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

RS 13/5/55
Ada Hayden (1884-1950)
Papers, 1864-[ongoing]


Descriptive summary

creator:

Hayden, Ada (1884-1950)
title:

Papers
dates:

1864-[ongoing]
extent:

4.86 linear feet (2 document boxes, 2 small boxes, 1 oversize box, 2 lantern slide boxes, and 1 map case folder)
collection number:

RS 13/5/55
repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

Ada Hayden Papers, RS 13/5/55, Archives of Women in Science and Engineering, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

Ada Hayden (1884-1950) was born on August 14, 1884 in Ames, Iowa. She earned a Bachelor of Science (1908) and Doctor of Philosophy (1918) degrees at Iowa State University. Hayden also earned a Master of Science degree (1910) from Washington University in St. Louis. Hayden was the first woman to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree at Iowa State University.

She was an Instructor (1910-1918) in Botany, an Assistant Professor (1919-1950) of Botany, and named Curator of the Herbarium (1947-1950). Photographing and illustrating plants was a specialty as well. During her time at Iowa State she added more than 40,000 specimens to the herbarium.

In 1988, the Iowa State University herbarium was named the Ada Hayden Herbarium in honor of its former curator. Hayden was an avid conservationist who worked to have natural prairies in the state set aside as preserves. After her death a prairie preserve in Howard County, Iowa, was named the Ada Hayden Prairie Preserve by the Iowa Conservation Commission. Ada Hayden was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 2007.

 

Collection description

The Ada Hayden Papers include biographical information, diplomas and certificates, illustrations, list of publications, and a small amount of general correspondence and correspondence concerning the Hayden family as well as a bibliography of early botanists. The collection also contains photographs of the Hayden Prairie, animals, plants, Ledges State Park, the Mississippi River, Hayden's family, self-portraits, prairies, and the Skunk River. In addition, the papers include Hayden's scripts of her radio talks regarding different state parks, botany, history, and prairie restoration. There are also writings by and about Ada Hayden, which include articles, poems, and memorials. This series contains Hayden's family and personal correspondence, as well as Hayden Prairie photographs, illustrations, and a list of publications.

Negatives (nos. 83860-83880) are stored in the vault. There are also two boxes of lantern slides that are housed in the vault. See the appendix for a listing of the slides.

 

Related materials

Seven of Ada Hayden's lantern slides depicting plants are held by the Ames Historical Society. These had been found in a desk for sale at the Iowa State University Surplus store, and brought to the attention of the Ames Historical Society curator who transferred most of the slides to ISU.

 

Organization

This collection is listed alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

2

15

Article (unpublished): "The Prairie Project"

undated

2

16

Article (unpublished): Untitled paper on the American Lotus (Nelumbo Lutea)

undated

2

2

Article: "A Botanical Survey in the Iowa Lake Region of Clay and Palo Alto Counties"

1943

2

10

Article: "A Progress Report on the Preservation of Prairie"

1946

2

3

Article: "Distribution and Reproduction of Canada Thistle in Iowa"

1934

2

5

Article: "Florence Willey Nihols" (memorial)

1946

2

7

Article: "Notes on the Distribution of Midsummer Bee Plants in the Mississippi Zone of Clayton County"

1920

2

8

Article: "Notes on the Floristic Features of a Prairie Province in Central Iowa"

1918

2

9

Article: "Olaf Martin Oleson" (memorial)

1944

2

11

Article: "Scattering of Weeds"

1913

2

13

Article: "State Parks and Preserves," Iowa Academy of Science, Report of the Committee on Conservation

1944

2

14

Article: "State Parks and Preserves," Iowa Academy of Science, Report of the Committee on Conservation

1945

2

1

Article: "The Algal Flora of the Missouri Botanical Garden"

1910

2

4

Article: "The Ecologic Anatomy of Some Plants of a Prairie Province in Central Iowa"

1919

2

18

Article: "The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory - A Prairieless Field Laboratory" (draft)

undated

2

6

Article: "The Native Flora of Iowa," WPA Project

1937

2

12

Article: "The Selection of Prairie Areas in Iowa Which Should be Preserved"

1945

1

1

Biographical information

1910-2011, undated

Map

Case

Certificate: Iowa Chapter of the Wildlife Society

1967

1

28

Certificate: Iowa Women's Hall of Fame

2007

1

2

Correspondence

1909-1910, undated

1

3

Correspondence

1911-1943

1

4

Correspondence: Biographies of some early Iowa State botany graduates

1936-1949, undated

Map

Case

Diplomas: Ames Common School

1900

Map

Case

Diplomas: Ames High School

1904

Map

Case

Diplomas: Iowa State College (B.S.)

