Iowa Women's Archives

05/26/2026

With a new online guide, we've made it easier than ever for students and researchers to use IWA's primary sources on Latina/o Iowans for papers, dissertations, art projects, and more!

We recently hosted Dr. Cynthia Orozco, historian for the national League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), who believes IWA's LULAC materials are among the best two or three related collections anywhere in the world. We're proud of that distinction and encourage you to learn more about all of our amazing Latino/a materials at: https://guides.lib.uiowa.edu/latinas

05/06/2026

It‘s Iowa Women Wednesday! Here’s a snapshot of the life of Ayako “A. Mori” Costantino, a Japanese American human rights activist.

In 1942, Mori and her family were interned at the Tule Lake Japanese American internment camp. In 1943, students were permitted to leave the camps to attend college, and Mori moved to Chicago, eventually working for the U.S. Civil Service in St. Louis. After the end of World War II, Mori worked as a stenographer in Japan where she met her husband Tony Constantino, a military serviceman. In 1950, they returned to California where Tony taught at a university, later accepting a professorship at the University of Iowa in 1956. Here in Iowa City, Mori helped found the Iowa City Human Relations Commission in 1963, opened her house to meetings, recruited supporters, and assisted in drafting the Human Rights Ordinance that passed the Iowa City City Council. She served on the Commission as chairwoman and vice chairwoman, leading investigations into employment discrimination, affirmative action, and housing discrimination in partnership with the League of Women Voters.

Material from IWA0905

04/22/2026

In honor of this year's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Iowa PBS is airing a special lineup of American history documentaries each Sunday at 1 p.m. through June. The first of these documentaries, "The Legacy of 4-H," features Jessie Field Shambaugh, whose papers we hold at IWA, many of which have been digitized.

Browse Shambaugh and 4-H history materials in the Iowa Digital Library here: https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/solr-search/content/grid?search_api_fulltext=%224-H%22+OR+%22jessie+field+shambaugh%22

and check out the documentary on the Iowa PBS site here: https://www.iowapbs.org/about/newsroom/13987/iowa-pbs-showcases-revolutionary-iowans-through-statewide-exhibits-and-new

04/08/2026

Mildred Wirt Benson was the star of the show on this KCRG segment for We The People: Celebrating 250 Years. Benson, an Iowa native, was the first author of Nancy Drew, originating America's favorite girl detective. In this clip, Interim Curator Anna Holland talks about Mildred, Nancy, and their legacy at IWA!

The author behind the world's most famous teenage detective books is from Iowa

04/01/2026

Happy Iowa Women Wednesday! Here’s a scrapbook documenting the history of Church Women United Johnson County from 1983 to 1989. It features event photos, newspaper clippings, and even seeds! In 1941, CWU started as a racially, culturally, theologically, inclusive Christian women’s movement. ..
Material from IWA0597

03/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our Women's History Month lecture: "Finding Black Joy in the Iowa Women's Archives" by Dr. Ashley Howard. Dr. Howard, a professor of history and African-American studies spoke movingly about the historical relevance of joyful moments, how they coexist with tragedy, and the difficulties of finding and preserving these kinds of sources.

Did you miss the lecture? You can still see it on the Iowa City Public Library's YouTube channel. Link in comments!

03/10/2026

Join IWA and the Iowa City Public Library tomorrow, March 11, at 4:30 p.m. for a Women's History Month lecture! Dr. Ashley Howard, UI professor of history, will give a talk entitled "Finding Black Joy in the Iowa Women's Archives."

You can join us in person at the ICPL Meeting Room A or online at the ICPL's YouTube channel. More information at the link in the comments!

03/04/2026

After coming to IWA from her native state of Florida, IWA Collections Archivist Meredith is returning to the South. Starting this month, Meredith will be the Processing Archivist at the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University, a fantastic women-focused repository in New Orleans.

While at the IWA, Meredith has streamlined our arrangement and description workflows and tackled several complex collections, notably The Maid Narratives: Oral Histories from the Great Migration to Iowa. She's also become a friend and cherished member of the UI Libraries' team.

It's too hard to say good-bye, Meredith, so we'll just say see you later!

02/25/2026

New on the blog: IWA graduate assistant Andrea Leusink explores the life and legacy of Marion Helland, who was a teacher, Civil Rights activist, and the subject of this week’s . Click the link in the comments to learn more about Marion and her work. ..
Material from IWA1390

01/28/2026

This Iowa Women’s Wednesday, please join us in celebrating Iowa Women’s Archives Curator Dr. Janet Weaver, who will retire from the role on Feb. 2 after 25 years at the University of Iowa.

As assistant curator and then curator, Janet was instrumental in building IWA’s collections, with a special facility for oral history and community collaboration. Her 2019 dissertation, “Pearl McGill and the promise of industrial unionism: button workers, the women’s trade union league and the AFL” focused on the pearl button industry in Muscatine, Iowa, and utilized materials in IWA. Her 2009 Annals of Iowa article, 'From Barrio to "¡Boicoteo!": The Emergence of Mexican American Activism in Davenport, 1917-1970,' has been assigned in UI classes. Through her publications and curatorial expertise, Janet will leave IWA stronger than she found it.

We’re so grateful for Janet’s decades of hard work and leadership and wish her the best in retirement!..
Photo credit, Anna Holland