 8 Farm house – Bussen place (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 9 Street scene of Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) 1890-1900
2 10 Street scene of Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) 1890-1900
2 11 Man with horse (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 12 Arcana Celestia (Lettie) Pascal (sister of Descartes) with horses (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
2 13 Store front (print available – see box 7, #1) (8x5 in.) n.d.
2 14 Stable yard in Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) 1890-1900
2 15 Woman with sketch pad: Lucy Pascal (print available) (8x5 in.) 1890s
3 1 Family farm (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 2 Woman sketching: Lucy Pascal (print available) (8x5 in.) n.d.
3 3 School group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 4 Little girl (print available) (8x5 in.) n.d.
3 5 Girls playing cards (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 6 Two sets of twins (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 7 Homestead (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 8 Farm scene (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 9 Descartes Pascal’s boyhood home near Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) (6.5x8.5 in.) n.d.
3 10 Family group (print available – see box 11, #9) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 11 Commercial house (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 12 Threshing (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 13 Railroad track and cliff (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 14 Family group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
3 15 School group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 1 School group (print available – see box 4, #10) (5x8 in.) 1894
4 2 School group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 3 Boysen family and farm house (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 4 Descartes Pascal and Pedro the dog (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 5 Later street scene of Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) 1900-1910
4 6 School group (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 7 Wickliffe Cotton (cousin of Descartes) hunting with Lee Pascal (nephew of Descartes) and Pedro the dog (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 8 School group, including the teacher Lucy Pascal (sister of Descartes) who taught at this school located in Lincoln Township, Pocahontas county (print available) (5x8 in.) 1890-1900
4 9 Man on horse (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 10 School group, including the teacher Descartes Pascal who taught at this school near Pocahontas, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) 1894
4 11 Three children on porch (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 12 Horse (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 13 School group (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 14 Duel reenactment (5x8 in.) n.d.
4 15 Group (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 1 River and farm (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 2 Group (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 3 John Pascal and threshing machine (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 4 Man and woman on horseback (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 5 Letty playing croquet (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 6 Binder (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 7 Cutting oats with binder (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 8 Pascal homestead (from back) (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 9 Grand Mound, Iowa (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 10 Man balancing table (8x5 in.) n.d.
5 11 Man balancing another man (8x5 in.) n.d.
5 12 Large group (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 13 Family (5x8 in.) n.d.
5 14 Man (8x5 in.) n.d.
5 15 Family (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 1 Talitha Cumi Pascal (8.5x6.5 in.) n.d.
6 2 Talitha Cumi Pascal (8.5x6.5 in.) n.d.
6 3 Aylett Pascal (8.5x6.5 in.) n.d.
6 4 Portrait of a man (8.5x6.5 in.) n.d.
6 5 River scene (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 6 House (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 7 River scene (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 8 Tornado damage in Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 9 Clinton, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 10 Threshing oats (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 11 House with small group (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 12 Group at edge of woods (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 13 Boy in coonskin cap with gun (5x7 in.) n.d.
6 14 Boy on horse (5x8 in.) n.d.
6 15 George Pascal II with team of horses (print available) (5x8 in.) 1893-1894
7 1 Store front of M. E. Burckhalter Manufacturing Co. in Pocahontas, Iowa (print available) n.d.
7 2 George Pascal II with ponies (print available) n.d.
7 3 Descartes Pascal and Pedro the dog (print available) n.d.
7 4 Street scene of Pocahontas, Iowa (print available) n.d.
7 5 Pascal homestead (tintype) (4x6 in.) n.d.
7 6 Woman with child, portrait (tintype) (6x8 in.) n.d.
8 1 Young man, portrait (5x7 in.) n.d.
8 2 Homestead of George W. and Talitha Pascal (print available) (4.25x6.5 in.) n.d.
8 3 Portrait (print available) (7x5 in.) n.d.
8 4 Two gentlemen (7x5 in.) n.d.
