Our Iowa Heritage: An Introduction. We might suggest you start here! Here’s how & why I got started collecting stamps, coins, and other Iowa memorabilia.
1960 – The SUI School Of Music Presents… During the late 1950’s, when the University of Iowa was experiencing a football revival, the Hawkeye Marching Band and the Scottish Highlanders became an important part of every home football game, plus were a huge hit in Pasadena, when Iowa was invited to the 1957 & 1959 Rose Bowls. In 1960, the SUI School of Music released a LP record that included one whole side dedicated to Highlander music, and the other, to the University Band & Men’s Chorus performing SUI football favorites. Come, give it a listen.
1960 – The SUI School Of Music Presents – Vol. 2. After the first LP record (above) was so well-received, the SUI School of Music recorded and released a second album. Side One featured eleven marches from the SUI University Band, including On Iowa, The Iowa Fight Song, Roll Along, Iowa, Meredith Willson’s 76 Trombones, and Karl King’s Hawkeye Glory. Side Two belonged to The Old Gold Singers. Formed in 1957, this show choir was hugely popular around campus for over 50 years.
Simon Estes – From Centerville to Center Stage. Born in 1938 in Centerville, Iowa, Simon Estes is the son of a coal miner, with a grandfather who was once a slave sold for $500. Crediting his strong faith in God, Estes rose above the racial prejudice, finding his singing voice at SUI in 1961, before establishing himself as a world-renowned opera singer, with many calling him the finest baritone-bass in the world.
Meet Iowa City’s Mayors – 1961-1982. After fourteen years as an independent community with no ties to Territorial or State government, in 1853, the people of Iowa City voted to officially become an incorporated city. With that decision, came city government and our first city mayor and city council. Join us – over six pages – as we take a deeper look at the 60+ men and women who have led our city over the last 170+ years. Here’s Volume V (1961-1982).
Our Hawkeye Sing-Along. At Homecoming 1962, The Daily Iowan published an article called “Sing Along with SUI’s Parade of Music”. Here four Hawkeye song classics and their stories were presented. Now, sixty years later, join us as we look once again at those memorable spirit-songs plus add another four to the list. From 1905 to 1985, the Hawkeyes have had some great (and not so great) chart-toppers. Clear your throat and come sing-along.
Iowa City’s Bell Keeper – Herb Gartzke. On July 4 1881, Iowa City opened its brand new, state-of-the-art City Hall. Atop the building, an ornate clock tower housed a 1800-pound bell that rang out across Iowa City for many decades. Reports say the bell was so effective, it could be heard as far away as West Branch! When City Hall was razed in 1962, Herb Gartzke, our historical hero, appeared on the scene to rescue both the bell and clock works, keeping these icons safe from the wrecking ball. Today both the City Hall clock and bell have been restored and are back at work in downtown Iowa City.
SUI or UI – What’s In A Name? From 1847 to 1964, my alma mater was known as the State University of Iowa (SUI). When the other two state colleges (Ames and Cedar Falls) decided to be known as universities, the confusion began. As a result, the long-standing SUI moniker became the U of I. Here’s the story behind the SUI story.
1965 – Frank Patton’s SUI Echoes Of Old Gold. During the fall & winter semester of 1964/1965, SUI undergraduate student Frank Patton received a grant from the business school for an academic project to record candid highlights from everyday campus scenes. After hours of walking around campus with two tape recorders, one shotgun microphone, one regular microphone, two microphone stands, one set of headphones. and 100 feet of extension cord, Patton ended up with a two-sided LP record album called Echoes Of Old Gold.
August 10, 1965 – Hoover Stamp Day. August 10, 1965 marked the 91st birthday of Herbert Hoover. Over 22,000 people ascended on West Branch to celebrate Stamp Day, the first day of issue for the Hoover commemorative stamp. For this 14-year old stamp collector from Mt. Pleasant, it was a thrill of a lifetime.
1967 Iowa City – Then And Now. In February 1967, Palimpsest Magazine published a special edition volume called Iowa City Through The Years. In it, there were nine short stories written by one of Iowa’s most famous historians – Benjamin F. Shambaugh – with a summary piece offered by the Superintendent of The State Historical Society of Iowa – William J. Petersen. On this post, we re-visit the entire volume which offers us, today, a wonderful look at the beginnings of Iowa City (1839) as seen through the eyes of 20th century historians.
Old Stone Capitol Remembers – Abraham, Martin, & John. Since it’s inception in 1841, the Old Stone Capitol has been a gathering place for Iowa Citians. Revisit three iconic moments in American history: Lincoln (1865), Kennedy (1963), and King (1968) via photographs taken by iconic Iowa City photographers, Issac Wetherby and Fred Kent.
U of I Gathering Places. Attending college is so much more than tests and textbooks. Social gatherings, large and small, have always been an important part of college life. So here’s my salute to my alma mater and the time students and faculty spend outside the classroom.
Lolly Parker Egger’s Library Legacy. In 1969, Lolly Eggers came on staff at the Iowa City Public Library. Over the next twenty-five years, this lion-hearted librarian transitioned the organization from being a simple small-town library to becoming one of the most widely-respected media centers around the country. A true mover-n-shaker, Lolly Eggers led the way for women across Johnson County.
Marching, Musical, High-Stepping Hawkeyes. Originally a military unit, in 1937, the Hawkeye Marching Band transitioned to the School of Music and never looked back. In 1969, “I modestly took my place as the one and only bass” – actually there were a dozen of us in the sousaphone section – and we never looked back. Today, the HMB is a vital component to Iowa Football and everything Hawkeye.
Tom Davis – Our HMB Musical Mom. The Tom Davis-era (1968-1972) just might have been the golden age of the Hawkeye Marching Band. This jazz percussionist from Wyoming arranged some of the HMB’s best-known classics, including the timeless crowd-pleaser, Hey Jude.
UI Alumni Marching Band – The Fossils. At Homecoming 2023, the University of Iowa Alumni Marching Band celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 1973, Dr. Tom Davis and his team of volunteers brought together the first Fossil Band to march in the Homecoming Parade and appear at half-time of the Minnesota/Iowa game. The Hawkeyes lost – 31-23 – and went on to a dismal 0-11 season, making the debut of the UI Alumni Band one of the highlights of the entire season!