Descriptive summary

creator:	Iowa Ornithologists’ Union
title:	Records
dates:	1819- [ongoing]
extent:	18.35 linear feet (2 records center cartons, 37 document boxes, and 1 half-document box)
collection number:	MS 166
repository:	Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Records, MS 166, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Historical note

The Iowa Ornithologists' Union (IOU) is a non-profit group, organized in 1923 to promote the enjoyment and study of birds. The goals of the IOU are to encourage interest in the identification, study, and protection of birds in Iowa and to unite those who have these interests in common.

The IOU serves as a forum for the exchange of information and ideas about field identification, birding locations, habitat, distribution, and other topics. It provides an organized outlet for birding activities and bird study projects. Additionally, the IOU provides a repository for records of Iowa birds.

Both spring and fall meetings of the IOU are held annually at good birding locations across the state. A typical meeting is held over a weekend and includes birding field trips and workshops on topics such as identification, birds and birding locations, analyses of aspects of Iowa birds, and an IOU business meeting.

The IOU’s activities include the Iowa Birds and Birding web site, Iowa Birdline, a recorded message of Iowa bird sightings, and the Christmas and Spring Big Day bird counts. Publications of the IOU include Iowa Bird Life, the quarterly journal; IOU News, the quarterly newsletter; the Field Checklist of Iowa Birds, a pocket-sized folded card listing Iowa's regular and casual species, and the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas (1996) a project co-sponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Collection Description

The collection (1918-[ongoing]) contains correspondence, financial records, meeting minutes, photographs, and publicity materials documenting the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union’s administrative activities. In addition, the records committee series includes sighting records submitted for review by the committee, field reports, photographs, batch sheets, and documentation collected to keep a record of the birds of Iowa. Correspondents include Dr. James Dinsmore, Hank and Linda Zaletel, Ann Barker, and Dr. Thomas Kent. Also included in the collection are the bird watching records of former IOU President Walter Rosene (see also Walter Rosene Sr. Photograph Collection, MS 589).

Organization

The collection is organized into three series:

Series 1, Administrative files, 1911-[ongoing] (alphabetical)

Series 2, Records Committee, 1819-[ongoing] (original order)

Series 3, Individuals’ bird watching records, 1917-1972 (chronological)

