Iowa Celebrates The Roaring 1920’s.

During the 1920’s – both Iowa City and the State University of Iowa (SUI) grew exponentially. And most of that growth happened on the west side of the Iowa River.

Penny Postcards were still the craze throughout the Roaring 1920’s and there were plenty of colorful cards circulating around Iowa City. On this page – allow me to show you just a few…

(P-0287) (P-0128) Circa 1920’s SUI campus
(P-0288) Circa 1920’s SUI campus
(P-0318) (P-0103) This Aeroplane View of Iowa City was taken by Fred Kent – prior to 1924 when University Hall (Jessup Hall) – the final building of the Pentacrest – was completed.
(P-0260) A beautiful view of the Pentacrest in the late 1920’s.
(P-0113)  University Hospital Tower. When the move to the west side was finally completed in 1928, University Hospital with its beautiful Gothic tower became the foundation of the modern University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.
(P-0319) The Quadrangle – built in 1919-1920 – this men’s dorm was a massive commitment to the west side of the SUI campus.
The Quadrangle was originally intended to serve as barracks to house Student Army Training Corps recruits for WWI. Circa 1920, by Fred Kent
Iowa Field House & Armory (1927) In the late 1920’s, the University expanded rapidly on the west side of the Iowa River. Within five years (1925-1930) the University opened a new Armory & Field House (1927), a new Hospital (1928), and a new Football Stadium (1929). Both the women’s and men’s basketball teams played in the Field House from 1927 to 1983.
IMG-0639
(P-0083) Souvenir Folder of Iowa City, Iowa and University of Iowa – a collection of 16 colorful postcards featuring on the cover – Johnson County Courthouse and the Burlington Street Bridge, A View of the Iowa River.

Old Capitol, Liberal Arts Building (Schaeffer Hall), Natural Science Building (Macbride Hall), and Armory/Pavillion.

University Hospital, Dental College.

Physics Building (MacLean Hall), Corner of Washington & Dubuque Streets, Hall of Anatomy & Medical Laboratories Building, Women’s Gymnasium.

Bird’s eye view of University Square, Engineering Building, Bird’s Eye View of Business District, Currier Hall.

(L-0125) This very rare commemorative poster – measuring 33″ x 20″ – was produced by The Des Moines Register and features the October 1, 1925 SUI Induction Ceremony held in front of the Physics Building (MacLean Hall) on the Pentacrest.

Here is an aerial photo of that same October 1, 1925 student induction ceremony!

Read more about the 1920’s Old Capitol Rehabilitation Project here.

Before we close – allow me to share with you a set of First Day Covers that set a bit of postal history in Iowa during the 1920’s…

The first U.S. postage stamps with a First Day of Issue in Iowa!
(C-0126) (C-0127) 1925 – Norse-American Heritage – 2¢ Sloop Restaurationen and 5¢ Viking Ship with First Day of Issue in St. Paul, MN; Minneapolis, MN; Benson, MN; Northfield, MN; Algona, IA; Decorah, IA; and Washington, D.C.

For the 100th anniversary of the Norwegian immigration to America and almost 1,000 years after the first Viking explorations, the United States Postal Service honored both historic events with a beautifully engraved set of two bi-color stamps. It was called – appropriately – the Norse-American Issue and the stamps appeared for the first time on May 18, 1925.

Read more about the founders of Algona, Iowa – Asa C. & Ambrose A. Call and their Iowa City connection.

Algona and Decorah – both located in northern Iowa and settled in the 1850’s by Norwegian immigrants – were two Iowa communities chosen to be a part of the first day release of these two Norse-American commemorative stamps.

Read about all of the dozens of U.S.P.S. commemorative stamps that feature Iowans and/or Iowa-based themes!

Kudos to the amazing resources below for the many quotes, photographs, etc. used on this page.

A Nod to Quad, Sara Epstein Moninger, University of Iowa – Iowa Now, May 17, 2016

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