8 5 William H. Hunting, Civil War service certificate (7x5 in.) 1890
8 6 Grace Cotton’s graduation presents (7x5 in.) 1891
8 7 Bossen’s place (May) – bought by Descartes Pascal in the 1900s (5x7 in.) 1895
8 8 Pascal family (print available) (5x7 in.) n.d.
8 9 Descartes’ sisters’ graduation from Cornell College (print available) (7x5 in.) n.d.
9 1 Ice skaters (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 2 Later street scene of Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) 1900-1910
9 3 Pascal house, Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 4 Pascal farm, Grand Mound, Iowa (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 5 Boys on horse drawn sled: Lee Pascal, Jasper Babcock, Percy Pascal, and Jim Townsen (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 6 Pascal house near Grand Mound, Iowa: George W. Pascal, Talitha Cumi, Laura, and Lettie (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 7 Small group with baby (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 8 Bicycle club (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 9 School group (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 10 Pascal children (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 11 Barber (print available) (8x5 in.) n.d.
9 12 Two women and a child n.d.
9 13 John Pascal with crew of men and horse drawn road grader (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
9 14 Della M. and Bertha M. Cotton (print available) (8x5 in.) n.d.
9 15 Children with wash (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
10 1 Small group (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 2 Crowd watching acrobat (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 3 Dog on steps (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 4 Standing man (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 5 Seated man (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 6 Man and cats in front of building (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 7 Juggler (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 8 Man smoking pipe (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 9 Two seated people (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 10 Little girl seated on wagon (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 11 Group of four children (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 12 Group of three people – one with bicycle (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 13 Tightrope walker (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 14 Small group (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 15 Woman with hat (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 16 Group of four children (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 17 Man with two horses (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 18 Two women (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 19 Farm house (print available) (3.25x4.25 in.) n.d.
10 20 Baby and bath (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 21 Baby in wash tub: George Pascal III (print available) (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 22 George Pascal III as a baby (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 23 Man holding small table (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 24 George W. Pascal II and Descartes Pascal (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 25 George W. Pascal II and Descartes Pascal n.d.
10 26 George Pascal II as a baby (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 27 Chapel, Cornell College (lantern slide) (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 28 George Pascal II as a baby (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 29 Bowman Hall, Cornell College (lantern slide) (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 30 George Pascal II as a baby (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 31 George Pascal II as a baby (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 32 Man and dog (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 33 Children (print available) (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 34 Mixing cement (print available) (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 35 Unidentified man (print available) (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 36 George and Descartes Pascal (print available) (4x5 in.) n.d.
10 37 Baby in wash tub: George Pascal III (print available) (5x4 in.) n.d.
10 38 Lee Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) 1890
10 39 Lee and Percy Pascal with Pedro the dog (4.25x3.25 in.) 1890
10 40 Laura Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) 1890
10 41 Pedro the dog (4.25x3.25 in.) 1890
11 1 Bossin farm, Clinton county (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
11 2 J. R. Merrill store (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
11 3 School group, Clinton county (print available) (5x8 in.) 1900-1910
11 4 Family farm (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
11 5 School group (print available) (5x8 in.) 1895
11 6 John Pascal’s home yard (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
11 7 An entertainer demonstrating self defense: Professor Carter (print available) (8x5 in.) 1895
11 8 Man balancing chair: Professor Carter (print available) (8x5 in.) n.d.
11 9 Family group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
11 10 School group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
11 11 Two dandies (print available) (8x5 in.) n.d.
11 12 Family farm (print available) (8x5 in.) n.d.
11 13 School group (print available) (8x5 in.) n.d.
11 14 Railroad track at cliffs near DeWitt (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
11 15 School group (print available) (5x8 in.) n.d.
