H I S T O R I A N - State Historical Society of Iowa

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Missing DAR plaquefinds its way homeA bronze commemorativeplaque believed to have beenmissing from the Abbie GardnerCabin since the 1970s is backhome safe.The Abbie Gardner Cabin isowned and operated by the StateHistorical Society of Iowa.The Ladies of the Lake Chapterof the Daughters of theAmerican Revolution inDickinson County was notifiedAug. 9 by national DAR leadersthat a plaque that once was displayedat the Abbie GardnerCabin was being offered for saleon eBay, an online auction site.Doris Hemphill, theorganization’s registrar, enlistedthe help of a friend’s computersavvyson, Ed DeSpain, to trackdown the seller.“(Ed) soon found the itemnumber, and there was a picturedisplayed of the bronze plaquewith our name on it,” Hemphillsaid.Bidding had begun at $10.DeSpain discovered the sellerlived in Chelsea in Tama County.He then sent an e-mail explainingthat the plaque belonged tothe Ladies of the Lake DAR andthat they’d like it back. He receivedno response.Hemphill then contacted GregBaloun, the Dickinson Countysheriff, who sent a formal communiqueexplaining who he wasand asking the seller to contacthim immediately.The next day, the owner e-mailed Baloun, wanting to knowhow he knew the plaque was stolen.Baloun was then able to requesta search warrant, which hefaxed to the sheriff’s office inTama County. A DickinsonCounty deputy traveled toChelsea and brought the plaquehome.“And all this time, we didn’tknow where it had been, when itIowa HistorianThis plaque replaced the onestolen from Abbie GardnerCabin in Arnolds Park. Thestolen plaque is nearly identicaland now back home atGardner Cabin.disappeared or how,” Hempillsaid. “We had not missed it.”Steve Ohrn, coordinator ofhistoric sites for the State HistoricalSociety said he was gladthis story has a happy ending.“I am pleased that theDickinson County sheriff followedthrough with his investigationand recovered the pilferedplaque,” he said.A further investigation revealedthe plaque had been purchasedat an estate sale inOttumwa for $25.The buyer will receive theamount he paid from a special accountthe sheriff’s departmentuses for such situations.The plaque has since been returnedto the DAR chapter andwill be displayed in the museumnext spring.This article uses information obtainedfrom the Dickinson CountyNews. It is reprinted with permission.Note: The Summer 2001 issueof Iowa Heritage Illustratedhighlights the complete historyof the Abbie Gardner Cabin. Copiescost $6 and can be obtainedby calling (319) 335-3916.6Advocacy: Making it WorkQuotable:“I think music and the arts should be considered core subjectsin our nation’s schools. There is absolutely no conflictbetween the expansion of our fine arts programs, our musicprograms and focus on other academic programs.” —U.S.Secretary of Education Ron PaigeLocal artist garners signatures on ImagineIowa petitionsThrough her own initiative, artist Betty Fitzsimmons ofDes Moines has worked to fill Imagine Iowa petitions withsignatures from across Iowa. Imagine Iowa 2010: A CulturalVision is a strategy for making Iowa a culturally vibrantstate a decade from now. Thousands of Iowans helped createteh plan in the spring of 2001.Those who have signed their names are committed to:• A vigorous cultural environment in Iowa;• Believe that art, history, the sciences and humanities arethe foundation of an exciting cultural climate;• Believe that our cultural institutions are essential to qualityeducation and economic vitality;• Believe that an exciting cultural environment will attractyoung people to Iowa and keep them here;• Believe in making Iowa a state where people can earn aliving in a cultural occupation;• Believe in making sure every Iowan is enriched by historyand the arts; and• Believe in a cultural vision that makes Iowa a wonderfulplace to live, work and raise a family.The Department of Cultural Affairs will continue to collectpetitions to present to state legislators on Cultural AdvocacyDay, Feb. 21, 2002. We encourage historians, culturalresource consultants, researchers and historic preservationiststo join the arts community in securing copies of the ImagineIowa petition and gathering signatures from your communityin support of the Imagine Iowa goals. Send them to:Imagine Iowa Petitions, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319.To learn more about Cultural Advocacy Day, contact PatriciaOhlerking at (515) 281-8824.Historical Society callsfor nominationsfrom page 3tact Marvin Bergman at (319) 335-3931;mbergman@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu.Spring RecognitionAll award recipients will be recognized at award ceremonies inthe spring. The Benjamin F. Shambaugh Award will be presented atIowa History Forum on April 6. The Loren Horton Community HistoryAward and the Petersen/Harlan Award will be presented at“Celebrating Community History” on May 13.Committees appointed by the hair of the State Historical Society’sBoard of Trustees will review the submissions. The committeesselect the finalists, and the Board of Trustees will name the winners.November/December 2001
