April 1, 1917 – With the help of SUI Professor Carl Seashore, child advocate Cora B. Hillis finally convinces the state to set up the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station in Iowa City.

When child advocate Cora B. Hillis campaigned for $25,000 for state-sponsored research on child development, the Iowa State Legislature said no – spending the money instead on a new sheep barn at the State Fairgrounds! But a diligent Hillis kept the faith, and on April 1, 1917, with the help of SUI Professor Carl Seashore, the state finally set up the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station in Iowa City. Over the next fifty-seven years, ICWRS became known as the nation’s finest research center on childhood development.

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March 31, 1936 –Amelia Earhart returns to Iowa, speaking before a standing-room-only crowd at the SUI Memorial Union in Iowa City.

Not many know that America’s famous female aviator had a strong Iowa connection. Moving with her family to Des Moines in 1907, it was at the Iowa State Fair where Amelia Earhart had her first encounter with an aeroplane. Records indicate that in 1911, the Wright Brothers brought a biplane to the fair, and according to Amelia, her first response was less than enthusiastic. That all changed, of course, and on March 31, 1936 – fifteen months prior to her untimely death – the world-renowned aviatrix came to Iowa City – speaking to a sellout crowd at the SUI Memorial Union.

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March 30, 1853 – The Iowa Republican announces the first gathering of the Johnson County Agricultural Society which will include our first Iowa City mayor – J.P. DeForest.

Iowa City Mayor #1 – DeForest – while involved in local politics – might have been a farmer, or minimally a land investor, since in the March 30, 1853 Iowa (City) Republican, we find that he – along with many other Iowa City pioneers – were involved in the formation of the first Johnson County Agricultural Society, just days before being named our city’s first mayor.

According to his records in Find-A-Grave, Jacob Peter (J.P.) DeForest was born on December 2, 1791 in Rensselaer County, New York, and served in the War of 1812 as a Major. He was the husband of Elizabeth Eliza Eddy, died on February 18, 1854 (age 62), and is buried in Oakland Cemetery – Block 4, Lot #43 – in Iowa City.

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This Day In History is an Our Iowa Heritage blog series that offers you a little bit of Iowa trivia from a large selection of stories on our website. Subscribe to this FREE blog and you’ll get a new email from us daily. Click to learn more.

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