Opening August 24, 2026.

Two mallard ducks, one male and one female, in flight. They are preparing to land on a beach.

Original watercolor painting (“Mallards Dropping In”) used for Ding Darling’s first wildlife conservation stamps in 1934. Jay N. “Ding” Darling Papers, Special Collections and Archives, University of Iowa Libraries.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist for The Des Moines Register, Jay N. “Ding” Darling (1876-1962) was also one of the nation’s most influential figures in the American conservation movement. Appointed director of the United States Bureau of Biological Survey (later part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Darling made historic attempts to answer the growing concerns of industrialism’s impact on the environment.

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of his birth, this exhibition explores the transformation of Iowa’s environmental landscape during Darling’s life and his contributions to environmental and wildlife conservation advocacy nationwide. It also showcases how his legacy lives on today both locally and across the country, and how other Iowans have played key roles in our state’s conservation efforts. Curated by librarians Lindsay Moen and Collin Vandewalle, It Was Wonderful Knowing You highlights the Jay N. “Ding” Darling Papers from Special Collections and Archives, specimens from the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, and more from across the Libraries.

Exhibition Curation

Lindsay Moen
Lead Public Services Librarian
Special Collections and Archives

Collin Vandewalle
Exhibit Support Librarian
Special Collections and Archives