| Geisler Library Archives | Current Committee Minutes |
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Geisler Library Archives Policies
- Walk-in requests for archives access will not be accepted; archives access will be by appointment only.
- Archives appointments made by the public (community members, visiting researchers) must be made at least two weeks in advance and will take place on the second Wednesday of each month of the academic year, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Additional appointment hours will be made available to the public during semester break, spring break, and over the summer. Additional appointments outside of these hours may be made for current affiliates of Central (students, faculty, campus departments), dependent upon circumstance. These appointments will be made on a case-by-case basis and at library faculty discretion.
- Research related to college history will be given priority. Local history and geneology questions unrelated to Central and that do not require resources unique to Central’s archives will be referred to an appropriate archives elsewhere.
- Initial email requests from off campus for information will be replied to promptly; however, the timeframe for completion of the request will be indefinite and based upon staff availability and complexity of research required.
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Questions about Central College history or about materials held in the Archives may be submitted by email. Please refer to the contact list below:
(641) 628-5158
(641) 628-5221
ABOUT THE ARCHIVES:
The primary purpose of the Archives is to document the history of Central College. Located on the third floor of the Geisler Library, the Archives room is the depository for reports, minutes, publications, programs, publicity, and artifacts relevant to the history of the College, of Pella, and of Dutch settlement in Iowa. Much of the material in the Archives can be used for genealogical research.
The Archives had its beginning in the 1940's when the papers of Dominie Henry Scholte, founder of Pella, were given to the Library. A few years later, the Nollen papers were added. Today, the Archives houses a variety of material about Pella and its early days, including Bibles, diaries, journals, and histories of early families.
Though newspaper files are not complete, those that have survived are available in print and microfilm. The earliest newspaper is the PELLA GAZETTE Vol. I-IV (February 1, 1855 - February 1, 1860). The Dutch language newspaper PELLA'S WEEKBLAD is complete from Vol. 35-80 (May 15, 1896 - December 31, 1942) when it ceased publication. There are various issues preceding 1896, but only Vol. 9 of 1870 is complete.
The PELLA BLADE, which began in 1865, is represented by many single issues between 1865 and 1885. It is bound between 1885 and 1901, at which time it was superseded by the PELLA CHRONICLE, most of which is bound and/or on microfilm.
The Archives also contains various issues and volumes of other Pella newspapers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These include THE ADVERTISER, THE BANNER, THE BOOSTER PRESS (later called the PELLA PRESS), NIEUSBLAD, THE REPUBLICAN, THE TIMES, THE WEEKLY HERALD, and the WEEKLY VISITOR. Most of these publications are bound or available on microfilm.
Because Central College continues to have a strong affiliation with The Reformed Church in America, the Archives is also a depository for the minutes of the Synod of the RCA. The minutes are complete from 1771 to the present.
Helen Van Dyke Exhibit of miniature books.