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Reappraisal of college property, 1908

Photocopy. Original in Vault Maps.

Book and support fund, current expense fund, new chapel fund, list of pledges.

List of coins from various countries, including who donated them, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Reports for 1883, 1885-1888, 1890-1894, 1900, 1902-1906, 1012.

Petition, 1858 (?) by Davenport citizens: to retain Iowa College in city. T. Baldwin, Feb. 20, 1858: resolution of Society's board to aid Western colleges, to support denominational cooperation, but to oppose ecclesiastical control of colleges aided. T. Baldwin to J. A. Reed, April 15-16, 1858: details policy of Society and some of its activities. Rev. Skinner to J. A. Reed, May 27, 1858: urges college to move to Webster City, where there is "no foreign population". Rev. J. Cook (?) May 29, 1858: urges college to move to Des Moines, cites religious and rail advantages T. Baldwin, June 1, 1858: again urges Webster City as college site, cites "no foreign population" and much Eastern "aheadativeness" Charles Atkinson (?) to J. A. Reed, June 26, 1858: vision of college's future; advantage of college move into "interior" influence of railroad. D. A. Haviland (?) June 28, 1858: important but short letter on anti-slavery; it says the pro-slavery and anti-Congregationalist sentiment in Fort Dodge discourages location of Iowa College there; cites Grinnell offer to raise $50,000 for college. P. W. Carter to J. A. Reed, June 30, 1858: had a "clear indication from Providence" that college should move away from river towns; urges Grinnell site. Alonzo Spaulding (?) July 12, 1858: urges Maquoketa as college site with its "temperence influence". Trustees letter, July 14, 1858: reasons for moving college, including the Davenport street plans and a distaste for "the noise and confusion and temptation incident to a city". J. C. Holbrook (?) to J. A. Reed, July 20, 1858: advantage of Dubuque land values for college location. Orrin Sage to J. A. Reed, July 22, 1858: advantages of Anamosa for site, its timber and railroad; also see S. A. Benton letter, June 18, 1858. T. Baldwin to J. A. Reed, Aug. 2, 1858: Presbyterian - Congregational dissension in Society. J. Houghton to J. A. Reed, July 14, 1858: objections to Davenport location Rev. J. Cook to J. A. Reed, Aug. 5, 1858: cites inability to raise funds in Des Moines; urges "you must leave the River;" suggests Grinnell T. Baldwin to J. A. Reed, Sept. 17, 1858: East-West differences in Society; question of ecclesiastical control; Presbyterian - Congregational problems T. Baldwin to J. A. Reed, Sept. 21, 1858: more of the above Executive committee statement to T. Baldwin, Oct. 4, 1858: financial state of college; Presbyterian - Congregational differences; refers to "unsettled state" of college and "the unprecedented pressure of the times" (financial) O. Sage to R J. A. Reed, Oct. 25, 1858: urges merits of Anamosa over Grinnell for college site; implies some reasons for Grinnell preference of trustees. Blanchard to Magoun, Oct. 28, 1858: accepts the college presidency as God's calling T. Baldwin to J. A. Reed, Nov. 8, 1858: ecclesiastical control question Blanchard, Dec. 31, 1858: declines Presidency J. G. Grinnell to N.Y. Independent, 1859 (?): important letter on the move of Iowa College to Grinnell; refers to $40,000 Grinnell subscription T. BAldwin, Feb 2, 1859: religious/educational controversies and the Society George Churchill to J. A. Reed, June 27, 1859: interesting letter about education, especially at Knox, and also about co-education. J. A. Reed to L. Phelps, Sept. 2, 1859: enumerated articles from the library to be moved to Grinnell from Davenport.

Letters and brochures relating to the 1897 fund-raising campaign. Letters to H. H. Robbins, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, regarding talks given by W. M. Parsons about the college (stereopticon talks) from: Charles H. Seccomb, Sibley, Iowa, June 9, 1897; Clara E. Townsend, Armour, S. Dakota, June 11, 1897; and Frank E. Kenyon, Denmark, Iowa, June 11, 1897. Letters to W. M. Parsons, Field Representative for the Board of Trustees, regarding requests fro donations from: J. B. Grinnell, Jan. 23, 1896; Rev. Magoun, Oberlin, Ohio, Sept. 20. 1897; MR. & Mrs. C. W. Jamieson Warren, Penn., Sept. 27, 1897; and Katherine A. James, CHicago, Oct. 6th. Letter to Parsons from George Gates, Florence, Italy , Sept. 20. 1897 Circular and brochure regarding 1897 Semi-Centennial Fund Drive. piece of Iowa College stationery from 1890s.  Geo. A. Gates, President; H. H. Robbins, Secretary; W.M. Parsons, Field Representative (These materials were accessioned in 1996)

Letters mostly concern financial and building matters. Of special interest: J. Guernsey, Aug. 11, 1870: on back of letter is an American Home Missionary Society circular dated Nov. 1, 1869, detailing financial policy of Society. J. Guernsey, Aug. 23, 1870 (?): on typhoid scare. J. M. Chamberlain, Dec. 15, 1871: East College Building burns down. H. S. DeForest, Dec. 28, 1871: on fire: "You must all feel the burden.  Well, one must be as plucky as Chicago is and take hold for a new start". Rev. C. Emerson, Sept. 4, 1872:  interesting letter, urges greater role for women in college education.

