Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 0/2/1
City of Ames Collection, 1871-[ongoing]
Descriptive summary
| creator: | |
| title: | City of Ames Collection |
| dates: | 1871-[ongoing] |
| extent: | 5.8 linear feet (10 document boxes and 1 oversized box) |
| collection number: | RS 0/2/1 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | City of Ames Collection, RS 0/2/1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Abstract
The community of Ames, located in Story County, Iowa, was established in 1864 by the railroad builder John I. Blair. Blair identified the location as a stop on his railroad line and named the town after Massachusetts Congressman Oakes Ames who was also interested in the development of railroads. The collection consists of correspondence, news clippings, publications, and reports related to the history, development, and people of Ames, Iowa. |
Historical note
The city of Ames, located in Story County, Iowa, was established in 1864 by the railroad builder John I. Blair. Blair determined that the location between the Squaw Creek and the Skunk River would make a good stop on his railroad line. He named the town Ames after Massachusetts Congressman Oakes Ames who was also interested in the development of railroads. The community was situated just two miles east of the land that was designated to become the home of the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (now Iowa State University). The school had been established by the Iowa State legislature in 1858 and was in the process of preparing the land and buildings to accommodate the students and faculty. During the first decades of their existence the school and the city were separated by Squaw Creek and the adjacent wetlands. As the years went by, the town grew to surround much of the university. The 2010 U.S. census lists the population of Ames at just under 60,000 residents with many of those consisting of students, faculty, staff, and administrators of Iowa State University. |
Collection description
The collection (1871-[ongoing]) consists of news clippings, publications, and correspondence relating to the development, events, and people of Ames, Iowa. The collection includes materials related to anniversaries and other celebrations, Campustown, churches, local art including the Octagon Center for the Arts, planning and zoning reports, the post office murals, traffic and transportation reports, the state science fair, road construction projects, and the Ames Transit Agency which is responsible for the operation of CyRide, the local bus system. One item that might be particularly useful to researchers is the index of newspaper articles created by Ames historian Farwell T. Brown (see box 1, folder 7). Brown wrote several books on the history of Ames and this index was compiled during years of careful examination of local newspapers. |
Related materials
The ISU Library holds many resources for research on the history of Ames. Many of these materials can be found by searching the Library's website. Some useful resources include:
The Special Collections Department contains the records of numerous organizations currently or previously active in the Ames community. A listing of these collections can be found on our website. The Ames Historical Society has many online exhibits to supplement their holdings of local history collections. The Farwell T. Brown Photographic Archive contains many historic photographs of Ames arranged by subject. This archive is available online courtesy of the Ames Public Library. |
Organization
