Once a week, we try to select a document, image, or artifact that offers an interesting glimpse into the history of Grinnell College. Sometimes these forays into the archives shed light on important moments or developments that shaped the trajectory of the college; other times, these archival finds open a window onto smaller, forgotten stories about everyday life at the college over the past century and a half. During the academic year, we post these items weekly on our “archive alcove” bulletin board, which is tucked away in a small alcove located on the third floor of the north tower of the HSSC (opposite the Class of 1998 commons room).
On the theme of “archives” and “alcoves,” it’s worth noting that the college’s first attempt to gather material related to its own history started in 1898 with the creation of the “Iowa College Alcove” in Goodnow Library. The newly retired professor of History, L.F. Parker, commandeered one of the library’s alcoves to create this new space, that was dedicated to the history of the college and the town of Grinnell. So our current location pays homage to that tradition, and we encourage you to come visit the board in person. But we’re also pleased to have this website that allows our little alcove board to be more accessible across time and space.
So we hope you enjoy the site, and feel free to leave comments and suggestions along the way.
