FINDING AID
CEDAR COUNTY COLLECTIONS
(FORMERLY THE WEST BRANCH COLLECTIONS)
NOTE ON COLLECTIONS
This collections group was originally created to accomodate miscellaneous West Branch historical materials which had come into our care for a variety of reasons. Later this collections group (West Branch Collections) began receiving materials from the surrounding communities and elsewhere in Cedar County. In 1997 these materials were reorganized into the Cedar County Collections, and were given extensive attention as regards to preservation care and storage materials.
The Cedar County Collections have been receiving new additions at an accelerating rate, and interest in them has been increasing likewise. We expect this growth to continue. Because of the regular acquisition of new materials, those scholars interested in local history are advised to consult this finding aid and Hoover Library staff periodically for updates.
* Asterisk denotes microform materials
Box # Collection Contents
Atlas’s & Maps
SEE: Reading Room shelves and Oversize Archival storage shelves
quot; section of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Iowa Railroad, 1982. Ac. #932
Brown, John Material gathered from various sources on John Brown and the local Abolitionist Movement and its activities. Not Accessioned
Bruns, Armin R. Article - "A.R. Bruns, King of the Soybeans," 1974.
Ac. #289/1
Film - "This is Worth Remembering," 1954-59. Ac. #289/2
Hoover Library Dedication - newspaper accounts, 1962. Ac. #289
Buker, Aaron Enlistment papers and Bounty Land application, 1834-1850.
Ac. #540
Original Land Grant of HHNHS Site, 1952. Ac. #73 & 539
amp; Helen Ac. # 901 & 901/1
Carran, Mollie Letter - Herbert Hoover’s school teacher, 1931. Ac. #862
SEE ALSO: General Accessions -- Carran, Mollie
3 Cedar County Hist- Issues of the yearly journal of the Cedar County Historical orical Review Society (incomplete), 1950's to current. Ac. #913
4 Cedar County Newsletter First newspaper in Cedar County, inclusive dates: Sept 13, 1852 thru Sept 17, 1853. Volume: 148 pages. Ac. # 802
SEE: Descriptive notes following this finding aid.
amp; Cedar County Sesquicen- Records of the commission, 1995-97. Received 5-6-97. 6 tennial Commission (Closed pending processing)
*Census of Cedar County, 1880 & 1900 -- On Microfilm -- MF79-2533 & 2534
*Census of Iowa, 1900, documenting the Hoover Family -- On Microfilm -- MF79-2531
7 Centerdale Historical Various materials on town of Centerdale. Not Accessioned
Information
Crosbie, Archibald Copy Book, 1881-82. Ac. #119
amp; Maxson Springdale Store Account Book, 1914. Ac. #786
General Store
Fawcett, Floyd Article regarding Quakers, 1935. Ac. #368
Flickinger, V.W. Articles, poems re Hoover visits to Iowa, 1948-62.
Ac. #225/1
Plans for development of Hoover Birthplace, 1948.
Ac. #225
Frana, Bruce Johnson & Cedar counties postcards, Ca. 1905-1915.
Ac. #902
Garwood, John Article re Hoover visit to West Branch, 1928. Ac. #356
Gower Township
SEE: Hemingway, Mrs. Elmer (Doris)
8 Heacock, James F. Genealogical materials on local Quaker families and Quaker history. Ac. #938
amp; 280/1
Clippings, 1891-1929. Ac. #280 & 280/1
Hess, Frank T. Autograph Book, 1881 - West Branch H.S. Commencement Program. Ac. #351
amp; town history pamphlets, 1938.
Ac. #351/1
amp; photos, 1884-1928. Ac. #351/2
amp; Copies from various sources. Not Accessioned
Park - Land Deeds
Hoover Centennial, 1974
SEE: General Accessions -- Hoover Centennial, 1974.
Hoover, Eli Property/Land Deed, 1852. Ac. #390
Hoover, Herbert - Articles re Herbert Hoover’s cradle, 1930. Ac. #410
Cradle
Hoover, Herbert - Clippings - "Authentic Privy for Herbert Hoover," 1974.
Privy Ac. #354
Hoover, Herbert School attendance record, 1882. Ac. #868
Hoover, Herbert - Burial coverage clippings, 1964. Not Accessioned State Funeral of
U.S. Army After Action Report, 1964 (3 folders). Ac. #21
U.S. Army Narrative Report, 1964. Ac. #165
10 Hoover, Herbert - Newspapers - 1928, 1946 & 1954. Not Accessioned
visits to Iowa
Hoover, Hulda M. Correspondence, 1880-83. Ac. #460
Hoover, Jesse C. Abstract of property title, 1851, 1963. Ac. 470
Estate Papers. Ac. #527
SEE ALSO: General Accessions--Hoover Legal Records
West Branch Bank records, 1879-80. Ac. #867
amp; Eli Deed papers, 1852-53, 1856-57. Ac. #527
amp; Census Report on, 1880. Not Accessioned
Hulda
Marriage License, 1870. Ac. #593
Hoover, John Yount Book-History of the Life and Labors of J.Y. Hoover.
Not Accessioned
Hoover Library Drawings, sketches, plans etc. Ac. 274
Building Specifications
Hoover, Theodore Manuscript by Theodore Hoover -- Memoranda, describing his life, recollections of his family, etc.
SEE: General Accessions -- Hoover, Theodore
Ink, Dwight Remarks by, 1974. Ac. #369
Jones, Mrs. Howard H. Clipping-West Branch children learn of Hoover’s death, 1964. Ac. #340
King, Elwood Clippings re West Branch and Herbert Hoover, 1928.
