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

MS 593
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Records, 1960-1994

Descriptive summary

creator:	Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
title:	Records
dates:	1960-1994
extent:	10.5 linear feet (24 document boxes and 2 half-document boxes)
collection number:	MS 593
repository:	Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Records, MS 593, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Historical note

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is a member-supported nonprofit organization that builds partnerships and educates Iowans to protect, preserve and enhance Iowa's natural resources for future generations. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation was created in 1979 by a nucleus of business and community leaders who wanted to encourage and support private actions to protect Iowa's natural resources. The priorities of the member-supported organization are permanent land protection, trail and greenway establishment, and the promotion of improved land management. The Foundation activities include wetland restoration, woodland conservation, trail development, prairie restoration, river and stream enhancement, sustainable agriculture, soil and water quality protection, regional resource planning, environmental education, and permanent protection of the land. 50,000 acres of Iowa's wild places have been protected or restored by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

The seeds of the Foundation were planted in conversations among three key people: Robert Ray, then governor of Iowa; Gerald (Gerry) Schnepf, chief planner for the Iowa Conservation Commission; and the late Robert Buckmaster, an attorney and broadcaster from Waterloo and a dedicated conservationist. The initial announcement of the formation of the Iowa Heritage foundation was made on May 21, 1979. The Foundation was incorporated on June 21, 1979. The mission of the organization as incorporated is "to facilitate the acquisition of natural lands in Iowa, and to stimulate and act as a catalyst in developing a public awareness for research, special studies, cultural programs, developmental and legal needs of government organizations and private organizations responsible for natural resources. The Foundation will be funded from the generosity of private citizens concerned with Iowa's future."

Gerry Schnepf (1939- ) was the first staff member and has served as the Executive Director of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation since its inception in 1979. Schnepf, a native Iowan, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and Range Management from Iowa State University in 1962, and a Master of Science degree in Forest Economics and Outdoor Recreation from the University of Minnesota in 1964. He was employed as the Chief Outdoor Recreation Director for the Province of Manitoba, Canada, from 1964 to 1969, and as the Chief Planner for the Iowa Conservation Commission from 1969 to 1979. Schnepf is a member of the Society of American Foresters, the Iowa Academy of Science, and the Iowa Society of Association Executives.

Collection description

The collection documents the administrative history of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (series 1-5) and the professional career of the organization's Executive Director, Gerry Schnepf (series 6). Included in Series 1 (1978-1993) are articles of incorporation, by laws, budget records, committee records, fund raising brochures, historical files, news clippings, publications, and seminar/conference records. Series 2 (1979-1994) contains correspondence and notes to file generated by Gerry Schnepf, Executive Director, of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Series 3 (1981-1993) contains monthly cash income from pledges statements, lists of stock holdings, and budget information. Series 4 (1988-1989) Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM), a project to preserve and enhance biology, environment, and stability of the roadsides, the safety of motorists, and to preserve and enhance the aesthetic features of the roadsides, in a cost effective manner, contains IRVM Steering Committee Records, proposals, reports, and correspondence. Series 5 (1986-1992) contains information documenting conservation projects associated with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation including publicity materials, reports, and studies. Series 6 (1960-1992) contains biographical information, class notes from college courses, a college yearbook from South Dakota State College, conservation reference files, correspondence during Schnepf's employment with Manitoba Parks and Iowa Conservation Commission, personal correspondence, materials documenting his time on the Ankeny, Iowa, Parks Board, nominations to the National Register of Historic Places for 2 locations in Iowa, photographs, a scrapbook, and transcripts of talks given by Schnepf.

Organization

The collection is arranged in six series:

Series 1 - Administrative Files
Series 2 - Correspondence
Series 3 - Financial Records
Series 4 - Integrated Road Vegetation Management Project
Series 5 - Project Files
Series 6 - Gerry Schnepf Papers

