Cultural and Educational Links

 

This page is in development and serves as the first step in a compilation of Internet sites that you recommend as good resources for Iowa's cultural and historical organizations. We are looking for sites that give useful information about history and other humanities, museums, historic sites, heritage education, archives, the arts, libraries, historic preservation, conservation, heritage tourism, genealogy, etc. We will post your recommendations here each week.

 

Send an e-mail with your recommendations to: Richard.Dressler@iowa.gov 

 

 

 

Archives\Records\Photos

Heritage Tourism\Historic Sites

Libraries

Arts

Historic Preservation

Museums & Historical Societies

Conservation\Preservation

History-General

Other Interesting Sites

Discussion Forums

Iowa-Cultural Org

Search Engines

Education 

Iowa-General

 

Genealogy\Family History

Iowa-History  

 

 

 

Archives\Records\Photos

 

www.iowabroadcasting.com
The Iowa Broadcasting Archives maintains a permanent collection of materials relating to the history, development and contribution of radio and television in Iowa.
 

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu

Digital Library Information Resources - resources related to digital imagery & copyright issues.

 

www.archimuse.com

website that publishes the papers from "Museums and the Web" conferences sponsored by Archives and Museum Informatics

 

http://library5.library.cornell.edu/moa

Making of America a digital library of primary sources on American social history from the antebellum period through reconstruction - the collection is strong in education, psychology, American history, sociology, religion and technology.

 

http://memory.loc.gov

American Memory - Historical Collections for the National Digital Library - provide resources for libraries, archives, museums and historical societies to create digital collections of primary resource materials.

 

www.nara.gov/nhpic

National Archives and Records Administration - supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage to the use of document sources relating to the history of the United States. State Historical Records Preservation and Access Grants.

 

www.coshrc.org

Very good compilation of books to archives and records information on sites - includes a guide with links to State pages with different types of information - definitions of records, electronic records policies, micro-film statistics, procedures manuals etc.

 

www.geocities.com/infomgmt_resource_list

Records and information Management Resource List - List of 3431 links in 238 categories of interest to archivists and records managers.

 

www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/ArchivesResources.html

"Ready, Net Go,!" Archival Internet Resources - contains master list of archives websites worldwide, archival search engines, and professional resources for archivists

 

www.vraweb.org

Visual Resources Association Info for photo, film, and video archivists, photographers, art historians.

 

http://www.earlyamerica.com/

The focus is primary source material from 18th Century America-- all displayed digitally.

 

www.nedcc.org

Northeast Document Conservation Center. An on-line preservation manual for archival collections can be found under their publications section.

 

 

www.umvphotoarchive.org
Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Imaging Archive (UMVDIA) from the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center of the Davenport Public Library.
 

Arts

 

www.iowaartscouncil.org
Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs

 

www.metroarts.org

Metro Arts Alliance

 

www.arts.usa.org

Americans for the Arts - good information about community cultural development and a great list of publications they make available

 

www.communityarts.net

Community Arts Network - promotes information exchange, research and critical dialogue for community based arts. Has a great "reading room."

 

http://arts.endow.gov

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Numerous art related grants

 

 

Conservation/Preservation

 

www.appraisers.org
Find an appraiser by state, city, discipline and specialty.

 

http://palimpsest.stanford.edu

Conservation on line - a full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials

 

www.cci-icc.gc.cu

Canadian Conservation Institute - access to CCI publications including the CCI notes and technical bulletins on conservation of museum objects and general conservation news

 

www.collectioncare.org

Northern States Conservation Center - good information and links on collection care

 

http://aic.stanford.edu

American Institute for Conservation - National membership organization of conservation professionals - good information on various conservation topics

 

consdist-request@lindy.stanford.edu

Conservation Distribution List - Open to conservators, conservation scientists, curators, librarians, administrators and others whose work life touches on the preservation and cultural property. To subscribe: Send a one line note. Subscribe consists of your first name, your last name to: 

 

www.cr.nps.gov/csd/publications/conserveogram/conserv.html

Conserve-O-Gram series offers information on care of museum and archival collections. They are short, focused leaflets about caring for museum objects, published in loose-leaf format.