This collection is organized alphabetically. |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Ames American Revolution Bicentennial Commission: Publications |
1976 |
1 |
2 |
Ames Country Club: Membership Lists, Bulletins, and Regulations |
1939-1960 |
1 |
3 |
Ames Foundation: Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws |
1975 |
1 |
4 |
Ames Heritage Association: "The Ames Intelligencer" Newsletter |
1987-1990 |
1 |
5 |
Ames Newspapers: Ames Daily Tribune Diamond Jubilee Edition |
1939 |
11 |
1 |
Ames Newspapers: Ames Daily Tribune Special Editions |
1976-1978 |
1 |
6 |
Ames Newspapers: Ames Intelligencer Souvenir Edition |
1897 |
1 |
7 |
Ames Newspapers: Index Created and Used by Farwell Brown |
1990 |
1 |
8 |
Ames Straw Poll |
2011 |
1 |
9 |
Book and Basket Club Yearbooks |
2007-2009 |
1 |
10 |
Businesses: Chamber of Commerce |
1908-1992 |
1 |
11 |
Businesses: History, News Clippings, and Publications |
1904-2013, undated |
1 |
12 |
Businesses: Promotional Materials |
1920 circa-2010 |
1 |
13 |
Campustown Student Association |
2008-2010 |
1 |
14 |
Campustown: Intermodal Transportation Hub |
2009 |
1 |
15 |
Campustown: Legacy Tower |
2009-2012 |
1 |
16 |
Campustown: News Clippings (1 of 2) |
1970-2009 |
2 |
1 |
Campustown: News Clippings (2 of 2) |
2010-2013 |
2 |
2 |
Census: Flyer |
2000 |
2 |
3 |
Centennial Celebration |
1964 |
2 |
4 |
Chatauqua: News Clippings |
1916 |
2 |
5 |
Churches: News Clippings, Publications |
1872-2012, undated |
2 |
6 |
City Projects: Ames Plan - News Clippings and Newsletters |
1990-1992 |
2 |
7 |
City Projects: Ames Solid Waste Separation Plant - News Clippings |
1975-1981 |
2 |
8 |
City Projects: Arts and Entertainment |
1968-2013, undated |
2 |
9 |
City Projects: Buildings, Railroads, and Construction Projects |
1890-2011, undated |
2 |
10 |
City Projects: Center for Creative Justice |
1990 |
2 |
11 |
City Projects: City Hall Dedication Program |
1990 |
2 |
12 |
City Projects: Energy Fair/Eco Fair |
2012 |
2 |
13 |
City Projects: Entryways |
1991 |
2 |
14 |
City Projects: FACES Festival |
2005-2008 |
2 |
15 |
City Projects: Historic Districts - News Clippings |
1989-2007 |
2 |
16 |
City Projects: Ice Arena - News Clippings |
1989-2007 |
2 |
17 |
City Projects: Independence Day Celebrations |
2003 |
2 |
18 |
City Projects: ISU Safety Project |
1992 |
2 |
19 |
City Projects: Library |
1904-2010 |
11 |
2 |
City Projects: Martin Luther King Week Proclamation |
1988 |
2 |
20 |
City Projects: Memorial Day Programs |
1886-1891 |
2 |
21 |
City Projects: Midnight Madness Race |
1986-1989 |
2 |
22 |
City Projects: Municipal Band Concert on ISU Campus |
2005 |
2 |
23 |
City Projects: Munn Woods |
1991-1992 |
2 |
24 |
City Projects: NASA Electronics Research Center Proposal |
1962 circa |
3 |
1 |
City Projects: Parks and Recreation |
1906-2012, undated |
11 |
3 |
City Projects: Plat Showing Dedication of Land to the City of Ames, Iowa by the State of Iowa |
1942 |
3 |
2 |
City Projects: Recycling Campaign |
1992 |
3 |
3 |
City Projects: Regional Substance Abuse Center |
1959 |
3 |
4 |
City Projects: Research Facilities, NASA and USDA |
1964-2007 |
3 |
5 |
City Projects: Stash the Trash |
2005 |
3 |
6 |
City Projects: Tree Planting, All-American Grove Walk of Honor |
1992-1995 |
3 |
7 |
City Projects: Water Works - News Clippings |
1977-1986 |
3 |
8 |
City Projects: Welcome to Ames (to ISU students) from Residents |
2005-2008 |
3 |
9 |
City Projects: Women's Health Center - News Clippings |
1975-1976 |
3 |
10 |
City Projects: World Health Day |
1992 |
3 |
11-12 |
City Projects: WPA Murals in Post Office |