Description of series

Series 1	Administrative Files	1978-1993
extent:	1.26 linear feet (3 document boxes)
description:	The series contains articles of incorporation, by laws, budget records, committee records, fund raising brochures, historical files, news clippings, publications, and seminar/conference records.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Alexander Calder Conservation Award Nomination	1988-1989
1	2	Articles of Incorporation	1979, 1992
1	3	By laws	1983, 1992
1	4	Committees: Investment Committee Records	1983
1	5	Committees: Alternative Roadside Vegetation Committee Weed Control Publications	1985-1988
1	6	Committees: Alternative Roadside Vegetation Committee Records	1986-1988
1	7	Committees: Alternative Roadside Vegetation Committee Records	1988
1	8	Committees: Long Range Planning Committee - Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards Records	1986
2	1	Committees: Iowa Recreational Trails Plan Technical Advisory Committee Records	1989
2	2	Committees: Iowa Society of Association Executives - Membership Services Committee Records	1986-1987
2	3	Conservation Study for Iowa (Draft)	1982 circa
2	4	Description of Lacy Bird Law	1900s circa
2	5	Fund Raising Brochures and Handouts	1980 circa
2	6	History related to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation	1978-1985
2	7	History - Planning Document on the Status of Natural Resources in Iowa, A Report to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation	1979
2	8	News clipping	1981-91
2	9	Newsletter: "Heritage"	1981-1983
2	10	Publications: "Iowa Natural Heritage"	1990
2	11	Personnel File - Gerry Schnepf	1989, undated
2	12	Science Advisors List	undated
2	13	Seminar/Conference: Community Entryway (Gateway) Conference/Seminar Planning Document	1990-1991
3	1	Seminar/Conference: Community Entryway (Gateway) Conference/Seminar Records, October 31 - November 1	1991
3	2	Seminar/Conference: Community Entryway (Gateway) Conference/Seminar Publications	1991
3	3	Tourism Task Force (folder 1 of 2)	1993
3	4	Tourism Task Force (folder 2 of 2)	1993
3	5	Trip: Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Federation to Washington, DC	1992
3	6	Trustee List	1981, 1983

Description of series

Series 2	Correspondence	1979-1004
extent:	4.62 linear feet (11 document boxes)
description:	Correspondence and notes to file generated by Gerry Schnepf, Executive Director, of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
4	1	Correspondence	1979-1985
4	2	Correspondence, January - June	1986
4	3	Correspondence, July - December	1986
4	4	Correspondence, January - July	1987
4	5	Correspondence, August - October	1987
4	6	Correspondence, November - December	1987
5	1	Correspondence, January - June	1988
5	2	Correspondence, August - December	1988
5	3	Correspondence, January - March	1989
5	4	Correspondence, April	1989
5	5	Correspondence, May - June	1989
5	6	Correspondence, July	1989
6	1	Correspondence, August - September	1989
6	2	Correspondence, October	1989
6	3	Correspondence, November	1989
6	4	Correspondence, December	1989
6	5	Correspondence, January	1990
6	6	Correspondence, February	1990
7	1	Correspondence, March	1990
7	2	Correspondence, April	1990
7	3	Correspondence, May	1990
7	4	Correspondence, June	1990
7	5	Correspondence, July	1990
8	1	Correspondence, August - September	1990
8	2	Correspondence, October	1990
8	3	Correspondence, November	1990
8	4	Correspondence, December	1990
8	5	Correspondence, January	1991
9	1	Correspondence, February	1991
9	2	Correspondence, March	1991
9	3	Correspondence, April	1991
9	4	Correspondence, May	1991
9	5	Correspondence, June	1991
9	6	Correspondence, July	1991
9	7	Correspondence, August - September	1991
10	1	Correspondence, October	1991
10	2	Correspondence, November - December	1991
10	3	Correspondence, January - February	1992
10	4	Correspondence, March - April	1992
10	5	Correspondence, May	1992
10	6	Correspondence, June	1992
11	1	Correspondence, July	1992
11	2	Correspondence, August - September	1992
11	3	Correspondence, November	1992
11	4	Correspondence, December	1992
11	5	Correspondence, January	1993
11	6	Correspondence, February	1993
12	1	Correspondence, March	1993
12	2	Correspondence, April	1993
12	3	Correspondence, May	1993
12	4	Correspondence, June 1 - June 15	1993
12	5	Correspondence, June 16 - June 30	1993
12	6	Correspondence, July	1993
12	7	Correspondence, August	1993
13	1	Correspondence, September	1993
13	2	Correspondence, October	1993
13	3	Correspondence, November 1 - November 15	1993
13	4	Correspondence, November 16 - November 30	1993
13	5	Correspondence, December	1993
14	1	Correspondence, January	1994
14	2	Correspondence, February	1994
14	3	Correspondence, March	1994
14	4	Correspondence, April	1994
14	5	Correspondence, May	1994
14	6	Correspondence, June	1994
14	7	Correspondence, July	1994