Description of series


Series 1	Administration	1911-[ongoing]
extent:	2.73 linear ft. (6.5 document boxes)
description:	This series contains correspondence, financial records, meeting minutes, news clippings, and publications. The financial records include budgets, annual financial statements, and other related materials. Included in the meeting materials are correspondence, materials from the fall and spring meetings, meeting minutes, and conference brochures and information. The collection also contains bird checklists and biographical information about members. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
40	1	American Ornithologists’ Union meeting in Ames: correspondence and programs (15 color slides, 1-8x10 b/w photograph)	1992
1	1	Anniversaries: 50^th	1972
1	2	Anniversaries: 75^th	1998
1	3	Bird checklists	1928-2003
1	4	Board of Directors’ newsletter	1984-1987
1	5	Breeding bird atlas – other states	1981-1994
1	6	Brochures	1990-2004, n.d.
1	7	Bulletin – Iowa Ornithologists’ Union	1929-1930
1	8	Code of Ethics	1994, n.d.
1	9	Committee lists	1994-1995
1	10	Committees: Field Trip Committee	1993
1	11	Committees: Library/Historical Committee	1985-1988
1	12	Committees: Publications Committee	1985-1990
1	13	Committees: Publications Committee	1991-1992
1	14	Committees: Review Committee	1982-1987
1	15	Constitution	1985
1	16	Constitution revision	1984-1985
1	17	Conventions: Tri-State Birding Convention	1990
1	18	Correspondence	1912-1947, n.d.
1	19	Correspondence	1954-1969
1	20	Correspondence	1970-1972
2	1	Correspondence	1973-1975
2	2	Correspondence	1976-1978
2	3	Correspondence	1979-1981
2	4	Correspondence	1982
2	5	Correspondence	1983
2	6	Correspondence	1984
2	7	Correspondence	1985-1989
2	8	Correspondence	1991-1998
2	9	Correspondence	1999-2002
2	10	Correspondence	2003
3	1	Correspondence	2004
39	4	Correspondence	2005
39	8	Correspondence	2006
40	3	Correspondence	2007
3	2	Correspondence	n.d.
3	3	Correspondence: Bendorf, Carl	1984-1987
3	5	Correspondence: Treasurer	1957-1969
3	6	Correspondence: Treasurer	1970-1979
3	7	Correspondence: Treasurer	1980-1983
3	8	Correspondence: Treasurer	1986
3	9	Correspondence: Treasurer	1990
3	10	Correspondence: Treasurer	1991
3	11	Correspondence: Treasurer	1992
3	12	Correspondence: Treasurer	1993
3	13	Correspondence: Treasurer	1994
3	14	Correspondence: Treasurer	1995
3	15	Correspondence: Treasurer	1996
3	16	Daily field checking lists	n.d.
4	1	Field reports	1982-1985, n.d.
4	2	Financial reports	1927-1965, n.d.
4	3	Financial reports	1969-1990
4	4	Financial reports	1991
4	5	Financial reports	1992
4	6	Financial reports	1993
4	7	Financial reports	1994
4	8	Financial reports	1995
4	9	Financial reports	1996
4	10	Financial reports	1997
4	11	Financial reports	1998
4	12	Financial reports	1999
4	13	Financial reports	2001
38	25	Financial reports	2004
4	14	Guidelines for documentation of Iowa bird records	1980, n.d.
4	15	Historical materials	1923-1984
4	16	“Information Related to Archival of Records and Photographs,” by T. H. Kent	1993
3	4	Iowa Bird Life: correspondence, James Dinsmore, Editor	1985-2000
39	13	Iowa Bird Life: correspondence, T. H. Kent, Editor	1986-1989
4	17	Iowa Bird Life: finances	1986-1995
38	26	Iowa Bird Life: general information	1985, n.d.
4	18	Iowa Birdline	1981, n.d.
4	19	Iowa Birdline	1990-1993
4	20	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Field data	1986-1989
4	21	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Field data	1990-1991
4	22	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Field data	1992-1993
4	23	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Field data	1994-1996
4	24	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Forms	1987
4	25	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: History	1991
4	26	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Johnson-Cedar County Breeding Bird Newsletter	n.d.
4	27	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: News clippings	1987-1990, n.d.
5	1	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Photographs (19 4x5 color photos, 1 slide)	1993-1997
5	2	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Press release	1987
5	3	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Project	n.d.
5	4	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Project overview	n.d.
5	5	Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: Reviews	1997-1998
5	6	Iowa Conservation Magazine	1923
5	7	Iowa Important Bird Area (IBA) site selections	2003
39	16	Joint meeting with Big Bluestem Audubon Society: program and financial statement	1998
5	8	Logo	1995
5	9	Meeting materials	1923-1929
5	10	Meeting materials	1930-1979
5	11	Meeting materials	1980-1994
5	12	Meeting materials: Riverview Park, Cedar Falls	1991
5	13	Meeting materials: Camp IO-DIS-E-CA	1992
5	14	Meeting materials: Lake Red Rock	1994
5	15	Meeting materials: Wapsi River Environmental Education Center	1995
39	7	Meeting materials: Lakeside Laboratory on West Okoboji Lake	2005
5	16	Meeting materials: Lime Creek Nature Center	1996
38	27	Meeting materials: Rathbun Lake Area	1999
39	5	Meeting materials: Camp Ewalu	2000
5	17	Meeting materials: Des Moines YMCA Camp	2002
5	18	Meeting materials: Hartman Reserve Nature Center	2003
39	1	Meeting materials: Village Creek Bible Camp	2004
39	2	Meeting materials: Wickiup Hill Natural Area	2004
39	3	Meeting materials: Camp Wesley Woods	2005
39	14	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1986
5	19	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1990
5	20	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1991
5	21	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1992
5	22	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1993
5	23	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1994
5	24	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1995
5	25	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1996
5	26	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1997
5	27	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	1998
5	28	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	2000
5	29	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors (3- 4x6 color photographs)	2002
5	30	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	2003
5	31	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	2004
39	15	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	2005
40	5	Meeting minutes: Board of Directors	2007
6	1	Meeting minutes: Business meetings	1993-2003
6	2	Meeting minutes: Executive Council	1982-1985, n.d.
6	3	Meetings: Fall meetings and field trips	1951-1985, n.d.
6	4	Meeting minutes: Membership Committee	2003
6	5	Members: Black, Gladys	1975-1999
6	6	Membership information: new members and renewals (1- 4x6 color photograph)	1990-2005
6	7	Membership directory	1991
6	8	Membership form	n.d.
40	4	Membership roster	2001
6	9	Membership: Biographical profiles	1944-1998
6	10	Membership: Correspondence and information	1947-1985
6	11	Membership: Lists	1978-1990
6	12	Miscellaneous conference materials and photographs (2 4x5 b/w, 2 5x7 b/w, 1 8x10 b/w photos)	1965-1986, n.d.
6	13	News clippings	1922-2007
6	14	Non-profit status letter from IRS	2002
6	15	Other bird groups	1911-1986
6