Ac. #367
Minthorn, Huldah Letters, 1861-65. Not Accessioned
Randall
Miscellaneous Materials Various Information on local history. Not Accessioned
amp; West Branch genealogical information on various families. Wendell Ac. #895
Peedee Historical Historical materials on Town of Peedee. Not Accessioned
Information
Pettis, Marjorie C. Autograph Book, 1894-1902. Ac. #388
Quaker Discipline Book The Discipline of the Society of Friends, 1864.
Ac. #889
quot;The Man Who Held Hoover’s Hat," 1929. Ac. #779
Rummells, L.C. West Branch Hoover related clippings. Ac. #579
1948
1951-52
1954
1956-57
1958-61
12 1962 (Folder 1)
1962 (Folder 2)
1963-64
1965-66
1967-68
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1978
Undated
West Branch Directory re J.C. & J.Y. Hoover, ca. 1870-?
Ac. #579
Miscellaneous materials. Ac. #579
13 Sayles, Ross Hoover Library historical notes by Ross Sayles. Not Accessioned
Local historical notes by Sayles. Not Accessioned
Books - The West Branch Story by Ross Sayles.
Scarb(o)rough/ Genealogical Newsletter, 1990-96. Ac. #912
Haworth Events
Shue, Violet
SEE ALSO: General Accessions -- Shue, Violet
Minthorn Family genealogy info., 1900, 1960, 1974.
Ac. #361
Minthorn Family genealogy info., 1928. Ac. #361/1
Spangler, Harrison
SEE: General Accessions File Cab. -- Spangler, Harrison -- Birthplace Society
Speight, Glenn
SEE ALSO: General Accessions -- Speight, Glenn & Mildred
Eli Hoover’s arrival in West Branch, 1975. Ac. #381/5
Herbert Hoover 80th Birthday display sketches. Ac. #381/4
Various materials concerning the Hoover Birthplace Society, 1939. Ac. # 381/2 & 381/6
Don Johnson note cards. Ac. #381/1
Map of West Branch. Ac. #381
Scrapbook re Herbert Hoover, 1928-1968. Ac. #381/7
West Branch Fair. Ac. #381/3
West Branch Racetrack. Ac. #381/8
Speight, Mildred West Branch - Early historical data. Ac. #308
SEE ALSO: General Accessions -- Speight, Glenn & Mildred
14 Springdale Friends School records & volumes of Discipline, 1894-1917.
Sunday School Ac. #679
15 Springdale Historical West Branch Local Record "Holiday Edition," 1882.
Information Not Accessioned
Springdale Monthly General Register, ca. 1854-1910. Ac. #472
Meeting
16 State Historical Record of Friends Sunday School re Hulda Hoover, 1883. Society of Iowa Ac. #314
Scattergood Hostel fund-raising appeal to Hoover, 1939. Ac. 314/1
Stratton, Maud Scrapbooks
SEE: General Accessions -- Maud Stratton Scrapbooks.
Struble, Margueretette, M. Clippings - West Branch history, 1928-1987. Ac. #804
Tatum, Lawrie
SEE: General Accessions -- Hoover Legal Records -- Ac. #555
SEE ALSO: General Accessions - Tatum, Lawrie
quot;Herbert Hoover, TV’s First Star," 1971. Ac. #240
amp; 532/1 (The Account Book is also available on microfilm MF78-2476)
Thomas, Harold (Bus)
SEE: General Accessions -- Thomas, Harold (Bus)
Tipton Conservative Newspapers, 1898, 1940. Ac. #903
Wagner, William J. West Branch Hoover Homesite Fire Maps, 1872, 1895, 1927. Ac. #65/2
SEE ALSO: General Accessions -- Wagner, William J.
Weather Observations Record of Iowa City observations, 1874. Ac. #90/4
17 West Branch Friends Clippings re Friends Church. Not Accessioned
Church
SEE ALSO: General Accessions -- Maud Stratton Scrapbooks.
*West Branch Friends Records Books, 1853 - 1962 -- On Microfilm -- (also including Springdale, Red Cedar and Honey Grove Meetings) -- 10 rolls film -- MF85-2676 thru 2685
West Branch Funeral Notebooks, 1902-1909. Ac. #400
Records
West Branch Record Book/Minutes, etc., 1973-1988. Ac. #904
Heritage Foundation
West Branch Historic Downtown Rehabilitation Projects, 1986-88. Ac. #911
District
West Branch School Pupil List, 1880. Not Accessioned
West Branch Times Historical info on the newspaper. Not Accessioned
West Branch Times Not Accessioned
SEE: Complete run of the newspaper on microfilm and bound issues by year.
18 West Branch Times
Excerpts
SEE: Scope and content notes following this finding aid.
Sept. 1878 to Oct. 1879.
Nov. 1879 to Mar. 1892.
Aug. 1892 to Aug. 8, 1928..
Aug. 16, 1928 to Feb. 7, 1929.
Feb. 14, 1929 to Sept. 25, 1930.
Nov. 6, 1930 to Sept. 28, 1933.
19 1933-1939.
quot; 1866. Ac. #174
THE CEDAR COUNTY NEWSLETTER
Scope and Content Note
Nelson C. Swank owned the first printing press and publsihed the first weekly newspaper in Cedar County, Iowa in 1852. His Cedar County Newsletter first appeared on September 13, 1852. After a year of publication, Swank sold the press, type and fixtures to Charles Swetland who moved them to Tipton, Iowa.