Collection Timeline

1885 to 1949

1885
Portrait of Edgar W. Stanton, George Washington Carver's professor in plane geometry. Edgar W. Stanton served Iowa State continuously from his graduation in 1872 until his death in 1920. He was made Head of the Mathematics Department in 1874, served as Secretary of the Board of trustees from 1874 to 1909, and was four times Acting President of Iowa State. After the death of his first wife, Margaret MacDonald Stanton, in 1895, Stanton presented the college with the first ten bells of the carillon hanging in the Campanile. After Edgar Stanton's death, his second wife, Julie Wentch Stanton, and his children contributed 26 additional bells. The carillon is known as the Stanton Memorial Carillon. Neg. # 0051527.

1891
Photograph of the Department of Military Science and Tactics with George Washington Carver 4th from left in the front row kneeling. The Department of Military Science and Tactics was established in 1870 along with the S.A.T.C. as a result of a provision in the Morrill Land Grant Act. In 1916, Congress passed the National Defense Act, which provided for the establishment of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (R.O.T.C.). Old Main and Morrill Hall can be seen in the background.

1893
George W. Carver I.A.C. Class '94. Taken in 1893. Graduation picture, which appeared in the 1894 Bomb (published in 1893), on page facing page 34. Neg # 02364C (same picture appears in the faculty section of the 1896 Bomb, when he was Assistant Botanist in the Agricultural Experiment Station from 1894 to 1896). Neg # 02365.

1894
Creamery operators class (1894), Iowa State College. George W. Carver is in the back row.
George Washington Carver's Iowa State bachelor's thesis.

1895
Page from the 1895 Bomb yearbook showing portraits of staff officers in the Department of Military Science and Tactics, including Lieut. Col. B. H. Hand, Reg. Adjt. J. B. Frisbee, Major L. H. Campbell, Gen. James Rush Lincoln, Battalion Adjt. J. W. Crawford, and Quartermaster G. W. Carver.

1896
Photograph of the Welch Eclectic Society (Literary Arts Group, 1896), Iowa State College. George W. Carver is in the back row.

1897
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding lichens, etc.

1899
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding germination etc.
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel regarding fungi, etc.
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel regarding fungi, etc.
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding fungi.
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel regarding fungi, etc.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 29, 1899
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, June 19, 1899
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 2, 1899
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 7, 1899
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 11, 1899

1900
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel regarding fungi, etc.
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel regarding fungi, etc.
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding a microscope etc.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 7, 1900
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 25, 1900
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, October 23, 1900
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 26, 1900

1901
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, January 18, 1901
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, January 21, 1901
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, February 12, 1901
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 7, 1901
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 2, 1901
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 14, 1901

1902
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, February 12, 1902
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 10, 1902
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 5, 1902
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 18, 1902
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 1, 1902
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, October 13, 1902
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 12, 1902
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 30, 1902

1903
George W. Carver letter to C. F. Curtiss, February 20, 1903
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 9, 1903
Portrait of Maria Mabel Roberts, one of George Washington Carver's professors. Maria Roberts graduated from Iowa State in 1890 and shortly afterwards became a member of the Mathematics Department faculty. In 1908, she was named Vice-Dean of the Junior College--the term then used for the Freshman and Sophomore Classes. In 1920 she was named Dean of the Junior College. She continued as Dean and Professor of Mathematics until 1933, when she became Dean Emeritus and Director of Student Loans. Throughout her career, Miss Roberts was concerned with the plight of talented students who had a difficult time completing college because of financial problems. She was instrumental in developing the college loan funds do the needs of such students could be met. Through the Alumni Association, she also worked to set up scholarship funds for needy "B" or better students. Neg. # 0051763.

1904
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 25, 1904
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, October 8, 1904
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 16, 1904

1907
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, April 25, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 10, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, June 5, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, July 2, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 6, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 15, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 28, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 7, 1907
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 24, 1907
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, July 12, 1907
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, August 12, 1907
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 2, 1907
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 21, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 18, 1907
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 26, 1907

1908
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 1, 1908

1910
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, January 13, 1910
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 19, 1910
Graduation portrait of Henry A. Wallace. Son of Henry C. Wallace and friend of George Washington Carver, Wallace remembered Carver with appreciation: "Because of his friendship with my father and perhaps his interest in children George Carver often took me with him on botany expeditions, and it was he who first introduced me to the mysteries of plant fertilization. He seemed to have a great sympathy with me... Later on I was to have an intimate acquaintance with plants myself, because I spent a good many years breeding corn. Perhaps that was partly because this scientist, who belonged to another race, had deepened my appreciation of plants in a way I could never forget. Certainly because of his faith I became interested in things that today give me a distinct pleasure. I feel I must pay him this debt of gratitude." Henry A. Wallace was a 1910 graduate of Iowa State. After graduation, he farmed and wrote for Wallace's Farmer. He took over as the magazine's editor when his father became Secretary of Agriculture. He also founded the Pioneer Hi-Bred Corn Company in 1926, launching the first commercial production of hybrid seed corn. In 1932, Wallace was selected as Franklin D. Roosevelt's Secretary of Agriculture, a position held until 1940, when he was elected as Roosevelt's third term Vice President. He was not chosen as Vice President for Roosevelt's fourth term, but was selected as Secretary of Commerce. He held this post until 1946. At that time, differences with then President Harry S. Truman over U.S.-Soviet relations forced Wallace's dismissal. After an unsuccessful run for President in 1948 on the Progressive Party ticket, Wallace retired from public life. He spent the rest of his years pursuing his interest in plant hybridization. Neg. # 2332.

