Early College History

Documents that record the history of Iowa College until 1909, when it officially changed its name to Grinnell College. Included are photographs, articles, and the College’s articles of incorporation.

grinnell:5983
List of descendants of John Alden.

grinnell:6000
Page 1 is a list of the descendants of John Alden, page 2 is the list of marriages.

grinnell:4093
An invitation to a noon luncheon held at the Baptist Church on Tuesday, March 29, 1927 with a photo of Hon. J. B. Grinnell

grinnell:4250
Professor of History at what was then Iowa College, Leonard Fletcher Parker was the first to record the life history of J.B. Grinnell and of the town of Grinnell as well. These documents are pages taken from his notebooks and are his personal notes on J.B. Grinnell.

grinnell:4226
A letter taken from what appears to be a manuscript that contains biographical information about J.B. Grinnell.

grinnell:4231
Letter from Mary Mears to her "darling friend" recounting the story of how an elm tree in the yard of her childhood home came to be known as "Beecher."

grinnell:4526
This collection of transcribed correspondence between J.B. Grinnell and various parties ranges in dates from May of 1868 to January of 1870. In the letters, Grinnell sends updates to Washington as he attempts to secure the purchase of certain neutral lands from the Cherokee Indians. The accusation that J.B. Grinnell accepted bribes for pushing the deal through is also covered in this correspondence, as is Grinnell's response.

grinnell:4244
This undated address was given by a student in J.B. Grinnell's S.S. class at the conclusion of the course. In it, the student thanks J.B. for his quality teaching, invaluable advice, and continual support throughout the course. At the time, the class also presented Grinnell with the "book of books," a Bible.

grinnell:5989
Note of descendants of Roswell Lombard.

grinnell:5987
Note documenting Sarah J.'s three sons.

grinnell:4242
This small card is a season ticket to The World's Industrial Exhibition of 1853. The ticket is in the name of "Rev. J.B. Grinnell and Wife."

grinnell:5967
Letter addressed to Mrs. David O. Mears on compiling a book of the descendants of John Alden, with a list of descendants on the back.

grinnell:3080
An address delivered by George Herron to the Minnesota Congregational Club.

grinnell:5990
Note of descendants of Walter Grinnell.

grinnell:4097
Two letters in the same envelope addressed to mrs David Mears. One is from Wendell Phillips to John where J.B. Grinnell is mentioned as the writer's personal friend and the college is also brought up. The second one is a note by Leavitt Stoddard to mrs. David Mears saying he had enclosed the aforementioned letter for her to read which he thinks she would be interested in.