1908

Map

Case

Diplomas: Iowa State College (M.S.)

1911

Map

Case

Diplomas: Iowa State College (Ph.D.)

1918

Map

Case

Diplomas: University of Washington (M.S.)

1910

1

5

Family correspondence

1864-1872

1

6

Hayden Prairie: News clippings

1950-1990

1

7

Hayden Prairie: Photographs taken by John M. Aikman (58 b/w photographs)

1955-1958, undated

Map

Case

Illustrations (2 hand-colored illustrations)

undated

Map

Case

Illustrations: Drawings depicting Iowa tree buds and nuts

undated

5

OVR

Illustrations: Drawings used in "Iowa Trees in Winter," Extension Circular 246 (18 sheets)

1938 circa

Map

Case

Illustrations: "The Adventures of the Weed Seeds" by J. C. Cunningham with illustrations by Hayden (1 sheet)

undated

1

8

Index cards with quotes

undated

1

9

List of publications

1948

3

1

Photographs: Animals (17 b/w)

1917-1924, undated

8

1

Photographs: Atometer and Research (3 b/w)

undated

3

2

Photographs: Barges (2 b/w)

undated

3

3

Photographs: Botany (7 b/w)

1922-1926, undated

8

2

Photographs: Boulders and rock formations (4 b/w)

1927, undated

3

4

Photographs: Brazos River (1 b/w)

undated

3

5

Photographs: Buildings (8 b/w)

1917-1955, undated

3

6

Photographs: Campus and surrounding areas (21 b/w)

1928-1931, undated

8

3

Photographs: Field and pastures (14 b/w)

1926-1927, undated

8

4

Photographs: Harvest (5 b/w)

1926-1927

3

7

Photographs: Ledges State Park in Boone, Iowa (18 b/w)

1925-1928, undated

3

8

Photographs: Little Wall Lake (22 b/w)

1924, undated

8

5

Photographs: Livestock (11 b/w)

1926-1927, undated

3

9

Photographs: Mississippi River (18 b/w)

1924, undated

3

10

Photographs: Onion Creek (11 b/w)

1924-1932, undated

3

11

Photographs: Plants (9 b/w)

1917, undated

4

1

Photographs: Portraits of family members (22 b/w)

undated

3

12

Photographs: Portraits of family members (17 b/w)

1921, undated

4

2

Photographs: Postville, Pinney's Springs (11 b/w)

1924, undated

4

3

Photographs: Prairie (10 b/w)

undated

2

17

Photographs: Prairie scenery and flora (40 b/w)

undated

4

6

Photographs: Rivers (11 b/w)

1917, undated

8

6

Photographs: Rivers and bodies of water (5 b/w)

1927-1932, undated

4

4

Photographs: Self-portraits (9 b/w)

1923-1926, undated

4

5

Photographs: Skunk River (12 b/w)

1924-1925, undated

4

7

Photographs: Skunk River Quarries (5 b/w)

1924-1925, undated

4

8

Photographs: Squaw Creek (3 b/w)

undated

4

9

Photographs: Texas (1 b/w 2x4 and 7 b/w 3x5 photographs)

undated

4

10

Photographs: Texas Lumber Industry (10 b/w)

1916-1917, undated

4

12

Photographs: Trees (22 b/w)

undated

4

13

Photographs: Trees (20 b/w)

undated

4

11

Photographs: Trees (21 b/w)

undated

8

7

Photographs: Weeds (5 b/w)

1919, undated

1

10

Radio script: "Native Iowa Prairie Land"

1946

1

11

Radio talk: "Your State Park Playgrounds: Beavers Bend State Park"

undated

1

12

Radio talk: "Your State Park Playgrounds: Boiling Springs State Park"

undated

1

13

Radio talk: "Your State Park Playgrounds: Lake Murray State Park"

undated

1

14

Radio talk: "Your State Park Playgrounds: Osage Hills State Park"

undated

1

15

Radio talk: "Your State Park Playgrounds: Quartz Mountain State Park"

undated

1

16

Radio talk: "Your State Park Playgrounds: Robbers Cave State Park"

undated

1

17

Radio talk: "Your State Park Playgrounds: Roman Nose State Park"

undated

1

18

Writings about Hayden: "Ada Hayden: A Champion of Iowa Prairies" by Deborah Lewis

