Grinnell Historical Museum

Photographs from the collection of the Grinnell Historical Museum.

grinnell:23244
Black and white photograph showing a young Ralph Lyman Longley (1892-1980) leaning on a chair, dressed in a coat, short pants, and boots. He looks quite debonair for age 7 or 8.
grinnell:23287
Black and white photograph showing twenty schoolchildren of various ages (younger students at the front; older at the back) and their teacher. The boys wear suits, while the girls wear dresses with high-top shoes. The school is not identified but is likely part of the Poweshiek County (Iowa) Rural School system.
grinnell:23216
Lovely picture of Moses Kelsey Merritt holding his grandchild, Eugene Scott, born July 17, 1900, on his lap. Mr. Merritt is wearing a suit, and the child is wearing a white dress and holding a toy. The back of the photograph has the following statement: M.K. Merritt, Grinnell, IA. A fine neighbor at Grinnell. Died at Bellingham Mich. Signed by E.C.D. Mr. Merritt was an early resident of Grinnell.
grinnell:26625
Black and white photograph of a small buggy manufactured by Mason & Abel, a manufacturer operating in Grinnell between 1901 and 1906. An advertising banner susrrounds the buggy box. The firm was founded by L.F. Mason and F.L. Abel, the former having been an employee of the Spaulding Manufacturing Company in prior years. L. F. Mason is supposedly pictured here, but is not identified.
grinnell:26627
Black and white photograph of a small two-seat buggy with a collapsible top. The buggy was manufactured by Mason & Abel, a manufacturer operating in Grinnell between 1901 and 1906. The firm was founded by L.F. Mason and F.L. Abel, the former having been an employee of the Spaulding Manufacturing Company in prior years.
grinnell:23283
Black and white photograph on cardboard of Bessie Ricker (1879 - 1977) and her class of 2nd grade schoolchildren c. 1901 in front of Parker School in Grinnell, Iowa. Bessie Ricker married Edwin S. Parish in 1903 and was a member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday school for many years. The children in the picture are unidentified.
grinnell:23252
Black and white photograph of Annie Williams Woomer mounted in studio cardboard frame. She is shown in a white, high-collared dress with her hair pulled back.There is writing on the back, that states "Me, 1903" and a post-it from the donor that states "Annie Williams Woomer, My Grandmother.
grinnell:21719
Esther K. Woodruff, in her teens. Esther wears a bow in her hair, a star-patterned blouse with three quarter length sleeves, and a knee-length skirt with vertical stripes. She also wears black tights and black shoes, each with a bow and a buckle. Esther stands behind a heavily decorated bike with her left arm resting on the seat. The background behind Esther displays a balcony in the left-hand side with draped curtains and a column on the right-hand side. This is a studio photograph taken by the Kester studio in 1903. The photograph is pasted on a cardboard frame with embossed decorations of a crown on the above and below the pasted photograph. On the back of the photograph is written "Ester K. Woodruff. Fourth of July. 1903."
grinnell:26631
Cyanotype showing George Richard Ross riding a bicycle on the wall of his "Cycle Whirl," built in the back yard of 817 7th Avenue, Grinnell. An original note on the back of the photograph reads: "GEORGE RICHARD ROSS and his "Cycle Whirl" -- 1900 / In Back Yard of Lot at Rear of Mrs. Valley's where he later erected his home 817 -7th Avenue Grinnell, Iowa." Another note added by J. Kleinschmidt dated 1/22/88 reads: "Mrs. "Valley" is Angie Valleau, widow, who lived in the old "Phelps" house at 1203 Broad at least from 1905 to 1910. House at right is 1203-05 Broad, at left is 1209 Broad; part of wall showing between is at 1206 Broad."
grinnell:26612
A black and white photograph of 8th grade students at Center School in Grinnell, Iowa in 1905. The photograph seems to be taken at the front of a classroom, with students dressed formally and sitting at a desk or standing in a row at the back of the room. A chalkboard is on the right and the blinds are drawn for all but one window. The back of the photograph states: "Center School / Grinnell, Iowa / Grade 8 / 1905"
grinnell:26636
Black and white photograph of the Longley family farmhouse two miles west of Grinnell. A note on the back of the photograph tells us that the home was built by Lyman Longley (1861-1909) in 1908.
grinnell:26618
Black and white photograph of the Newburg Church in Newburg, Jasper County, Iowa in 1908.
grinnell:26641
Black and white photograph of the James Wilson Harpster house at 1033 6th Avenue in Grinnell. This is the southwest corner of 6th Avenue and West Street (Highway 6) where the Phillips 66 service station currently stands. An early Model T Touring car sits out front with the folding top extended. The photograph was taken in 1909, but the house was built earlier.
grinnell:23254
A black and white photograph of Annie Williams Woomer Turner. She is shown posing in a fur coat and large, round hat with a lace fringe and flowers. The back of the photograph has the following statement: "Me in the lovely fur coat Carl sent me at Grinnell Iowa. Everyone admired it, -- was so glad forme [sic]." The photograph is printed on a postcard. Carl was one of her three sons.
grinnell:26642
Black and white photograph of the Ethel M. Treat Stewart home at 1007 Spring Street in Grinnell. Ethel and her two daughters, Mildred and Ellen, are visible out front.
grinnell:23263
Black and white photographic portrait of a smiling Fannie R. Buchanan (1875-1957), an active member of 4H and composer (along with Miss Lena Parish) of several nationally recognized 4H songs. In 1942 she received a citation from the USDA for outstanding contribution to rural culture. She was a 1984 Iowa Women's Hall of Fame Honoree for the music projects she conducted for the Iowa State College Extension Service which touched Iowans in nearly every county in the state.
grinnell:26638
Black and white photograph of 1109 Main Street, the home of Fred E. Spaulding (1877-1942), son of Spaulding Manufacturing Company founder Henry W. Spaulding. The house's tower has since been removed and replaced with a small dormer.
grinnell:23248
Portrait of Ina Sprague as a young woman, shown in a white high-collared dress and wearing a necklace with her hair pulled up. Ina Sprague attended Grinnell High School and Grinnell College. This portrait could be for her Grinnell College Graduation. She taught at Grinnell for 4 years before moving to Davis School, where she later became principal for 28 years. Ina Sprague was a member of the Iowa State Education Association, the Iowa Retired Teachers Association, and the National Retired Teachers Association. She was also active in the Grinnell community, serving as a member of the Grinnell Museum and Historical Society, the Daughters of American Colonists, the Grinnell Chapter of the D.A.R., the Pythian Sisters, and the Rebekah Lodge.
grinnell:23235
A studio portrait of Ina Sprague (1891-1979) as a teenager or young adult. She is wearing a long white dress with her hair pulled back with a large bow, seated in a chair with one arm on an armrest. Possibly a high school graduation photo.
grinnell:26652
A black and white family photograph of seven men and five women. They are gathered on the porch steps of a house with a brick path. Information from the back of the photograph tells us that Ethel Longley, when given a description of this photograph, determined that it was probably a photograph of the Peak Family. The people in the photograph could just as easily be a group of friends as they appear to be close in age. Two Peak brothers, James and John, came from Ireland in 1909. Between them they had six sons and four daughters so it is possible that this is a family group.