 

 
Discussion
Forums

 

www2.h-net.msu.edu/

Edited lists and web sites publish peer reviewed essays, multimedia materials, and discussion for colleagues and the interested public. Provides access to book reviews, book discussions on H-Net discussion lists, announcements, and job guide (mostly academic history jobs)

 

listserve@listserv.syr.edu

Book - Arts - L :electronic meeting place of the book arts based at Syracuse University

To subscribe: Send a message to listserve@listserv.syr.edu

The message should read: subscribe Book_Arts - L First Name, Last Name
 

 

Education (distance, heritage,history, museum, etc)

 

The Hoover Presidential Library Presents: "Lou Henry Hoover's Cross-Country Adventure" http://www.ecommcode.com/hoover/hhlmgame/hhlmgame.html
An online educational game from the Hoover Presidential Library & Museum. This game gives teachers an additional tool in the classroom to excite kids about learning. "Lou Henry Hoover's Cross-Country Adventure" is based on the National Social Studies Strands of citizenship, culture, economics, geography, history, science, technology & society, and social studies skills.
 
Iowa History Online
http://fp.uni.edu/iowaonline/index.htm

An online collection of the best teaching resources about Iowa. Based upon the recommendations resulting from a large survey of Iowa history teachers, this site is organized around 10 “Frequently Asked Questions” which address the needs Iowa teachers consistently cited when responding to the survey.
 
Explorations in Iowa History Project
http://fp.uni.edu/iowahist/

The objective of this project is to collect, organize and disseminate primary sources materials for instructional use by elementary and secondary Iowa history teachers. The materials are organized around two periods of Iowa's history:
* Frontier Life in Iowa ( 1833 - 1870 )
* Social and Economic Development of Iowa ( 1870 - 1940 )
Included are original diaries, letters, memoirs, maps, travel schedules, advertisements, government documents as well as lesson plan ideas for teachers. These supplemental materials not only engage students in the craft of the historian but also apply problem-based methodologies consistent with best teaching practices.
 
CampSilos
http://www.campsilos.org/index.htm

CampSilos is an educational web site focusing on the development of American agriculture. Targeting students in grades 4-8, the site provides online educational material related to the natural prairie, pioneer farm life, early agricultural technology, the story of corn from its early Indian origins to the present, and 21st century technological advances including applications of GPS and biotechnology. Activities and lesson plans feature such diverse activities as virtual field trips, mystery photos, group games, problem-based activities, primary source materials, scavenger hunt and history detective research using online resources and links to national standards.
 
Investigating CampSilos Excursions
http://www.campsilos.org/excursions/index.htm

CampSilos Excursions offers learning materials through virtual field trips to Iowa’s historic and cultural resources in the Silos &Smokestacks National Heritage Area. Fourth through eighth grade students become museum curators and explore historic photographs, letters, and artifacts depicting pioneer farm life and the development of agriculture. Web-based research activities and pre- and post-field trip lesson plans are linked to national standards in the areas of language arts, social studies and history.
 

www.k12connections.iptv.org/

Offers distance learning experiences for elementary and middle school students through the interactive classrooms of the Iowa Communications Network (ICN).

 

www.myhistory.org

You can exchange family stories, explore the nation's past, and make your story part of the American heritage we all share.

 

www.sitesforteachers.com

A list of the best teacher's resource and educational sites on the net.

 

www.history.org

National Council for History Education is dedicated to promoting the importance of history in schools and in society.

www.edweek.org/

Online education newspaper of record

 

http://www.teachtci.com

History Alive! offers inspiring professional development and curricular materials created by and for teachers. Our goal is to help you engage all learners in your diverse classroom.

 

historymatters.gmu.edu/

History Matters is designed for high school and college teachers of U.S. History courses.
This site serves as a gateway to Web resources and offers useful materials for teaching U.S. history.

 

Genealogy-Family History

 

www.africanaheritage.com
The Africana Heritage Project was begun in order to assist African Americans who are researching their family histories. AHP's mission is to rediscover the valuable records that document the names and lives of slaves, freedpersons, and their descendants.
 

www.iowagenealogy.org
The Iowa Genealogical Society is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1965 to promote the research and recording of family history and the gathering and preservation of the records of our historical past.

 
www.ngsgenealogy.org/
The National Genealogical Society is a service organization that leads and educates the national genealogical community. and assists members in tracing family histories since 1903.
 

www.ahgp.org/index.html
Iowa History and Genealogy Project
 

http://iagenweb.org

IAGenWeb is part of the US GenWeb Project, a group of volunteers working together to provide Internet websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.

 

http://iowagravestones.org
Iowa Gravestone Photo Project

http://iowawpagraves.org
Iowa WPA Graves Registration Survey Project
 

www.alhn.org/

This site serves as point of entry into independent, genealogical and historical web sites.

 

www.qcmemory.org

Genealogy website of the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center of the Davenport Public Library.

