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Posted by: Chris Jones
May 16, 2013 - 2:55pm
by Sam Dunnington, '14
Commencement is an odd phenomenon. For each graduate, it's a unique and momentous event, something that happens once in a lifetime. But every year, another crop of seniors shuffles down the grass of central campus while family members sweat under the Iowa sun. Below are some snapshots of commencements past.
A commencement program from 1856, when Grinnell was still Iowa College:
Graduates line up in 1972, looking dazed.
The littlest assistant professor... Read More...
Posted by: Chris Jones
April 19, 2013 - 2:32pm
by Diane Lenertz '15
Before Ultimate Frisbee, the Student Government Association, or the Soccer team were regular features of Grinnell College (hard to imagine, I know), there existed a different type of student organization: the literary society. It was very clear during my college search process that Grinnell College has never had Greek sororities or fraternities, so it surprised me to discover that the mid 1800s through the early 1920s saw somewhat exclusive (and Greek-named) societies at... Read More...
Posted by: Catherine Rod
March 7, 2013 - 11:24am
by Sam Dunnington, '14
1957 was a very good year for Grinnell Concerts.
In January, the legendary Duke Ellington came to campus and played a show in Darby Gymnasium. Just two months later, Louis Armstrong brought a small band to Grinnell and played for 2 hours in Darby. Below are pictures of the performers in interview at Grinnell, possibly by members of Grinnell's pre-KDIC radio station, KGRW.
Apparently, Ellington's concert garnered mixed reviews. A letter to the editor in a 1957 copy of... Read More...
Posted by: Chris Jones
February 8, 2013 - 5:01pm
by Sam Dunnington, '14
Originally, I planned to post pictures of what Grinnell looked like in winter prior to the paved walkways that now criss-cross central campus. The area between ARH, Burling and Noyce was a giant mudpit during the late fall and early spring. However, I think everyone is a little winter-weary at this point, so I've grabbed some photos from sunnier times instead. Hold on strong!
Below, three students cross the patio in front of ARH in 1985.
A tree leafs out in front... Read More...
Posted by: Chris Jones
January 24, 2013 - 11:46am
by Sam Dunnington, '14
As the temperature in Grinnell flirts with zero, people hustle from building to building and students from warmer climates barricade themselves inside until spring. In the early 1960s, however, freezing temperatures meant students could be found in abundance at the Barber Skating Plaza. Named after Margaret Kyle Barber, class of 1899, the rink was located between Burling Library and the Fine Arts building. The rink seems to have been a popular winter hangout spot for... Read More...
Posted by: Chris Jones
December 3, 2012 - 2:54pm
by Stephanie Porter, '14
As a student working in the archives, I knew the day would come eventually: I would have to face the daunting task of putting together my own exhibit.
That day came this semester, when Chris approached me one morning with a theme- exploration. It sounded reasonable enough at the time, broad enough that I could do whatever I wanted with it, and certainly an interesting topic. I figured I would just pull some books, write some descriptions, put them in cases and call it... Read More...
Posted by: Chris Jones
October 29, 2012 - 2:43pm
By Sam Dunnington, '14
No one likes the doctor's office, but at least you usually leave feeling better than you did walking in. 98 years ago, your chances of feeling better appear to have been much slimmer. We recently received an appointment book used by P.E. Somers, M.D., a physician working in the Grinnell area in 1914. Besides his appointments, the book includes a section outlining the basic medical knowledge of the day, parts of which are terrifying.
Below is a section on basic childhood... Read More...
Posted by: Catherine Rod
September 11, 2012 - 4:54pm
by Sam Dunnington, '14
Though the physical layout of Grinnell often feels like one of the College's most stable components, construction and demolition occur relatively frequently. During my brief stay here, I've seen central campus get plowed up for a new ampitheater, new paths being laid across the campus, and the old Physical Education Center get demolished by front-end loaders. What's even more intriguing than the physical changes that do happen, however, are those that don't. I... Read More...
Posted by: Chris Jones
August 10, 2012 - 2:59pm
We recently received an interesting question regarding the relationship between Griswold College, in Davenport, IA, and Grinnell College, and whether Grinnell had ever been called Griswold. We had never heard of such a direct relationship between the two institutions, which made it an intriguing question and a fun, albeit brief, research project.
As some of you may know, Grinnell College began its existence as Iowa College and was founded in Davenport in 1846 by a group of... Read More...
Posted by: Chris Jones
July 13, 2012 - 12:00pm
by Sam Dunnington, '14
On my second day at the archives, I pulled open a drawer that was literally overflowing with event posters from the last 50 years of Grinnell's Art and Music departments. Many of these were stunning, either hand drawn or beautifully printed. Some of my favorites are below, and if we accomplish nothing else this year, let's bring back the Renaissance Feast.
The ring on the back of Billy the Kid's hand reads, "Let's Rodeo."
Barons of Beefe: probably... Read More...