1935-1938 |
3 |
13 |
Commission on Improving Relations Among ISU Students, the University, the City of Ames, and the Ames Community - News Clippings and Report |
2004 |
3 |
14 |
Committees: AIDS Coalition of Story County |
1990-1998 |
3 |
15 |
Committees: Ames Community Council on Drugs |
1972-1973 |
3 |
16 |
Committees: Bicycle Committee - Meeting Minutes and Reports |
1972-1980 |
3 |
17 |
Committees: Bicycle Committee - Reports and News Clippings |
1972-2002 |
3 |
18 |
Committees: Energy Steering Committee - News Clippings |
1981 |
3 |
19 |
Committees: Human Relations Commission |
1990-1991 |
3 |
20 |
Committees: Safety Awareness Committee |
1981-1984 |
3 |
21 |
Committees: Task Force on Equality - News Clippings |
1991 |
3 |
22 |
Droughts and Heat Waves |
2006 |
3 |
23 |
Floods: News Clippings |
1975-1990 |
4 |
1 |
Government: Alcohol Laws |
1987-1991 |
4 |
2 |
Government: Ames City Council |
2003 |
4 |
3 |
Government: Elections and Government Appointments |
1910-1925 |
4 |
4 |
Government: Noise Ordinances |
1985 |
4 |
5 |
Government: Ordinances, Official Correspondence, and Organization of Government Departments |
1907-1990, undated |
4 |
6 |
Government: Police and Law Enforcement |
1975-2005 |
4 |
7 |
Government: Smoking Ban |
2000 |
4 |
8 |
History: Annotated Bibliography of Ames Community History |
undated |
4 |
9 |
History: First House in Ames |
1922-1996 |
4 |
10 |
History: General Publications |
1871-2001 |
4 |
11 |
History: Hoggatt School |
1981-2003 |
4 |
12 |
History: News Clippings, "At the Squaw and the Skunk--An Ames, County History" |
1954, undated |
4 |
13 |
Housing: News Clippings |
1974-1992, undated |
4 |
14 |
Housing: Standard Lease |
2006-2010 |
| 4 | 15 | Housing Developments: Squaw Valley [preliminary master plan for "the 4th Estate" in map case] | 1969, undated |
4 |
16-17 |
Iowa Games: News Clippings |
1986-2012 |
4 |
18 |
Iowa Games: Programs and Newsletters |
1987-1994 |
4 |
19 |
Maps of City |
1929-1960 circa |
| Map | Case | Map of City: Zoning | 1975 circa |
5 |
1 |
Mary Greeley Medical Center |
1961-2001, undated |
5 |
2 |
Mass Destruction Response Demonstration |
2002 |
5 |
3 |
McFarland Clinic |
2006-2010 |
5 |
4 |
Metropolitan Designation |
2002 |
5 |
5 |
News Clippings: Ames |
1890-1967, undated |
5 |
6 |
News Clippings: Ames |
1980-2012 |
5 |
7 |
Octagon Center for the Arts: Ames Society for the Arts |
1975-1977 |
5 |
8 |
Octagon Center for the Arts: News Clippings |
1958-2009 |
5 |
9 |
Octagon Center for the Arts: Newsletters and Announcements |
1970-1978 |
5 |
10 |
Open Line: Meeting Minutes and News Clippings |
1972-1985 |
5 |
11 |
People: Ames, Oakes |
1960-2002 |
5 |
12 |
People: Battle, George |
2006 |
5 |
13 |
People: Budd, J.L., news clipping regarding his house |
2002 |
5 |
14 |
People: Greeley, Wallace and Mary |
1915-1989 |
5 |
15 |
People: Larson, Cliff |
2001 |
5 |
16 |
People: Martin, Archie and Nancy |
1991-2007 |
5 |
17 |
People: McCarthy, Dan |
1921-1964 |
5 |
18 |
People: Miscellaneous |
1915-2012 |
| 5 | 19 | People: Miscellaneous | 2013 |
6 |
1 |
People: Pearson, R. A. |
1921 |
6 |
2 |
People: Sheldon, Parley |
1924-1937 |
6 |
3 |
People: Sunday, Billy |
1916-2006 |
6 |
5 |
People: Westbrook, Hap |
2002 |
6 |
6 |
Peterson's Quarry: Aquisition |
1979-1980 |
6 |
7 |
Promotional Materials and Visitors Guides |
1967-2000 circa |
11 |
4 |
Publication: "Transportation Plan for the City of Ames and Iowa State University" |
1985 |
6 |
8 |
Publications: "Ames: The Center of It All" |
undated |
6 |
9 |
Publications: "Annexation Study Staff Report" |
1978 |
6 |
10 |