 

Heritage Tourism-Historic Sites

 

http://www.jeffersoncountytrails.org/HTrail/index.htm
Jefferson County Heritage Trail

www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/hardin
Explore the proud agricultural history of Hardin County, Iowa! This National Register of Historic Places travel itinerary highlights 27 historic places—barns, civic buildings, churches, railroad depots, schools and libraries—that depict the history of the county, the "Heart of the Heartland."
 
 

www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/amana
Discover the Amana Colonies, a historic utopian society located in the rolling hills of Iowa's River Valley.

 

www.ole.dot.state.ia.us/historicbridge
Iowa's Historic Bridges - A searchable database of Iowa's historic bridges. 
 

www.alexisparkinn.com/the_iowa_city_airport.htm
This site provides information on one of just seven original U.S. Air Mail hangars still standing nationwide and represents an exciting, revolutionary period of aviation history.
 

www.silosandsmokestacks.org/

Silos & Smokestacks is a regional heritage tourism program involving more than 80 communities, sites, and attractions in northeastern Iowa. It presents and interprets American agriculture, agribusiness, and farm life, past and is dedicated to recognizing, preserving, promoting, and celebrating northeastern Iowa’s contributions to world agriculture.

 

www.iowahatlady.com
This site is dedicated to Alvina Sellers. Alvina is known throughout Iowa and beyond for her vast collection of hats and equally amazing collection of good natured humor to go along.
 

http://zeus.ia.net/~iowalha/

Iowa Lincoln Highway

 

www.lisco.com/iowamormontr/

Iowa Mormon Trail

 

www.discoveringthe6.com/

Highway 6 History

 

http://members.tripod.com/~Write4801/riverboats.html

Missouri/Mississippi River Steamboats

 

www.danishwindmill.com/

Danish Windmill Elk Horn, IA

 

www.aljibar.com/gcolony/index.html

Shelby County, IA German Colonies

 

www.dubuqueland.us
Dedicated to the German, Austrian, Swiss, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg heritage of the Dubuque area.
 

Historic Preservation

 

www.preservationonline.org
Features stories about historic preservation as well as excerpts from the award-winning magazine online. Plus, readers can post "911" calls about an imminent teardown, which helps to get the word out to save the property.  Also popular are historic properties real estate listings.
 

www.ic-fhp.org
Friends of Historic Preservation is located in Iowa City, Iowa.

 

www.iowabarnfoundation.org
The Iowa Barn Foundation is dedicated to preserving Iowa’s rural buildings, symbols of Iowa's early heritage. The primary mission of the Iowa Barn Foundation is to educate the public about Iowa’s vanishing barns and to provide barn restoration matching grants to help property owners restore their barns.
 
www.iowapreservation.org
The Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance (IHPA) helps build partnerships that enhance Iowa's economic and cultural future through the preservation of the significant historic resources.
 

www.PreservationDirectory.com

Preservation Directory is a an excellent source of information for preservations. It has has a database with over 13,000 cultural resource organizations and historic sites. In addition there are over 700 links to cultural resource websites along with a bookstore and photo database. Well worth a look.

 

www.sovereigncapital.com

Sovereign Capital Resources is a boutique investment banking firm that specializes in providing equity placement and financial advisory services for historic rehabilitation tax credit transactions.

 

www.nthp.org

National Trust for Historic Preservation - a private nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. It sights to save historic buildings and the neighborhoods and landscapes they anchor. Good resource.

 

www.ncptt.nps.gov

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training - an interdisciplinary effort by the National Park Service to enhance the art, craft, and science of preservation and conservation, offers grants for preservation technology and training, has good directory at preservation related internet resources and other good information

 

www.sculpture.org

International Sculpture Center

 

www.cr.nps.org

National Park Service - access to publications from the NPS including Conserve O Grams and other collection care and management publications

 

www.heritagepreservation.org

Heritage Preservation (formerly NIC) works to ensure the preservation of American's collective heritage - SOS - Save Outdoor Sculpture, Conservation Assessment Program (CAP), numerous preservation links, good publications

 

History (General)

 

www.thehistorynet.com

This site has hundreds of articles and links to U.S. and World History, including interviews, battles, and a daily quiz

 

http://www.aaslh.org/

American Association of State and Local History provides leadership, service, and support for its members, who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful in American Society.

 

www.theaha.org/

American Historical Association-a professional organizations for all historians.

 

www.oah.org/

promotes the study and teaching of the American past through its many activities.

 

http://history.searchbeat.com/

History timelines for a variety of history topics

 

www.cwc.lsu.edu/cwc/civlink.htm

Civil War Center - an index of Civil War & information

 

www.discovery.com/guides/history/historybuff/historybuff.html

Contains a wide assortment of history info and history activities suitable for all ages.

