The Iowa Women’s Archives holds more than 1,200 manuscript collections that chronicle the lives and work of Iowa women, their families, and their communities. These personal papers and organizational records date from the 19th century to the present. Together with oral histories, they document the activities of Iowa women throughout the state and beyond its borders. The Iowa Women’s Archives is open to the public.
News from the Archives
- Gateway, Not Gatekeep: Penny Furgerson’s Gateway Dance Theatre of Des Moines, Iowa
In 1977, Des Moines civil rights activist, Edna Griffin, wrote a strongly worded opinion piece defending the a local dance studio, the Gateway Dance Theatre. But why? In this piece, IWA student assistant Kelly Kemp explores the connection between civil rights and dance through the papers of […]
- Jane Roth reflects on term as Libraries Advancement Council chair, commitment to university
For Jane Roth, the connection to the University of Iowa started with her mother and father—and it’s continued to grow thanks to her commitment to helping students be as successful as possible during their time on campus and beyond. Roth recently completed her one-year term as chair of the […]
- Eichacker-Harper family recipients of the University of Iowa Family Spirit Award
The Eichacker-Harper family has been making Iowa history for five generations. Now, the family has been recognized with the well-deserved University of Iowa Family Spirit Award for their longstanding contributions to the university. The Libraries is fortunate to work closely with Virginia Eichacker […]
- The 2024 Kerber Grant gave one researcher renewed appreciation for rural women’s advocacy
IWA's 2024 Kerber Travel Grant recipient found a wealth of resources for her dissertation on rural women's grass-roots coalition building.
- Eagles, and donkeys, and elephants, oh my!: Politics and animals in IWA
What do an eagle, a donkey, an elephant, and a chicken have in common? They can all be found in the political collections of the Iowa Women’s Archives!
- YOU make the government: The Iowa League of Women Voters and civic responsibility
A non-partisan organization, the LWV focuses on voters understanding their power and responsibility in government at all levels. It also emphasizes that for democracy to be for the people, citizens must engage with government at every level. In a 1947 project entitled You are Democracy, the LWV […]
- Done biting their tongues: UI dental hygiene and gender discrimination
by Beatrice Kearns, graduate assistant, Iowa Women’s Archives The University of Iowa Dental Hygiene Program began in 1953 with 24 students and despite being nationally renowned, the female-dominated program did not make it to its 50th anniversary. Until the final graduating class in 1995, the […]