In Memoriam: The Grand Army of the Republic in IowaNovember 11, 2001–May 2003State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust, Des MoinesAn exhibit about Iowa’s leading Civil War veterans organization.It features memorabilia from the 19th and 20thcenturies including banners, badges, flags, military equipmentand paintings and prints. The exhibit will includematerials from the GAR auxiliary, the Women’s Relief Corps.Neat Pieces: The Furniture of Marsden KeyesNovember 16, 2001–March 31, 2002State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust, Des MoinesA display of pieces of furniture created by Marsden Keyes,a carpenter and cabinetmaker from Mt. Vernon ,c. 1860–1890.CALENDAR OF EVENTSFor the most current events listing, please visitwww.iowahistory.org or call (515) 281-4011.Sunday Afternoon Lecture SeriesSunday, November 18, 2 p.m. FREEWestern Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Ave.,Council BluffsHosted by the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County. Call (712)366-5080 for information.Montauk Holiday Open HouseSunday, December 9, 1–4 p.m. FREEMontauk, Home of Governor William Larrabee, ClermontThe home is decorated in the typical 19th century style of theLarrabee family, simply done with festive outdoor greenery. Therewill be entertainment, caroling, refreshments and horse and wagonrides around the house and grounds. Call (319) 423-7173 forinformation.from page 3tional experience, but it was also an individual experience.”The battle flags were the symbol of pride of any companyand often served the purpose of guiding the men into battle.Sometimes the smoke would become so thick that if a soldierlost site of his company’s flag, he could become disorientedand wander into enemy territory, Johnson said. It was also anhonor to carry the flag, and it was common for several men tobe killed while trying to carry the same flag, Johnson said.Three battle flags will be featured in the exhibit. The firstbattle flag is from Company E, 31st Iowa Infantry and was sewnby women of the community with their names stitched intosome of the stars.“This shows the culture of family and town involvement,”Johnson said.Iowa HistorianCivil War battle flags a symbol of pridefrom page 3The collection of Civil War papers obtained by SHSI specialcollections, though not part of the upcoming exhibit Honorthe Colors: Iowa’s Civil War Battle Flags,rounds out thestory of Iowans who served and gives a first-hand and sometimeseerie portrayal of the conditions of war.“(Bradway) is very descriptive, very graphic about thewounds, the diseases they suffered, the poor conditions,”said Becki Plunkett, special collections archivist.Another man, Capt. Robert Stitt, Company F, 4th Iowa Infantry,was adamant about keeping his post, while his wife athome faithfully wrote letters to him begging him to comehome.“It’s always good to get the perspective of those left behind,”Plunkett said. “It shows the emotional turmoil thatfamilies faced.”The second is a captured Confederate flag from the 31st Alabamaemblazoned with the words, “God and Our Native Land.” It will be thefirst time Iowa has displayed a captured Confederate flag in 40 years.“It shows they felt God was on their side and the land they wereprotecting was their own,” Johnson said.The third battle flag is from Company C of the 19th Iowa and is beingshown specifically for the extensive conservation work that has goneinto preserving it.Also on display will be “souvenirs,” or patches of flags that were cutfrom the larger flag by soldiers to take home. These were often stars orsignificant symbols contained on each flag.For updates, photos and general information on Honor the Colors:Iowa Civil War Battle Flags, visit www.iowaflags.org.Journals relay emotional turmoil of warOthers, like Samuel C. Jones, Company A, 22nd Iowa Infantry, wroteemotional poems about battles, his time in prison and even Confederatebattle flags.“It’s a different way to hear the experiences related,” Plunkett said.Most items in Special Collections have been donated to the HistoricalSociety and all have some connection to Iowa, she added.“That’s one of the criteria for collecting; we try to keep it Iowa focused.”Library hours of reference and retrieval are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesdaythrough Saturday. The state archives, photograph, and manuscriptcollections are closed Saturdays, unless arrangements are made in advance.Arrangements can be made to use archival material on Saturdaysby requesting the needed material from an archives staff memberprior to noon on the preceding Friday. Partial listings of the manuscriptcollections can be found at www.iowahistory.org.7November/December 2001
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