2000

1

19

Writings about Hayden: "Ada Hayden: A Tribute" by Duane Isley

1989

1

20

Writings about Hayden: "Ada Hayden: Pioneer Protector of Iowa's Prairies" by Katy Wilcox

1987

1

21

Writings about Hayden: "She Fought to Save Iowa's Prairies" by Jan Lovell

1987

1

23

Writings by Hayden: "A Report on Some Campus Memorials"

1949

2

19

Writings by Hayden: "Iowa Trees in Winter" (Extension Circular 246)

1938

1

22

Writings by Hayden: "The Iowa Rose" (poem)

undated

1

24

Writings on botany: "Achenial Hairs of Compositæ" by Mary A. Nichols

1893

1

27

Writings on botany: "Spring Flowers and Other Plants Marked Along the Nature Trails in Some State Parks" by Botany Extension Service, Iowa State College

undated

1

25

Writings on botany: "The Pasque Flower or Prairie Smoke" by unknown author

undated

1

26

Writings on botany: "The Snow Trillium or Early Wake-robin" by John N. Martin

undated

 

Appendix - Lantern Slides

Box

Slide

Title

Dates

6

1

Erigeron strigosus (Daisy) specimen, including flower, leaves and root, identified as negative 158

undated

6

2

Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower) specimen(black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 398

undated

6

3

Populus tremuloides (Aspen) specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 469

undated

6

4

Plant specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 669

undated

6

5

Plant specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 686

undated

6

6

Erigeron (Fleabane) specimens (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 872. Suburban Isle Park.

1918

6

7

Erigeron (Fleabane) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 872. Location: Suburban Isle Park

1918

6

8

Hieracium canadense (Canada hawkweed) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves,identified as negative 880. Location: Spencer Creek

1918

6

9

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaf, identified as negative 900. Location: Suburban Isle Park

1918

6

10

Monarda fistulosa (Wild bergamot) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 928

1918

6

11

Vernonia fasciculata (Ironweed) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 952

1918

6

12

Plant specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 960

undated

6

13

Echinocystis lobata (Wild balsam apple) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 963

1919

6

14

Eripatorium serolinum (Late-flowering Thoroughwort ) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 965

1918

6

15

Silphium perfoliatum (Indian cup) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 968

1918

6

16

Echinocystis lobata (Wild balsam apple) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 969

1918

6

17

Aster novae-angliae (New England aster) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 989

1918

6

18

Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 990

undated

6

19

Bidens frondosa (Beggar-ticks; Boot-jacks) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 999

1918

6

20

Trifolium repens (White clover) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1034

1919

6

21

Sicyos angulateo (One-seeded bur cucumber) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1174

1919

6

22

Helianthus sp. (Sunflower) specimens (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1177

1919

6

23

Taraxacum (Dandelion), in situ (handcolored), identified as negative 1219

undated

6

24

Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1310

1920

6

25

Plant specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1314

undated

6

26

Plant specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1315

undated

6

27

Liatris scariosa (Blazing star) specimens (2, handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negatives 1314 and 1315

1920

6

28

Brassica nigra (Black mustard) specimens (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1322A

undated

6

29

Brassica nigra (Black mustard) specimens (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1322B

undated

6

30

Bidens cernua (Stick-tight, smaller bur marigold) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1324

1919

6

31

Bidens alba (Beggars tick) specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1324

undated

6

32

Bidens cernua (Stick-tight, smaller bur marigold) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1325

1919

6

33

Bidens alba (Beggars tick) specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1325

undated

6

34

Bidens frondoasa to the left and cernua to the right (Leafy-bracted tickseed) specimens (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1326

1919

6

35

Bidens alba (Beggars tick) specimens (black and white), identified as negative 1326

undated

6

36

Lycium barbarum L. (Matrimony vine) specimens (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1327

1920

6

37

Amorpha canescens (Lead plant) specimens (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1397

1921

6

38

Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1398

1921

6

39

Cucumis melo (Muskmelon) specimen (handcolored), including flowers, fruit, and leaves, identified as negative 1410

1921

6

40

Prenanthes (Rattlesnake root) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1472

1921

6

41

Aster multiflorus (Dense flowered aster) specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves, identified as negative 1473. Noted as being on railroad track, road to Tower.