12 1 Percy Pascal and Pedro the dog (4.25x3.25 in.) 1890
12 2 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 3 Aylett Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 4 Portrait of an unidentified man (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 5 Laura Talitha Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 6 Descartes Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 7 Descartes Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 8 Laura Talitha Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 9 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 10 Descartes Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 11 Arcana Celestia Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 12 Aylett Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 13 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 14 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 15 Celestia Cotton Packard (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 16 One of the Cotton family (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 17 Lucy Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 18 Descartes Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
12 19 Descartes Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 1 Uncle Aylett Pascal (4.125x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 2 Uncle Aylett Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 3 Talitha Cumi Pascal and Diophantes (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 4 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 5 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 6 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 7 Arcana Celestia Pascal ("Letty") (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 8 Aunt Celestia Packard (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 9 Cousin Kate Cox (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 10 Talitha Cumi Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 11 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 12 Talitha Cumi Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 13 Talitha Cumi Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 14 Arcana Celestia Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 15 Lucy Pascal (4.125x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 16 Lucy Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
13 17 Aylett Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
14 1 Aylett Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
14 2 John Pascal (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
14 3 Uncle Aylett Cotton (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
14 4 Uncle Aylett Cotton (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
14 5 Uncle Aylett Cotton (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
14 6 Man in buggy drawn by two horses (print available) (4x5 in.) n.d.
14 7 Farm building (print available) (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
14 8 Building (print available) (5x4 in.) n.d.
14 9 Farm house (print available) (4.25x3.25 in.) n.d.
15 1 Teacher’s Institute group photo (10x12 in.) n.d.
15 2 Teacher’s Institute (Pocahontas) (10x12 in.) n.d.
15 3 Farmyard scene (10x12 in.) n.d.
15 4 Costume ball (10x12 in.) n.d.
16 1 John Pascal farm in Pocahontas, Iowa (10x12 in.) n.d.
16 2 Possibly church group (12x10 in.) n.d.
16 3 School group (Dewitt, Iowa) (12x10 in.) n.d.
16 4 School group (10x12 in.) n.d.
17 1 Large group (10x12 in.) n.d.
17 2 Large group (10x12 in.) n.d.
17 3 School group (10x12 in.) n.d.
17 4 Farm (10x12 in.) n.d.
18 1 Group (10x12 in.) n.d.
18 2 Bouquets (12x10 in.) n.d.
18 3 Family farm (10x12 in.) n.d.
18 4 Farm (10x12 in.) n.d.
18 5 Farm (10x12 in.) n.d.
19 2 Reference copies of images in box 2 (12- 8x10 b/w photographs) 1890-1900, n.d.
19 3 Reference copies of images in box 3 (18- 8x10 b/w photographs) n.d.
19 4 Reference copies of images in box 4 (8- 8x10 b/w photographs) 1890-1910, n.d.
19 5 Reference copies of images in box 5 (1- 8x10 b/w photograph) n.d.
19 6 Reference copies of images in box 6 (8- 8x10 b/w photographs) 1893-1894, n.d.
19 7 Reference copies of images in box 7 (8- 8x10 b/w photographs) n.d.
19 8 Reference copies of images in box 8 (1- 5x7 b/w, 7- 8x10 b/w photographs) n.d.
19 9 Reference copies of images in box 9 (22- 8x10 b/w photographs) 1900-1910, n.d.
19 10 Reference copies of images in box 10 (3- 3.5x5 b/w, 8- 5x7 b/w photographs) n.d.
19 11 Reference copies of images in box 11 (28- 8x10 b/w photographs) 1895-1910, n.d.
19 12 Reference copies of images in box 14 (3- 3.5x5 b/w, 2- 5x7 b/w photographs) n.d.
19 13 Prints of Pascal and illustration of corn contest trophy (3- 8x10 b/w photographs) ca 1907
19 14 Descriptions of some images n.d.

 
Descriptive summary   |  Administrative information  |  Biographical/Historical note
 Collection description  |  Organization  |  Description of series/container list

Iowa State University Library, Ames, IA 50011
Comments: tzanish@iastate.edu
URL: http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/manuscripts/MS091.html