MS 309
Rollo  Bergeson
Papers, 1965-1989, n.d.

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

Descriptive summary

creator:

Bergeson, Rollo (1911-1993)

title:

Papers

dates:

1965-1989, n.d.

extent:

2.33 linear ft.  (1 document box, 1 half-document box, and 1 oversized box)

collection number:

MS 309

repository:

Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Rollo Bergeson Papers, MS 309, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note
 

Banker and philanthropist Rollo H. Bergeson was born 23 February 1911.  A native of Sioux City, Iowa, he lived most of his life in Des Moines.  Bergeson graduated from the University of South Dakota and from Duke University Law School. 

He was one of the principal architects of the plan to develop Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, one of the first such endeavors in the United States.  Bergeson also donated a 26-acre tract that later became part of Living History Farms. 

Rollo Bergeson died 6 April 1993.

 

Collection description
 

The collection (1965-1989, n.d.) documents the creation of Living History Farms and its predecessor, a project Bergeson called Interstate Farms.  The collection includes legal documents; correspondence with various investors and participants, including Iowa State University professor and politician William G. Murray; conceptual sketches for Interstate Farms; and newspaper clippings.  It also contains descriptions of the various efforts undertaken to purchase the land for Living History Farms.  The collection also includes photographs of the site and of Bergeson and Murray together.  Also included is information about land that Bergeson donated to the Girl Scouts.

For related material about Living History Farms, see RS 13/9/15, William G. Murray papers.

 

Organization
 

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Catholic Rural Conference

n.d.

1

2

Clive Prison Farm

1965

1

3

Flynn Farm

1969

1

4

Land Donation: Girl Scouts

1975-1977

1

5

Living History Farms: Activities

1975-1986

1

6

Living History Farms: Agricultural Education News Articles

1975-1980

1

7

Living History Farms: Board of Directors

1974-1977

1

8

Living History Farms: Comprehensive Development Plan

1974

1

9

Living History Farms: Correspondence (5- 3x4 color photographs)

1966-1986

1

10

Living History Farms: Donations

1975

1

11

Living History Farms: Foundation (3- 8x10 b/w and 1- 3x5 color photograph)

1967-1989

1

12

Living History Farms: Interpretation Center

n.d.

1

13

Living History Farms: Iowa Plowing Matches

1975

1

14

Living History Farms: Land Acquisition

1965-1979

1

15

Living History Farms: Land Boundaries, Deeds, and Financials

1965-1978

1

16

Living History Farms: Land Committee

1975

1

17

Living History Farms: National Register of Historic Places

1965-1973

2

1

Living History Farms: News Articles

1967-1989

2

2

Living History Farms: Publicity

n.d.

2

3

Living History Farms: Terraces and Solar Ponds

n.d.

2

4

Interstate Farms: Appraisal Report

1970

2

5

Interstate Farms: Correspondence

1966-1971

2

6

Interstate Farms: Highway Commission

1976-1977

2

7

Interstate Farms: History of Property

n.d.

2

8

Interstate Farms: Incorporated

1965

2

9

Interstate Farms: Mortgage, Lots 10 & 11

1971-1973

2

10

Interstate Farms: Real Estate Contract

n.d.

2

11

Interstate Farms: “The Story of Interstate Farms”

1972

3

1

“Interstate Farms: Iowa’s Salute to the Future”

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/MS309.html