Pieces of Iowa’s Past, February 23, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. February 23, 2012 THIS WEEK: Frank F. Merrium BACKGROUND: In 1896 the 26th Iowa General Assembly convened January 13 and adjourned April 11—a 90-day session. There were 150 legislators. Republicans had the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Francis Drake was governor having been inaugurated January 16, 1896. Governor Drake was 65 years old at the time of his inaugural. The 1890 census showed Iowa’s population at 1,912,297.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, March 9, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. March 7, 2012 THIS WEEK: Orgin of the Historical Department of Iowa BACKGROUND: Charles Aldrich Charles Aldrich served as Iowa Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives for the eighth (1860) and ninth (1862) general assemblies. He volunteered for the Union Army in 1862 and served with the Thirty-second Iowa Infantry for 18 months. Aldrich came to Webster City, Iowa, in 1857. He started the Hamilton Freeman newspaper. He was also involved in the publishing and editing of the Dubuque Times and Marshall County Times. In 1882, at age 53, he represented Hamilton County in the House of Representatives during the 19th General Assembly. He was appointed as the Curator of the State Historical Department at its creation in 1890.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, March 14, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. March 14, 2012 THIS WEEK: The Functions of Government BACKGROUND: The text and documents presented here were taken from the book The Government of Iowa by Frank Edward Horack, A.M., Ph.D. Dr. Horack was assistant professor of political science at the University of Iowa and secretary of the Iowa State Historical Society. The book was published in 1911 and 1915 by Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, March 21, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. March 21, 2012 THIS WEEK: Quick Work at Carlisle(From the Indianola Tribune, December 20, 1877) BACKGROUND: Lewis Todhunter was born in Fayette County, Ohio, April 6, 1817. He was admitted to the bar in Highland County, Ohio, in 1848. Todhunter came to Iowa in 1850, settling along the Des Moines River in Polk County, where he was engaged in farming and selling goods. In 1854, he moved to Indianola and began the practice of law, continuing in that profession for more than a quarter of a century. He served as prosecuting attorney, county auditor, treasurer, and mayor of the city. He was a member of the third constitutional convention, which met at Iowa City in 1857, representing Warren, Madison, Adair, and Cass counties in that body and had the honor of assisting in making the first laws of the state. Todhunter served in the army during the Civil War from 1863-1865 as assistant quartermaster with rank of Captain. He is perhaps widest known, however, as a temperance leader and earnest worker. He joined in the Washingtonian movement in 1840 and was active in temperance reformation for the rest of his life.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, March 28, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. THIS WEEK: Electric Lighting in the Iowa State Capitol BACKGROUND: REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIGHTING THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS WITH ELECTRICITY—1882 The Capitol Commissioners submitted biennial reports throughout the 15 years it took to build the Capitol (1871-1886). Often there were committees formed to investigate a certain phase of the construction. The following is the report of the Committee on Lighting. Note: The Capitol Commissioners determined the gas lighting to be the best choice in the 1880s. Less than 20 years later, the process began to convert the Capitol from gas to electric lighting. There was a period where both types of lighting were being used in the Capitol. The photograph of the 1904 apple harvest shows both electric and gas fixtures. The turn of the 20th century photograph of the library also shows chandeliers utilizing both gas and electricity. The photograph of the single fixture in the library is a mystery. It shows a fixture utilizing both gas and electricity, but no other photographs of the library exist where this fixture appears. Perhaps it was a prototype and never used in the Capitol.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, April 4, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. April 4, 2012 THIS WEEK: Dating an Epoch from Photographs. BACKGROUND: Iowa State Capitol Grounds Extension Project The Capitol extension project began about 1913. The purpose of the project was to purchase land surrounding the Capitol in order to improve the beauty of the grounds and obtain enough land to build new structures and alleviate the overcrowding in the Capitol. Senate File 538 levied a tax to pay for the purchase of the property. Van Buren and Wapello counties filed a suit against the state because it was believed by many people that this statewide tax was simply providing Des Moines with a “new park.” This case was argued before the Iowa Supreme Court and the photographs that follow are a portion of the brief filed with the Court.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, April 11, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. April 11, 2012 THIS WEEK: Iowa State Capitol Mosaics BACKGROUND: Frederick Dielman Born in Germany in 1847, Frederick Dielman was an illustrator and figure painter. Dielman designed the six mosaic panels in the Iowa State Capitol along the east wall on the third floor. The mosaics were actually made in Venice, Italy, and shipped to the Capitol. The mosaics in the Capitol represent the three branches of government, education, defense, and charities.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, April 19, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. April 19, 2012 THIS WEEK: Fiscal Side of Building the Iowa State Capitol BACKGROUND: Building the Iowa State Capitol The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, signifies the prodigious spirit of Iowa. Built between 1871 and 1886, this magnificent building represents, both inside and out, one of the nation's finest examples of 19th century architecture.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, April 26, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. April 26, 2012 THIS WEEK: The Ed Sullivan Show is Broadcast from the USS Iowa BACKGROUND: The Ed Sullivan Show On July 4, 1954, The Ed Sullivan Show was filmed aboard the battleship U.S.S. Iowa, which was docked in the Hudson River. The Ed Sullivan Show, then called Toast of the Town, was in its seventh season. Sullivan featured many celebrities on his show over the years. During this particular show, musical comedy star Dolores Gray was featured along with Bill Kenny of the group the Ink Spots. The Step Brothers were the featured dancers. Les Marcellis led an acrobat performance, Jay Marshall provided a stand-up comedy routine, and Eileen O’Dare performed as an acrobatic dancer surrounded by the navy audience. Sullivan spoke with navy Captain Wayne Loud, who then presented Sullivan with a caricature of Sullivan drawn by famed media layout artist Herb Hazelton, who also appeared.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, January 16, 2013

