ISU Archives

Check out this blog post to learn how ‘Students Helping Students’ Shaped Student Alumni Leadership Council’s 50-Year Legacy. isuspecialcollections.wordpress.com/2025/05/12/stu…

Cy floats above central campus with Parks Library and Morrill Hall in the background. c. 1980s #fbf #ParksLibrary100

On July 4, 1959, Iowa State College became @IowaStateU. Learn more on the Special Collections and University Archives blog ow.ly/wtzS50WhFSW

On July 1, 1953, James Hilton was installed as the 10th president of @IowaStateU. He was an alum of with a BS in animal husbandry. Hilton was president from 1953-1962 and oversaw many important changes, including IA State College becoming Iowa State University in 1959.

Very excited to announce that library staff are digitizing the student/faculty directories to make them accessible online! Directories from 1901-1910 are available to view now. Stay tuned as we continue to work through digitizing the collection. ow.ly/E4wn50WgPGw

Flashback to an @ISUExtension corn judging short course held in 1914. Extension courses then, and now, help fulfill the @IowaStateU land grant mission to share knowledge through the community, state, and country. #fbf

Flashback to students and staff working hard around the information desk in 1945. #fbf #ParksLibrary100 Please let us know #YourParksStory

With Commencement taking place through Saturday, here's a look back at the 1950 ceremony that took place at Clyde Williams Field. @IowaStateU @isualum #FBF

The very first VEISHEA celebration took place from May 11-13, 1922. Pictured is the dairy science float from the parade a century ago in 1925. #veishea

digital.lib.iastate.edu/exhibits/parks… We are so excited to share The Heart of the Library digital exhibit! The exhibit will be added to through the year, so be sure to check back! #fbf #ParksLibrary100 #YourParksStory

Out and about: 3 archivists helped serve our youngest patrons by judging National History Day Iowa. isuspecialcollections.wordpress.com/2025/05/07/nat…

Starting in 1891, students @IAState were required to take a library info course. Today, students take Library 1600, designed to help them find and use info during their time as students and beyond. Photo: Students in library instruction c. 1951 #ParksLibrary100 #YourParksStory

📚🎉🖥️🎂Thanks for supporting the University Library this #ForeverTrueDay - a successful celebration of Cyclone spirit and Iowa State! If you missed it, you can still participate at forevertrueday.com We’ll see you again for another #24HoursofCyclonePower next year! ❤️💛

⏰ There’s still time to support the University Library on #ForeverTrueDay! To celebrate Parks Library’s centennial, every 10 donors to any University Library fund will unlock an extra $10,000—if the library reaches 100 donors, that equals $100,000! 🎂🎉forevertrueday.com/library

#ForeverTrueDay is here! Happy 100th birthday to Parks Library!🎂Celebrate the centennial, every 10 donors ➡️ University Library fund is an extra $10,000—the library reaches 100 donors that=$100,000! Celebrate & support Parks Library on their 100th: forevertrueday.com/library ❤️💛

As April showers bring May flowers, we celebrate the 125th anniversary of Iowa State's Horticulture Club, founded on April 2, 1900. Uncover the roots of this influential club and its lasting impact on Iowa State’s horticultural legacy in this blog post: isuspecialcollections.wordpress.com/2025/04/02/roo…

Historically, there was a big celebration @IowaStateU to honor the Patron Saint of Engineers, St. Patrick. The celebration included a parade and the induction of outstanding senior engineers into the Knights of the Order of the Guard of St. Patrick.

Happy Pi Day to all who celebrate! These ladies were preparing cherry pies for VEISHEA in 1954 @IowaStateU . The cherry pies were a tradition that started by the Division of Home Economics. The pies were originally sold in February to celebrate George Washington’s birthday.