15-P – Iowa State in the 1890s: The Greatest Decade

At a Glance

Course Description

This course briefly considers the transformation of Iowa State and Ames from an isolated institution (both physical and educational) to a college of national and international significance as well as the transformation of Ames from a small, insignificant town to a bustling city. More than anything else one person and one business made this transformation possible. The person: William Beardshear, President of Iowa State College. The business: the Ames & College Railway (or the Dinky).

Instructor

Doug Biggs grew up in Ames and holds a BA and an MA from Iowa State University in History. His PhD is in Medieval English History which he received from the University of Minnesota in 1996. He spent his career in the academy teaching history and doing administration before retiring. He has written extensively about the English Middle Ages and about Ames and Iowa State history.