Description of series

Series 3	Financial Records	1981-1993
extent:	0.42 linear feet (1 document box)
description:	Monthly cash income from pledges statements, lists of stock holdings, and budget information.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
15	1	Monthly Cash Income from Pledges Statements	1981 circa
15	2	Lists of Stock Holdings	1982
15	3	Budget Work ups	1986-1989
15	4	Budget (folder 1 of 3)	1990-1993
15	5	Budget (folder 2 of 3)	1990-1993
15	6	Budget (folder 3 of 3)	1990-1993

Description of series

Series 4	Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Project (IRVM)	1988-1989
extent:	0.63 linear feet (1 document box and 1 half-document box)
description:	Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM), a project to preserve and enhance biology, environment, and stability of the roadsides, the safety of motorists, and to preserve and enhance the aesthetic features of the roadsides, in a cost effective manner, contains IRVM Steering Committee Records, proposals, reports, and correspondence.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
16	1	Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Steering Committee Records	1988
16	2	Request for Proposal Records	1988
16	3	Proposal, September	1988
16	4	Interim Report 1, October	1988
16	5	Interim Report 2, November	1988
16	6	Interim Report 4, January	1989
16	7	Study Recommendation by Butler and Associates, January	1989
16	8	Technical Report - Integrated Roadside Vegetation Policies for Planting and Management	1989
17	1	Correspondence (Iowa House Bill 723)	1988-1989
17	2	Contracts with George Butler Associates, Inc.	1988-1989
17	3	Notes and Comments	1989

Description of series

Series 5	Project Files	1986-1992
extent:	0.42 linear feet (1 document box)
description:	Information documenting conservation projects associated with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation including publicity materials, reports, and studies.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
18	1	Blood Run National Landmark Feasibility Study, Northwest Iowa	1986
18	2	Cedar Valley Quality of Life Authority	1990s circa
18	3	Cedar Valley Conservation and Recreation	1991-1992
18	4	Four Mounds Park and Bluffland Project Report, Dubuque, Iowa	1988
18	5	Iowa State Historic Sites Planning Project (Dunbar/Jones)	1990
18	6	Master Plan - Iowa River Greenbelt	1987 circa
18	7	"Miracle of Corn" Exhibition	1988
18	8	Natural Areas Projects (folder 1 of 2)	1987-1989
18	9	Natural Areas Projects (folder 2 of 2)	1987-1989
18	10	Recreation, Tourism, and Leisure, An Iowa Plan for the Future, Final Report	1987
18	11	Western Historic Trains Center Feasibility Study, Council Bluff, Iowa	1980s circa