George Gates to Miss Meyers, March 21, 1900: student discipline D. Bradley, Feb. 15, 1902: accepts presidency. J. Main. April 30, 1902: accepts Dean of the Faculty. Letter, June 21, 1904: financial state of the college. Adams, Henry C., University of Michigan professor, to J. Main, Jan. 19, 1911: calls the college "a pioneer in the study of political science"; emphasizes "the need of industrial education, that men may attain the highest ideal of citizenship," In "a business world" an institution "cannot overlook the educational needs of business men." James L. Hill to John Main, March 11, 1921: generous pledge to college H. H. Robbins, Nov. 18, 1923: quotes father's diary of 1857 giving college's financial holdings. Harry Downer, 1938: letter concerns Grinnell alumnus, Henry Windsor, who founded Popular Mechanics.

Letters mostly concerning fund-raising, Of special interest: T. Baldwin to J. A. Reed, June 25, 1852: denominational strife and Eastern control Executive committee letter, Aug. 16, 1852: state of college, extensive statements about the "dangerous" German immigration and the need for it to be "Americanized". E. P. Mackintire to J. A. Reed, Nov. 15, 1852: interesting though vague letter about East-West Presbyterian church conflicts and the Albany Convention. Rev. J. R. Mershom (?) to J. A. Reed, April 16, 1854: sees new young people and immigration as hope for church expansion. J. B. Grinnell to J. A. Reed, Jan. 20, 1854: interesting letter about moving to Iowa and railroad influence on possible locations. J. R. Mershom to Adams, Feb. 12, 1854: deals with land speculation caused by railroad, opportunity for college, and the importance of Eastern finance. J. M. Sturtevant to J. A. Reed, Feb. 17, 1854: letter on life at a college. T. Baldwin to J. A Reed, March 21, 1854: concerning the problem of German immigrants and the church; union with American education society; and change of Iowa College site. E. P. Mackintire to E. Adams, April 25, 1854: church contributions to college; change of college site; and religious influence. Mershom to J. A. Reed, June 23, 1854: on college location change; incomplete fragment criticizing New England Home Missionary Society's support of churches now capable of self-support. Mershom to J. A. Reed, June 30, 1854: college fundraising in the East and the effect of a possible change in college location; concern over German immigration. Mershom to J. A. Reed, July 4, 1854: fundraising and church jealousies. Mershom to J. A. Reed, July 5, 1854: fundraising and tight market; regret at possible college move. Mershom to J. A. Reed, July 26, 1854: fundraising and depression.

T. Baldwin to J. A. Reed, June 28, 1855: Presbyterian-Congregationalist college relations J. A. Reed to L. Phelps, Nov. 22, 1855: on building in Grinnell Letter from Trustees to Roy Palmer, Aug. 15, 1856: history and aims of college E. Ripley to T. Baldwin: Oct. 6, 1856: application for college aid Post, Dec. 22, 1856: cites possible conflict between business management and educational concern in college administration H. Winslow, Feb. 4, 1857: short but interesting letter expressing sympathy for anti-slavery views, great respect for Daniel Webster, and opposition to abolitionists. Palmer, Feb. 16, 1857: short reference to Winslow's slavery views T. Baldwin, March 7, 1857: Society policy on Eastern support of Western colleges Newsclipping, July 15, 1857: long college letter opposing Davenport plans for a street through college lands.

G. Magoun, Sept. 22, 26, Oct. 3, and Nov. 1, 1873: interesting letters on fund-raising and the beginning of the western "university"; anecdotes about getting contibutions; perhaps a greater emphasis here on individual, wealthy contributors than on churches. G. Magoun, Nov. 7, 26, Dec. 3, 9-10, 31, 1873: more letters on fundraising; also, an expression of his close relationship and fondness for the students. Senior Class to Magoun Dec. 2, 1973: asks him to return from fundraising travels and teach them (16 signatures).

D. O. Mears, Feb. 11, 1886: Goodnow's legacies; Mears may decline presidency. D. O. Mears to Trustees, Feb. 11, 1886: declines presidency. D. O Mears to Chamberlain, March 2, 1886: sharply criticizes trustees, even though "you say they have acted under the inspiration of prayer" D. O. Mears to Chamberlain, May 11, 1886: asks trustees' position on proposal. Mrs. Mears to Chamberlain, July 5, 1886: again Mears declines presidency. J. Chamberlain to Mears, May 14, 1886; explains trustees' position on proposal. Mears to Trustees, July 13, 1886: again declines presidency, explains reasons why. George Gates to S. J. Buck, Mar. 8, 1887: accepts presidency (copy) G. Magoun to Trustees, 1890 (?): resigns teaching position, cites importance of teaching "mental and moral science". George Gates to C. W. Vermilion, Oct. 4, 1893: student discipline case Class of 1893 letter, 1897: on naming Ward Field Resolution, Jan. 22, 1899: supporting Prof. George Herron against his proposed removal by the trustees.