1911
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, February 16, 1911
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 18, 1911
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 31, 1911
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 22, 1911
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, August 28, 1911

1914
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 13, 1914
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 28, 1914
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 4, 1914
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, July 27, 1914
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 24, 1914
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, March 31, 1914
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, July 18, 1914

1918
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 29, 1918
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 30, 1918
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, July 9, 1918

1919
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel regarding fungi, etc.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, July 23, 1919
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, November 6, 1919
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 6, 1919
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, July 26, 1919
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, August 28, 1919
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 24, 1919
Letter from Louis H. Pammel thanking George Washington Carver for a collection of fungi.
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, December 1, 1919
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, December 13, 1919

1920
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, March 30, 1920
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, January 12, 1920
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 17, 1920
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 13, 1920

1921
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding dog fennel etc.
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 25, 1921
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, July 18, 1921
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 25, 1921
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 29, 1921
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, June 17, 1921
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, June 18, 1921
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, July 15, 1921

1922
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel.
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding Iowa State faculty etc.
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel.
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding travel etc.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 5, 1922
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, June 16, 1922
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, June 27, 1922
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, March 21, 1922
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, March 31, 1922
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, April 17, 1922
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 18, 1922
L. H. Pammel letter to L. B. Schmidt, May 18, 1922
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 31, 1922
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, June 13, 1922
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, June 23, 1922

1923
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding PhD.
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding the Spingarn medal, etc.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 5, 1923
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, July 6, 1923
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, July 15, 1923
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 24, 1923
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 8, 1923
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 25, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, January 24, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 3, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 10, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, July 11, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to Barney Allen, July 11, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 5, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 18, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to John L. Hillman, September 19, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to L. B. Schmidt, September 28, 1923
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, October 2, 1923

1924
Conversation with Prof. G. W. Carver at Tuskegee, Alabama, February 11, 1924
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel.
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding the New York Times etc.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, February 22, 1924
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 5, 1924
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 31, 1924
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 12, 1924
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 14, 1924
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 22, 1924
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, June 26, 1924
George W. Carver letter to Charlotte M. King, September 9, 1924
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 26, 1924
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, April 21, 1924
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 20, 1924
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 22, 1924
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, June 6, 1924
Letter from Louis H. Pammel in reply to George Washington Carver's letter of June 8, 1924. Pammel mentions a recent article in the Des Moines Register about Carver's work.
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, July 1, 1924
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, December 19, 1924
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, December 22, 1924

1925
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding pestalozzia etc.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 11, 1925
Letter from Louis H. Pammel in reply to George Washington Carver's letter of March 11, 1925. Pammel recommends a Mr. Ward, whom Pammel met through the National Association of Cosmopolitan Clubs.
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, April 3, 1925

1926
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 8, 1926
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 20, 1926
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, October 2, 1926
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, October 8, 1926
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, October 15, 1926
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, December 8, 1926
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 14, 1926
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 14, 1926
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 24, 1926
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, October 6, 1926
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, October 12, 1926
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, November 24, 1926
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, November 30, 1926
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, December 13, 1926

1927
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding peanuts etc.
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel.
George W. Carver letter regarding the receipt of bulletins, February 16, 1927
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 3, 1927
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 18, 1927
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, March 29, 1927
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, March 10, 1927
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, March 26, 1927
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, April 26, 1927
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, January 24, 1927
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, January 31, 1927
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, February 8, 1927
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, February 28, 1927
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, February 28, 1927

1928
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding palms etc.
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding amaryllis etc.
Letter from Carver to Pammel regarding honey plants etc.
Letter from George Washington Carver to Louis H. Pammel.
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, April 10, 1928
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, May 30, 1928
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, July 23, 1928
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, August 2, 1928
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, September 11, 1928
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, November 15, 1928
Louis H. Pammel, Mrs. Pammel, George W. Carver, and Tuskegee Institute President Robert R. Moton (left to right) . Yucca in the background. Neg. No. 0062564 (4x5) 1928.
Tuskegee Institute President Robert R. Moton, Mrs. Pammel, Louis H. Pammel, and George W. Carver (left to right). Photo x Williamson 3-1928. Yucca in background.
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, May 4, 1928
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, June 27, 1928
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, July 21, 1928
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, August 28, 1928
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, September 18, 1928
L. H. Pammel letter to George W. Carver, November 20, 1928

1931
George W. Carver letter to L. H. Pammel, November 17, 1931

1949
Statue of George Washington Carver by Christian Petersen, sculptor-in-residence in the late 1940s. Originally a plaster sculpture, it was given to the University and placed in Carver Hall at the dedication of the hall in 1970 by the Class of 1968. Christian Petersen came over and stood by August Bang's side. "When I look upon Carver as you have him here," Bang said, "the words which were written at his death come to my mind--'He wandered with God'." "That is just what I have tried to say," answered the artist, and a beautiful smile lighted his face. In 1998, with gift funds, the statue was cast in bronze as it was originally meant to be, and installed in the courtyard between Carver and Beardshear Halls.