 

historymatters.gmu.edu/

History Matters is designed for high school and college teachers of U.S. History courses. This site serves as a gateway to Web resources and offers useful materials for teaching U.S. history.

 

http://sb2.abc-clio.com:81/

Provides on-line access to ABC-Clio's American: History and Life and Historical Abstracts with their extensive coverage of history journal articles and dissertations.

 

www.burlingtonroute.com/

Burlington Route Historical Society

 

www.cnwhs.org/index.html

Chicago and Northwestern Historical Society

 

www.trainweb.org/cgw/

Chicago and Great Western Page

 

http://odur.let.rug.nl/ahc/

The Association for History and Computing aims to promote and develop interest in the use of computers in all types of historical study at every level, in both teaching and research.


www.firstladies.org/

National First Ladies' Library devoted to the lives and activities of America's First Ladies.

 

Iowa (History & Cultural Organizations)

 

www.humanitiesiowa.org
Humanities Iowa

 

www.culturalcorridor.org
Johnson County Cultural Alliance

 

http://iowaculturalcoalition.org
Iowa Cultural Coalition
The Iowa Cultural Coalition serves as the main advocacy, technical assistance and communications network available to people and organizations who create and appreciate all forms of art, historic preservation, museums, science and cultural educational endeavors in Iowa. ICC serves the needs of every Iowan by supporting the people and resources in the state that make it a joy to live here.
 

www.iowamuseums.org
Iowa Museum Association
The mission of the Iowa Museum Association is to provide quality training and development to Iowa museum professionals and volunteers, advocate for support of member museums, and build a strong community of museums in Iowa.
  

www.uiowa.edu/~oldcap

Step into Iowa's Heritage. Old Capitol Museum web site is designed for use by multiple age groups and audiences; the University of Iowa community, historians, architectural historians, school children and the general public. Received the 1999 Web Site Award presented by Iowa Division of Tourism and Travel Federation of Iowa.
 

www.germanamerheritage.org/

German-American Heritage Center Davenport, IA

 

www.dkmuseum.org/

Danish Immigrant Museum Elk Horn, IA

 

www.ncsml.org/

National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library Cedar Rapids, IA

 

Iowa (General)

 

www.iowa-counties.com

Iowa Counties - comprehensive information resource relating to State of Iowa, historical facts & information

 

www.iowaballroom.com
The Iowa Ballroom Project; historic Iowa Ballrooms

 

www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ia.html

Roadside America Iowa attractions

 

www.roundbarn.org
Slayton Farms Round Barn

 

www.prairieghosts.com/oldpot.html

 "Haunted" Pottawattamie County Jail

 

http://samuel.igsb.uiowa.edu/browse/rift/mineola.htm

The Mineola Rift

 

www.catt.org 

Carrie Chapman Catt Childhood Home project

 

http://thefarmstead.org/

Carstens 1880 Farmstead Pottawattamie County, IA

 

www.state.ia.us/

State of Iowa Home Page

 

Iowa (History) 

 

www.iowahistory.org/education/heritage_curriculum/iowahistory_overview.htm

 

http://www.iptv.org/iowapathways/

IPTV's Iowa Pathways is an online learning environment that challenges students to create their own story of the state as they explore the people, places, events and ideas of Iowa. The student experience features different ways to view and interact with Iowa content.

 

Libraries

 

http://library5.library.cornell.edu/moa

Materials accessible here are Cornell University Library's contributions to Making of America (MOA), a digital library of primary sources in American social history from the antebellum period through reconstruction.

 

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html

Historical Collections for the National Digital Library American Memory is a gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States.

 

www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/

American Treasures of the Library of Congress

 

Museums & Historical Societies

 

www.iowamuseums.org
Iowa Museum Association
The mission of the Iowa Museum Association is to provide quality training and development to Iowa museum professionals and volunteers, advocate for support of member museums, and build a strong community of museums in Iowa.
  

www.ameshistoricalsociety.org
Ames Historical Society
 

www.eldondepotmuseum.org
Eldon Depot Museum

The depot of the Rock Island Line in Eldon, Iowa has been restored and developed into a public museum.  
www.marblerock.org
Marble Rock Historical Society

 
www.appanoosehistory.org
Appanoose County Historical & Coal Mining Museum
 

www.oxfordjunctionmuseum.bravehost.com
Oxford Junction Museum

 

www.PrairieTrailsMuseum.org
There is something here to interest everyone! The large main brick building houses 25,000 artifacts in five galleries covering over 21,000 sq. ft. The eye-catching red Heritage Barn contains an extensive collection of early farm artifacts displayed in interesting interpretive exhibits.
 

www.oberlinheritage.org

Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization a museum that operates the Oberlin Heritage Center in Oberlin, Ohio. O.H.I.O.'s mission is to preserve and share Oberlin's unique heritage and to make the community a better place to live, learn, work, and visit. O.H.I.O. sponsors a rich diversity of public programs. A member of the Time Travelers Network.