Publications: "Bulletin Board: Your Guide to Ames" |
1952-1971 |
6 |
11 |
Publications: "Bulletin Board: Your Guide to Ames and Iowa State University" |
1972-1983 |
6 |
12 |
Publications: "Comprehensive Plan for Land Use, Transportation and Community Facilities. Volume 1: Population and Economy" |
1974 |
6 |
13 |
Publications: "Comprehensive Plan for Land Use, Transportation and Community Facilities. Volume 3: Community Facilities" |
1975 |
7 |
1 |
Publications: "Key to the City" Newsletter |
1958-1972 |
7 |
2 |
Publications: "Land Use Policy Plan" |
1977 |
7 |
3 |
Publications: "Lessons from an Inventory of the Ames, Iowa, Flora (1859-2000)" |
2001 |
7 |
4 |
Publications: "Proceedings of the Solid Waste to Energy Conference--the Ames Experience" |
1978 |
7 |
5 |
Publications: "Report on Energy and Water Policy Plan" |
1982 |
7 |
6-7 |
Publications: "Report on Phase I of the Transportation Study for Ames, Iowa" |
1967 |
7 |
8 |
Publications: "This is Ames: A Handbook on Local Government by the League of Women Voters" |
1948-1964 |
7 |
9 |
Publications: "Tour of the Water Pollution Control Plant, Ames, Iowa" |
1969 circa |
7 |
10 |
Publications: "Traffic Accident Study" |
1977 |
7 |
11 |
Publications: "West Campus Area Study" |
1979 |
7 |
12 |
Publications: "What to Do this Summer in Ames" |
1962 |
8 |
1 |
Publications: "Year-Round Recreation Report" |
1965-1966 |
8 |
2 |
Publications: Ames City Plan Commission Annual Reports |
1962-1971 |
8 |
3 |
Publications: Bikeways Committee Reports |
1972, 1977 |
8 |
4 |
Publications: City of Ames Annual Report |
1939, 1953 |
8 |
5 |
Publications: Park System Plan |
1974 |
8 |
6 |
Publications: Traffic Study, Ames Urban Area Origin and Destination |
1960 |
8 |
7 |
RAGBRAI: News Clippings |
2008 |
8 |
8 |
Resource Recovery Plant |
2002 |
8 |
9 |
Schools |
1958-2011 |
8 |
10 |
Science and Technology Fair: Board of Directors Minutes, Reports |
1996-2000 |
8 |
11 |
Science and Technology Fair: Programs |
1998-2000 |
9 |
1 |
Science and Technology Fair: Programs and Clippings |
2001-2009 |
9 |
2 |
Skate Park |
2002 |
9 |
3 |
Skunk River-Ames Reservoir Study Reports |
undated |
9 |
4 |
Social Services |
1925-2012 |
9 |
5-6 |
Streets and Bridges: 6th Street |
1920-1924, undated |
9 |
7 |
Streets and Bridges: 9th and 13th Street |
1921-2010 |
11 |
5 |
Streets and Bridges: East 13th Street Master Plan Timeline and Review |
2006 |
9 |
8 |
Streets and Bridges: Lincoln Highway |
1947-2001 |
9 |
9 |
Streets and Bridges: Mortensen Road Paving |
1992 |
9 |
10 |
Streets and Bridges: State Board of Education Documents on Campus Roads and Bridges |
1911-1922 |
9 |
11 |
Streets and Bridges: University Boulevard / Elwood Drive |
1969-2007 |
9 |
12 |
Student Affairs Commission |
2005-2011 |
9 |
13 |
Survey Results: Student and Non-Student Resident Relationships |
2003 |
9 |
14 |
Theaters: News Clippings |
1928-2010 |
9 |
15 |
Transportation: Ames Transit Authority / CyRide - News Clippings |
1972-1994 |
9 |
16 |
Transportation: Ames Transit Authority / CyRide - News Clippings |
1997-2013 |
10 |
1 |
Transportation: Ames Transit Feasibility Study Final Report |
2007 |
| 10 | 8 | Transportation: Ames Transit Feasibility Study Presentation to CyRide Board | 2007 |
10 |
2 |
Transportation: Amtrak News Clippings |
1991 |
10 |
3 |
Transportation: Bus Routes and Schedules |
1947-1966, undated |
10 |
4 |
Transportation: CyRide Newsletters, "CyRide Signals" |
2001-2009 |
10 |
5 |
Transportation: CyRide Survey |
1976 |
10 |
6 |
United Way of Story County: News Clippings |
2003 |
10 |
7 |
Vision Ames: News Clippings |
2003 |