Description of series

Series 6	Gerry Schnepf Papers	1960-1992, undated
extent:	3.15 linear feet (7 document boxes and 1 half-document box)
description:	The series contains biographical information, class notes from college courses, a college yearbook from South Dakota State College, conservation reference files, correspondence during Schnepf's employment with Manitoba Parks and Iowa Conservation Commission, personal correspondence, materials documenting his time on the Ankeny (Iowa) Parks Board, nominations to the National Register of Historic Places for 2 locations in Iowa, photographs, a scrapbook, and transcripts of talks given by Schnepf.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
19	1	Biographical Information	1992, undated
19	2	Class notes: Psychology 125, Differential Psychology	undated
19	3	Class notes: Botany 257, Dendrology - The Gymnosperm	1960
19	4	Class notes: Forestry 491& 492, Range Forage Plants	1960
19	5	Class notes: Forestry 241 & 242, Mensuration	1960-1961
19	6	Class notes: Forestry 445, Photogrammetry	1961
19	7	Class notes: Iowa State University Forestry Summer Camp	1961
20	1	Class notes: Botany 206, Plant Taxonomy	1962
20	2	Class notes: Botany 416, Forest Pathology	1962
20	3	Class notes: Forestry 143, Forest Recreation	1962
20	4	Class notes: Forestry 390, Protection	1962
20	5	Class notes: Forestry 498, Forest Management	1962
20	6	Class notes: Psychology 160F, Psychology in Personnel Work	1962
20	7	Class notes: Workbook in Industrial Psychology and Personnel Management	1962
20	8	Class notes: Educational Psychology 216, Statistical Methods	1962
21	1	Class notes: Forestry 122, Forest Business Practices	1963
21	2	Class notes: Management 150A, Fundamentals of Management	1963
21	3	Class notes: Physical Education 110, Recreational Surveys	1963
21	4	Class notes: Physical Education 112, Programming in Recreation	1963
21	5	Class notes: Physical Education 121, Recreation Methods	1963
21	6	Class notes: Physical Education 240, Legal and Financial Aspects of Recreation	1963
21	7	Class notes: Physical Education 241, Administration of Public Recreation	1963
21	8	Class notes: Physical Education 242, Community Organization for Recreation	1963
21	9	Class notes: Psychology 140, Social Psychology	1963
21	10	Class notes: Forestry 131, Forest Policy	1964
21	11	Class notes: Forestry 148, Watershed Management	1964
22	1	Class notes: Geography 130, Geography of Outdoor Recreation	1964
22	2	Class notes: Geography 167, American Cities, 1964.	1964
22	3	Class notes: Geography 168, Geography of American Cities	1964
22	4	Class notes: Political Science 132, Public Personnel Administration	1964
22	5	Class notes: Sociology 111, Population Theory	1964
22	6	College Yearbook, South Dakota State, "1958 Jack Rabbit"	1958
22	7	Conservation Reference Files: Recreation Accreditation Report (First Draft), July	1964
22	8	Conservation Reference Files: "The Economics of Outdoor Recreation", April 17	1967
22	9	Conservation Reference Files: "The System Approach to Resource Development", November	1967
22	10	Conservation Reference Files: Conference - 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain High Plains Park and Recreation Conference, February 20-23	1968
22	11	Conservation Reference Files: Report - Pioneer Watershed Recreation Planning, Lyon County, Iowa, Project No. 1814, February 24	1969
22	12	Conservation Reference Files: Conservation Commission Planning Regions Maps with Annotations	1969
22	13	Conservation Reference Files: Environmental Legislation	1970
22	14	Conservation Reference Files: Iowa Conservation Commission Statement, Presented by Fred Priewert, Director of the Iowa Conservation Commission to the Governor's Conference on Environmental Systems, December 11	1970
23	1	Conservation Reference Files: Resource and Recreation Development Studies	1970-1973
23	2	Conservation Reference Files: Program - National Conference on State Parks, Golden Anniversary Meeting (Host - Iowa Conservation Commission), September 19-23	1971
23	3	Conservation Reference Files: State Conservation Commission - brochures and papers	1971-1972
23	4	Conservation Reference Files: Clinton County Outdoor Recreation Guide, April	1973
23	5	Conservation Reference Files: Conservation Commission Programming Planning Actions	1978
23	6	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, July - February	1964-1965
23	7	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, March - July	1965
23	8	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, August - December	1965
23	9	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, January - February	1966
23	10	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, March - June	1966
24	1	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, July - September	1966
24	2	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, October - December	1966
24	3	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, January - April	1967
24	4	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, May - August	1967
24	5	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, September - December	1967
24	6	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, January - March	1968
25	1	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, April - August	1968
25	2	Correspondence: Manitoba Parks, September - March	1968-1969
25	3	Correspondence: Iowa State Conservation Commission	1969-1979
25	4	Correspondence: Personal	1968-1987
25	5	Membership on the Ankeny (Iowa) Parks Board	1970-1971
25	6	Nominations: National Register of Historic Places, Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead, Scott County (Iowa) and Goldenrod School House, Page County (Iowa)	1972-1973
26	1	Paper: "A Study and Analysis of Minnesota State Park Camping Data"	1963 circa
26	2	Photographs: Unidentified (12 black and white, 4 color, 5 black and white negatives)	1966, undated
26	3	Scrapbook: Fishermen's Bend and other Recreation Areas in Oregon and Washington State (Photographs with captions), June - August	1963
26	4	Talks: "Recreational Site Selection and Design" and "Untitled"	undated