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. January 16, 2013 THIS WEEK: Iowa Senator James Harlan Becomes U.S. Senator BACKGROUND: Fifth Iowa General Assembly The Fifth Iowa General Assembly convened December 4, 1854, and adjourned January 26, 1855, a 54-day session. The Democrats numbered 17 members in the Senate and 31 members in the House. The Whigs held 14 seats in the Senate and 40 seats in the House—a total of 102 members. Iowa’s population at the 1850 census was 192,214. Iowa’s President of the Senate was Maturin Fisher and the Speaker of the House of Representatives was Rueben Noble. During the Fifth General Assembly, Stephen P. Hempstead finished his term as Governor and James W. Grimes was sworn in as Iowa’s third governor.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, January 23, 2013

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. January 23, 2013 THIS WEEK: Iowa’s Grasshopper Plague of 1873 BACKGROUND: Fifteen General Assembly The 15th General Assembly convened January 12 and adjourned March 19, 1874—a 67-day session. The Senate had six Democratic members, 34 Republican members, and 10 Independent members. The House of Representatives had six Democratic members, 50 Republican members, and 44 Independent members. There were a total of 150 legislators in Iowa. By 1874, the Capital had been relocated to Des Moines. The legislature had occupied the old Brick Capitol since 1858. Joseph Dysart was the Lieutenant Governor presiding in the Senate, and John Gear was Speaker of the House of Representatives. Iowa’s population at the 1870 federal census had grown to 1,194,020. Both House and Senate journals from the 15th Iowa General Assembly include several references to assisting the destitution brought on by the 1874 plague of grasshoppers in Northwestern Iowa. Senator Perkins, from the Special Committee appointed to inquire into the reports of destitution in the northwestern counties of Iowa, submitted the following report, in part: “We have examined such evidence as is attainable here, and made such inquiries of parties interested in affording temporary relief as were to be met, and are pieces satisfied in our own minds that the case is one of sufficient importance to command the attention of the State.”

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, January 30, 2013

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. January 30, 2013 THIS WEEK: A Distinguished Guest Visits the 25th Iowa General Assembly BACKGROUND: George Wallace Jones

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, January 30, 2013

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. January 30, 2013 THIS WEEK: A Distinguished Guest Visits the 25th Iowa General Assembly BACKGROUND: George Wallace Jones

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, February 6, 2013

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. THIS WEEK: Women’s and Children’s Building BACKGROUND: 35TH IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY The Thirty-fifth General Assembly convened January 13 and adjourned April 19, 1913—a 97-day session. Edward Cunningham was Speaker of the House and William Harding was the Lieutenant Governor presiding over the Senate. The Senate had 18 Democratic members and 32 Republican members. The House of Representatives had 66 Republican members and 42 Democratic members. There were a total of 158 members in the General Assembly. Governor Beryl Carroll finished his term in January 1913 and Governor George Clarke was sworn in on January 16, 1913. He was 60 years old. The 1910 federal census showed Iowa’s population at 2,224,771.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, February 13, 2013

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. THIS WEEK: Repealing the Iowa State Census: Looking Back at the 1858 Census BACKGROUND: 45TH IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY The Forty-fifth Iowa General Assembly convened January 9 and adjourned April 20, 1933—a 102-day session. Nelson G. Kraschel was the Lieutenant Governor presiding in the Senate. The Senate was evenly divided with 25 Democrats and 25 Republican members. George E. Miller was Speaker of the House. The House of Representatives had 76 Democratic members and 32 Republican members. Daniel Turner finished out his term as Governor and Clyde Herring was inaugurated January 12, 1933, at the age of 53. The federal census of 1930 showed Iowa’s population at 2,470,939.