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

RS 21/2/1
Iowa State University Alumni Association
Subject Files, 1880-[ongoing]

Descriptive summary

creator:	Iowa State University Alumni Association
title:	Subject Files
dates:	1880-[ongoing]
extent:	1.26 linear feet (3 document boxes and 1 map case folder)
collection number:	RS 21/2/1
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Iowa State University Alumni Association, Subject Files, RS 21/2/1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Historical note

The first class of Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State University) graduated in 1872, and it wasn't long after that these alumni felt the need for an association of former students. An informal meeting was first held in 1876 by Iowa State alumni and students. The Alumni Association was officially formed on November 12, 1878 with Edgar W. Stanton (class of 1872) as president. Officers were elected, a constitution was signed and it was decided that meetings would be held biennially.

The first alumni club outside of Ames was formed in Chicago in 1893, and soon there were clubs in Washington D.C., New York City, and Pittsburgh. The Chicago club has been particularly active. In 1931, they sponsored a contest for a new school song. An entry by Jim Wilson titled "Bells of Iowa State" remains Iowa State's school song to this day.

The Alumni Association would slowly take a more prominent role in campus activities. In 1905, the Alumni Association first published The Alumnus, which made it possible to keep alumni all over the country informed about the activities of Iowa State. Alumni Hall was completed in 1907 and became the home of the Alumni Association. During the 1920s, the Alumni Association played a large part in securing donations for the construction of the Memorial Union and upon its completion in 1928, moved their headquarters there.

Since then, the Alumni Association has grown to provide numerous services to the University and its alumni. In 1932, the Alumni Achievement Fund was created, the Alumni Association was incorporated as an independent self-governing association, and the first Honors and Awards program was held. In 1973, the Student Alumni Association was formed and a year after that the alumni travel program started. In 1980, the Alumni Achievement Fund merged with the ISU Foundation to combine fundraising efforts. 1988 marked the first issue of the Alumni Association's new publication, VISIONS. The Alumni Association moved to its new home, the ISU Alumni Center, in 2008; it is located in the Iowa State Center near Jack Trice Stadium and C.Y. Stephens Auditorium.

Collection description

This collection contains programs, correspondence, and other materials related to events and activities sponsored by the Iowa State University Alumni Association. Also included are directories, a memory book, and other documents from branch alumni association clubs outside of Iowa State.

Related materials

Iowa State University Alumni Association's publications:

The Iowa State Alumnus (1905-1974): LH1 Io9a

The Iowa Stater (1974-2002): MQ1626185

Visions (1988-present): LH1 V68x

Organization

The collection is organized alphabetically.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
3	2	125th Anniversary Gala – DVD Video of Events (1 DVD)	2004
3	3	125th Anniversary Gala – Invitations, Programs, and Historical Overview	2004
3	4	125th Anniversary Gala – Planning Materials and Script	2003-2004
3	7	Alliance for ISU – Web Site	2005
3	17	Alumni Affairs Records – Code Book	undated
1	1	Alumni Art Exhibition – Programs	1979-1990
1	2	Alumni Art Exhibition – News Clippings	1979-1984
1	3	Alumni Leadership Day – Programs	1970-1977
1	4	Alumni Office Survey of Graduates of Iowa State University: Family Background and Work Experience	1971
1	5	Alumni Questionnaire	undated
1	6	Alumni Seminar	1970-1977
1	7	Alumni Travel	1978-2007
3	16	Alumni Travel	2008-2010
3	19	Alumni Travel	2011-2012
4	4	Alumni Travel	2014
3	12	Alumni Vacation College Summer Catalog	1976
1	8	Annual Banquet – Programs and Invitations	1880-1937
1	9	Annual Banquet – Proceedings	1883-1922
2	23	Black College Reunion – Correspondence	2004
2	19	Black College Reunion – List of Alumni	2004
2	24	Black College Reunion – Memory Book, “Back Down Memory Lane”	2002
1	10	Branch Alumni Association Materials	1933-1975
3	10	Branch Alumni Association Materials	2005-2007
1	11	Branch Association – Black Hawk County	1994
1	12	Branch Association – Chicago	1905-1962
1	13	Branch Association – Des Moines	undated
1	14	Branch Association – Dubuque County, IA, Directory	1971-1972
2	25	Branch Association – Hamilton County	2005
2	26	Branch Association – Kansas City	2004 circa
2	27	Branch Association – Linn County	2005
1	15	Branch Association – New York, Memory Book	1929-1931
2	1	Branch Association – New York, Treasurer’s Book	1930-1953
2	28	Branch Association – Siouxland	2005
2	29	Branch Association – St. Louis	2004
2	2	Branch Association – Washington, D.C.	1993
2	3	Branch Association Handbook	1935 circa
2	4	Cardinal and Gold Dinner	2001-2002
3	5	The Circle Induction Ceremony – Invitations and Programs	2004
3	8	Directory of Members	1946
2	5	Directory of Iowa State College Graduates From 1872 Through 1914 Who Served Worked or Held Jobs in Foreign Countries	1976-1977
2	20	Directory of Iowa State Alumni living in Chicago and suburbs	1962
2	6	Faculty-Student Dinner	1924
4	2	Family of the Year Society Reunion Update	2002
3	6	Family of the Year Society Reunion Update and Program	2004
2	7	Founder’s Day (College Day)	1907-1928
2	8	Founder’s Day – Programs	1948-1958
2	9	Founder’s Day – Speeches, Margaret Sloss (1 audio cassette)	1977
2	10	Fulbright Alumni of Central Iowa Directory	1987
2	11	Guest Carilloneur program, Herman Bergink	1979
2	12	History	1952-1975, undated
2	21	History – Presidents of the Alumni Association	1961-1968
4	8	Holiday Greeting Cards	1943 circa
4	1	Holiday Greeting Cards	1995-1998 circa
3	9	Holiday Greeting Cards	2005
3	15	Holiday Greeting Cards	2007
2	13	Iowa State Graduates in Who’s Who in America	1971
2	14	Iowa State Parents Association (4 5x7 B&W photographs)	1974-1994
2	15	Iowa State University Flags (1 4x5 B&W, 2 8x10 color photographs)	1970, undated
4	3	Membership Packet	2012
3	18	Memorial Day Ceremony Program	2010
2	16	Official Iowa State University Watch offer	1981
2	30	Postcards – Football and Basketball Gamewatch	2004-2005
3	11	Postcards and Printed Materials	2005-2007
2	17	President’s Gold Medal Supper	1960
3	1	Presidential Reception Invitations	2004-2006
Map	case	Proclamation presented to Porter R. Garner, president and CEO of the Association of Former Students at Texas A&M	2009
Map	case	Proclamation presented to President and Mrs. Geoffroy	2011
3	14	Receptions	2007
2	22	Ring, Official Iowa State University	2003
2	18	Songs of Iowa State	undated
3	13	Visions – Letters to the Editor and Alumni Essays	2006-2007