1921

6

42

Malus domestica (Apple blossoms) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and plants, no negative number. Broken.

undated

6

43

Quercus alba (White oak) specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves

undated

6

44

Drosera rotundifolia (Sundew) specimen (black and white), Little Point Sable, Michigan, created by the University of Chicago

 

6

45

Plant specimens (handcolored), including buds and flowers

undated

6

46

Plant specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves. Identified as negative number 959. Broken binding.

undated

6

47

Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower)specimen, in situ (handcolored)

undated

6

48

Prairie near Lime Springs (Howard County) (handcolored)

1945

6

49

Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower) specimen (handcolored), including flowers

undated

6

50

Prairie bordering Lost Island Lake (Ruthven, Iowa) (handcolored)

undated

6

51

Stachys Palustris (Marsh woundwort) specimens (black and white), in situ

undated

6

52

Monarda fistulosa (Bee balm) specimens (black and white), including flowers and leaves

undated

6

53

Ebenaceae (Persimmon) trees near Austin, Texas (black and white)

undated

6

54

Plant specimens, in situ (black and white)

undated

6

55

Plant specimens, in situ (black and white)

undated

6

56

Eupatorium certiceafoli (Boneset) specimen (black and white), including flowers and leaves

undated

6

57

Cacalia tuberosa (Indian plantain), in situ (handcolored)

undated

6

58

Trifolium repens (White clover) specimens (handcolored), including flowers and leaves

1919

6

59

Stachys tenuifolia (Smooth hedge nettle), in situ (black and white)

undated

6

60

Bacteria specimen (black and white)

undated

6

61

Woodland scene (handcolored)

undated

6

62

Plant specimens (handcolored)

undated

6

63

Bidens alba (Beggars tick) specimens, including flowers and leaves (black and white)

undated

6

64

Liatris scariosa (Blazing star) specimen (handcolored), including flowers and leaves. Missing tape, loose.

undated

6

65

Plant specimen, in situ (handcolored). Loose tape.

undated

7

66

Eutrochium (Joe-Pye Weed) specimen (black and white), identified as negative 925

undated

7

67

Liatris scariosa (Blazing star) specimen (handcolored)

undated

7

68

Cirsium (Thistle), in situ (handcolored)

undated

7

69

Alcea (Hollyhocks), in situ, LeClaire Main Street, Gilbert House (handcolored)

1921

7

70

Unidentified plant drawing (black and white)

undated

7

71

Silphium perfoliatum (Cup plant), in situ on low prairie (handcolored)

undated

7

72

Stachys officinalis (Purple betony) specimen (handcolored)

undated

7

73

Utricularia (Bladderwort), in situ (handcolored)

undated

7

74

Liatris scariosa (Blazing star), in situ (handcolored)

undated

7

75

Cirsium lanceolatum (Thistle), in situ (black and white)

undated

7

76

Erigeron strigosus (Daisy), in situ (black and white)

undated

7

77

Erigeron strigosus (Daisy), in situ (black and white)

undated

7

78

Arnoglossum (Indian plantain), in situ (handcolored)

undated

7

79

Liatris scariosa (Northern blazing star) specimen (handcolored)

undated

7

80

Rosa arkansana (Prairie rose), in situ (handcolored)

undated

7

81

Prairie section (black and white)

undated

7

82

Plant specimen

undated

7

83

Plants, in situ (black and white)

undated

7

84

Astragalus (Ground plum-vetch), in situ (black and white)

undated

7

85

Trifolium hybridum (Alsike clover), in situ (black and white)

undated

7

86

Viburnum trilobum (Cranberry), in situ (black and white)

undated

7

87

Plant, in situ (black and white)

undated

7

88

Plant, in situ (black and white)

undated

7

89

Plant specimen (black and white), identified as number 1321

undated

7

90

Convolvulus arvensis (Morning glory), in situ (black and white)

undated

7

91

Plant, in situ (black and white)

undated

7

92

Erigeron strigosus (Daisy), in situ (Black and white)

undated

7

93

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's breeches), in situ (black and white)

undated

7

94

Plant specimen (black and white), identified as number 1469

undated

7

95

Original Forest Cover Map, Iowa State Planning Board

1933

7

96

Data reflecting quantity of plant material above and below ground in tons per acre, dry weight

1950