Arvin Benjamin Shaw was born in Tipton, Iowa on December 2, 1857. He earned a B.S.E (1876) in engineering from Iowa State College (University). He married Winifred Dudley Shaw, the step-daughter of Adonija S. Welch (first President of Iowa State). The collection contains biographical information regarding Arvin Benjamin Shaw and Genevieve Welch Shaw. Other materials include news clippings, articles, and a chemistry experiment notebook belonging to Arvin. The collection also contains two books of plant specimens created by Arvin and Winifred for their botany class.

Arvin Benjamin Shaw was born on December 2, 1857, in Tipton, Iowa. He earned his B.S.E. (1876) in engineering from Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State University). Arvin married Winifred Dudley on May 17, 1881. Immediately after graduation, Arvin was elected County Surveyor for Cedar County. He resigned less than a year later to go into the newspaper business in Corning, Iowa. Eventually, he and his wife moved out to Los Angles, where Arvin became the secretary and treasurer of the Los Angeles College of Osteopathy. Arvin and Winifred remained in Los Angeles for the rest of their lives. Arvin Shaw died on February 5, 1944, in Pasadena, California.

Winifred Dudley Shaw was born on April16, 1859, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She was the step-daughter of Adonija S. Welch, the first President of Iowa State University. She married Arvin Benjamin Shaw on May 17, 1881. Their children were R. C. Shaw, twin daughters Genevieve Welch Shaw and Winifred Shaw McDaniel, Arvin Benjamin, and Myra Mary. Winifred Dudley Shaw died on January 21, 1935, in Pasadena, California.

Ret Clarkson (R. C.) Shaw was born on July 14th, 1882, in Ames, Iowa. Ret graduated from S. S. Still College of Osteopathy in 1905. He practiced in Los Angeles and Fresno County until 1914, when he became a poultryman. Ret died in 1930.

Genevieve Welch Shaw was born August 20,1884, in Corning, Iowa. She died on December 26,1963.

Winifred Shaw McDaniel was born August 20, 1884, in Corning , Iowa. She graduated from Iowa State in 1906 and then went on to the Los Angeles College of Osteopathy in 1909. She married Bruce McDaniel in 1910. Winifred died on December 29, 1917.

Arvin Benjamin Shaw, Jr. was born on February 9, 1889, in Corning, Iowa. He married Gertrude Rosenthall. Arvin died on January 29, 1953, in Pasadena, California.

Myra Mary Shaw Rogers was born on January 17, 1891, in Corning, Iowa. She married Dr. R. M. Rogers. Their children were Mary Ann Rogers, Benjamin Alton Rogers, and Daniel Halleday Rogers.

Members of the Shaw Family that attended Iowa State University include: Arvin (class of 1876), Winifred (class of 1876), Genevieve (ex. class of 1906), Winifred (class of 1906) and R. C. ( ex. class of 1907).

This collection (1873-1961, undated) contains biographical information on both Arvin Benjamin Shaw and Genevieve Welch Shaw. The correspondence includes letters from Arvin to Iowa State faculty Knapp and Noble. Genevieve's correspondence with the Alumni Affairs office at Iowa State is mostly about various alumni in California. Other materials include news clippings about Arvin, an article about Benjamin Gue written by Arvin and published in the Iowa State Alumnus, and a chemistry experiment notebook from Arvin dating to his time as a student at Iowa State. Two books of plant specimens created by Arvin and Winifred for their college botany class are also included.

Related collections in the Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library include:

This collection is listed alphabetically.