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

RS 16/3/4/3
Story County 4-H Clubs (Iowa)
Records, 1950-2001

Descriptive summary

creator:	Story County 4-H Clubs (Iowa)
title:	Records
dates:	1950-2001
extent:	10.6 linear ft. (2 record center cartons and 5 oversized boxes)
collection number:	RS 16/3/4/3
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Story County 4-H Clubs (Iowa) Records, RS 16/3/4/3, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Historical note

The origin of 4-H can be traced to the 1890s and 1900s as various clubs were being formed throughout the states to meet the needs of rural young Americans. In 1902, A. B. Graham in Ohio began formalizing clubs for boys and girls to promote vocational agriculture as an extracurricular activity. His clubs, considered to be the founding clubs of 4-H, incorporated meetings, officers, and projects.

In Iowa, O. H. Benson of Wright County and Jessie Field Shambaugh of Page County quickly adopted the club idea as well. Benson developed the iconic clover symbol in 1906. However, the original design only had three leaves with "H's" on each leaf that symbolized head, heart, and hands. In 1911, the present four-leaf clover design was adopted and the fourth "H" was added to represent health. Another important milestone for 4-H was the passage of the Smith-Lever Act by the United States Congress in 1914. This act formally established a cooperative extension service in each state and provided for Boys' and Girls' Club Work to be administered by extension agents.

By 1914, nearly every state had started boys and girls clubs, yet there was no one name by which the clubs were known. In 1924, the clubs became known as 4-H. The first National 4-H Club Camp for State 4-H Leaders was held in 1927, at which the National 4-H Pledge and the 4-H Motto were approved. The early 4-H programs emphasized farm life and homemaking, but the focus quickly broadened in scope and content. Leadership, music, art appreciation, and recreation also became essential aspects of 4-H. Eventually, 4-H expanded beyond rural communities and now offers programs for youth living in towns and cities across the country.

In Story County, Iowa, the many active 4-H clubs have included the Ames Junior Homemakers, Washington Happy Hearts, and Washington Royals, as seen in this collection. Project areas of these clubs' members ranged beyond livestock and agriculture to include areas such as baking, sewing, and communications, and members exhibited at the Story County Fair (Nevada, Iowa).

Collection description

The collection (1950-2001) includes records and scrapbooks from several Story County, Iowa 4-H clubs: the Ames Junior Homemakers, Washington Happy Hearts, and Washington Royals. Club rosters, secretarial notes, treasury records, photographs, news clippings, programs, and ribbons are included. There is also a proclamation from the City of Ames, Iowa designating 4-H week in 1994.

Organization

This collection is listed alphabetically by 4-H club name.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
3	OVR	Ames C4: Scrapbook (8 color 3x3 photos, 6 color 3x4 photos, 47 color 3.5x5 photos)	1972-1987
1	1-3	Ames Junior Homemakers: Historian Book (4 color 3x3 photos, 8 b/w 3x3 photos, 2 color 5x3 photos)	1963-1969
1	4	Ames Junior Homemakers: Historian Book (17 b/w 3x3 photos, 2 color 3x3 photos)	1970-1973
1	5-7	Ames Junior Homemakers: Historian Book (16 color 3.5x5 photos, 2 b/w 5x5 photos, 2 b/w 5x7 photos, 28 color 3x3 photos, 21 color 4x4 photos, 1 b/w 3x3 photo)	1974-1980
1	8-11	Ames Junior Homemakers: Historian Book (5 color 3x3 photos, 3 b/w 3x3 photos, 77 color 3.5x5 photos, 29 b/w 3.5x5 photos, 7 color 3x4 photos, 1 color 5x7 photo, 3 b/w 5x7 photos)	1981-1987
1	12-13	Ames Junior Homemakers: Historian Book (3 b/w 3x5 photos, 51 color 3.5x5 photos)	1989-1990
7	OVR	Ames Mighty Muskrats: Historian Book (35 color, 2 b/w photographs)	1977-1980
8	OVR	Ames Mighty Muskrats: Historian Book (31 color photographs)	1988-1989
8	OVR	Ames Mighty Muskrats: Historian Book (27 color photographs)	1990-1991
3	OVR	City of Ames 4-H Week Proclamation	1994
2	12	"History of Story County 4-H Clubs," by H. J. Montgomery	1950
4	OVR	Washington Happy Hearts: Scrapbooks (25 b/w 2x2 photos, 48 b/w 2x3 photos, 11 b/w 3x4.5 photos)	1953-1954
5	OVR	Washington Happy Hearts: Scrapbooks (2 color 3x3 photos, 61 b/w 3x3 photos, 4 b/w 3x4 photos)	1958-1961
6	OVR	Washington Happy Hearts: Scrapbooks (8 color 3x3 photos, 59 b/w 3x3 photos, 1 b/w 6x6 photo)	1962-1966
7	OVR	Washington Happy Hearts: Scrapbooks (14 color 3x3 photos)	1972-1977
1	17	Washington Royals: Club Programs	1975-1994
1	14-15	Washington Royals: Historian Book (14 color 3.5x5 photos, 2 b/w 2x2 photos, 5 color 3x3 photos, 1 b/w 5x7 photo, 1 b/w 8x12 photo, 2 color slides)	1974-1980
1	18-19	Washington Royals: Historian Book (51 color 3.5x5 photos)	1982-1987
1	20-21	Washington Royals: Historian Book (24 color 3.5x5 photos, 11 color 3x3 photos, 54 color 3x4 photos)	1984-1988
2	1	Washington Royals: Historian Book	1984-1988
2	2-3	Washington Royals: Historian Book (62 color 3.5x5 photos, 17 color 4x6 photos)	1988-1992
2	4-5	Washington Royals: Historian Book (14 color 4x6 photos, 12 color 3.5x5 photos)	1993-1994
2	7-9	Washington Royals: Historian Book (54 color 4x6 photos, 8 color 3.5x5 photos)	1996-1998
2	10-11	Washington Royals: Historian Book (43 color 4x6 photos, 55 color 3.5x5 photos, 1 color 3x3 photo)	1998-2001
3	OVR	Washington Royals: Scrapbooks (2 color 2x3 photos, 8 color 3x3 photos, 61 b/w 3x3 photos, 22 b/w 3x4 photos)	1963-1965
1	16	Washington Royals: Secretary Records	1975-1982
2	6	Washington Royals: Treasurer Records	1993-2001