Citizen Historian: Linda Smith delves into archives to separate folklore from fact
May 12, 2025
Author: Melea Reicks Licht | Image: Melea Reicks Licht
Do you want to see Linda Smith’s face light up? Place a box of historic materials in front of her. She really shines if those items are related to her home county of Madison in central Iowa or the Underground Railroad. Smith (’76 mathematics and computer science) takes great joy in finding resources that have long been preserved and untapped.
“Libraries are my happy place. I like researching online, too but I love tactile, old resources like maps and books,” she said.
Smith’s history projects frequently take her to the Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room in Parks Library.
Driven by curiosity
Following a career in information technology training at Meredith Corporation and Preferred Risk (now GuideOne) Insurance, Smith was drawn to historical research after retiring in 2011.
“I’m curious, and I like to learn. It’s fun to give presentations and share what I’ve learned,” Smith said. “I discovered there was a lot of lore in Madison County that needed research-based facts.”
As a member of the Madison County Historical Society and the Madison County Historic Preservation Commission, Smith helps find grants from federal and state historic preservation societies. She was part of the effort that placed downtown Winterset on the National Register of Historic Places as the Courthouse Historic District. “If you raise your hand and say, ‘I can do that on a computer’ you can get into any organization you want,” Smith said with a chuckle.
Uncovering history in person, online
It was via computer that Smith first began to explore Iowa State’s special collections.
“I enjoy going anywhere and searching anything online,” she said. “The George Washington Carver information in the ISU archives is wonderful. The online archives opened my eyes to how deep the resources are and reconnected me to the University Library. I can tap into them from home – they’re so accessible!”
Smith made her first visit to the Special Collections and University Archive Reading Room in Parks Library to research Louis H. Pammel’s involvement with creating Devil’s Backbone State Park near Winterset, which is now known as Pammel State Park.
“I filled out the request form and the staff bent over backwards pulling everything in advance, which I came to learn they do for everyone,” Smith said. “I found drawings from the time that outlined the park’s planned features. That’s when I learned there isn’t a prettier place on campus than the Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room.”
While Smith would study in Parks Library occasionally as a student, her favorite library memories are those of discovery post-graduation.
“I was on campus a lot when my daughters were students. I would go early and sit in the history section of Parks Library. I would read, and read, and explore resources.” she said. “One time, I found an Underground Railroad map that was always folded in online images. I unfolded it and found routes through Madison County traveled by groups associated with John Brown.” Smith went on to research the Underground Railroad in Iowa for more than 10 years and is now a sought-after presenter on the topic and on historical Madison County topics – big and small.
“For me, it’s not about the building, place, or event you may be researching, it’s about the people and how you connect it to people today and their roots,” Smith said.