 

www.archimuse.com

Website that publishes the papers from "Museums and the Web" conferences sponsored by Archives and Museum Informatics

 

www.imls.gov

Institute of Museum and Library Services Independent federal agency - provide numerous grants for museums and libraries including General Operating Support, Museum Assessment Program, Conservation Project Support, Conservation Assessment Support, National Leadership Grants

 

www.aam-vs.org/index.htm

American Association of Museums - through advocacy, professional education, information exchange, accreditation, and guidance on current professional standards of performance, AAM assists museum staff, boards, and volunteers, a lot of good information

 

www.amn.org

Art Museum Network - official Website at the worlds leading art museums links to Association of Art Museum Directors

 

www.allamakeehistory.org
Allamakee Historical Society
 

www.floydcountymuseum.org 

Floyd County Historical Society in Charles City

 

www.rootsweb.com/~iaoahs
Oelwein Area Historical Society

  

www.parkermuseum.org
Parker Historical Society of Clay County
 

www.pchsm.org
Paulding County Historical Society and Museum

 

www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/5660/index.htm

Pottawattamie County Historical Society

 

www.community.heartland.net/tabor-library/historical.htm

Tabor, IA Historical Society

 

http://www.rootsweb.com/~iajchs/jchs.html

The Jones County Historical Society

 

Other Interesting Sites

 

www.villisca.com
The documentary Villisca: Living with a Mystery explores the relationship between an Iowa town's past and present. The film tells the story of a town forever altered by a crime, and the saga of an ongoing struggle between residents with competing views on the event's historical and economic significance. Shot on 16-mm film over a five-year period, Villisca examines the effect of the crime on the town, the county, and the state in the decades following 1912. The Web site features trailers and supplemental information.

www.bibliofind.com

Bibliofind A database of the offerings of several thousand booksellers around the country. Some foreign. Extremely useful for finding any used books

 

http://silent-movies.com/Langdon/

Harry Langdon Society (born in Council Bluffs)

 

www.hprcc.unl.edu/nebraska/iowamay16-jg-photos.html

Pacific Junction, IA 1999 Tornado

 

www.bridgew.edu/depts/maxwell/humanit.htm

Lists of humanities sources

 

www.topica.com/

Choose from 1000s of newsletters and topics.

 

www.abebooks.com

Advanced Book Exchange

 

www.politicalgraveyard.com

Political Graveyard - a database of historic cemeteries, find where politicians, judges, diplomats and other important people were born, lived, died and buried, find politicians by offices held, date or year born or died, and many other categories

 

www.westegg.com/inflation

Allows you to enter an amount of money form a given year and instantly calculates the equivalent value in another year. Covers 1800-1999. So if you read that a farm family paid $18 for some photographs in 1899, you can instantly calculate that it would be like spending $350 in 1999. Useful for anyone who reads history and often gets misled by statements about nostalgia and how things cost in the past

 

www.refdesk.com

Contains links to many reference resources.

 

www.rleggat.com/photohistory

A History of Photography from its beginning till the 1920's by Dr. Robert Leggatt - of interest to photo curators and historians. Contains descriptions of significant photo processes and photographers, museum of interest and bibliography.

 

www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/road/road.html

This collection consists of materials from Helen Gunderson's "The Road I Grew Up On" project documenting change in rural Iowa.

 

www.cr.nps.gov/csd/

National Park Service Museum Management Program Technical Assistance

 

Search Engines

 

www.slider.com

Slider search engine- a directory of over 2.5 million websites, ftp search, whole web search and a free encyclopedia. Soon will have a shareware section and many more features and content.

 

www.altavista.com

Altavista. - Preference in search engines is subjective, but can be more precise with Altavista by use of quotation marks around phrases than with any other search engine I have tried.

 

www.google.com

Excellent search engine

 

www.searchenginecolossus.com

Hundreds of search engines to choose from. Colossus offers links to search engines from 149 countries. Conduct exhaustive web searches. Search the web using your choice of language.

 

http://webopedia.internet.com/

Online