DRAKE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
 930 Park Street, Grinnell, Iowa 50112     (641)-236-2661
line decor
  HOME :: WELCOME  I KIDS I T(W)EENS I LOCAL HISTORY  I RESOURCES I READER SERVICES I FRIENDS I BLOGS/WIKIS
line decor
Search the library catalog:

Search- - -

Heritage Collections
Obituary Database
Photo Galleries
button
 Voices from the Past
Links
button
 Library History

Local History

Through digitization, Drake Community Library is able to bring you some of our treasures from the past.

We also have many in-house resources to aid your research of Grinnell's rich history.

From the Spaulding Manufacturing Photo Collection.
See our Heritage page for a link to the
complete collection!
Heritage Collections
Drake Community Library is a participant in the Iowa Heritage Digital Collections database project.  All 38 photographs from the Billy Robinson Collection have been digitized as has the Spaulding Manufacturing Collection.

The Grinnell Room
Local archives are maintained by volunteers Dorrie Lalonde and Harriet Adelberg.  The collections include the records of many local organizations, Grinnell Highschool yearbooks, and various personal papers and photographs.  Click here to see a listing of the collections and to view historical articles that have been digitized!  The collections may also be viewed and used by appointment as staffing levels permit.

Obituary Database
Obituaries from local area newspapers dating back to 1871 are indexed in a searchable database.   This service is accessible in the library and online!

Voices from the Past
A Grinnell oral history project recorded the experiences of residents as they lived through the Great Depression and World War II.  Share their memories through taped interviews, video, transcripts, and photographs.  These resources are available in the library and through an online version.  

Microfilm
Drake Community Library maintains a collection of the Grinnell Herald Register on microfilm dating back to 1871.  These films may be viewed on our microfilm reader.  Copies may be made for 10 cents per page.

Photo Galleries

Photo Gallery One
>view
Grinnell in 1870
Photo Gallery Two
>view


Photo Gallery Three
>view


Hamlin Photo Gallery
>view

Links
Grinnell Historical Museum

State Historical Society of Iowa

Iowa Heritage Digital Collections

 Iowa Genealogical Society

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Poweshiek County Historical & Genealogical Society

Grinnell College Special Collections & Archives

Iowa Official Register - Heritage

Genealogical Research

US Gen Web Project   -- a group of volunteers working together to provide Internet websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.

Ancestor Hunt  -- this is an index of free genealogical resources online.  However, it usually leads to a paid service for further information.

Search for Ancestors -- Provides some references, however you have to sign up for a 14 day free trial. You will be billed if you do not cancel the service within the 14 day time period.


link to voices from the past


Read, listen, and view "Voices from the Past", a Friends of Stewart Library oral history project.
  >  more info