Iowa History Project

[Dan Power]

I propose we start an Iowa History project using a Wiki. The plan would be to create chapters like 1) Geological history of Iowa, 2) Native People in Iowa, 3) European settlers and discovery, 4) Push to Statehood, 5) Iowa as a US State: beginnings, 6) Iowa and the US Civil War, 7) Post Civil War 19th Century Iowa, 8) Early 20th century and Iowa in World War I, 9) Iowa during the 1930s Economic Depression, 10) Iowa During World War II, 11) Iowa in the mid-20th Century, 12) Iowa and the Farm Economy Recession. Then perhaps some short community histories. Comments, volunteers. Note cards would also be in virtual Iowa.

The Wikipedia entry is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa. We can do much better.

[Dan Power]

Iowa State Song
Written by S.H.M. Byers
To the music of Tannenbaum

You asked what land I love the best, Iowa, tis Iowa,
The fairest State of all the west, Iowa, O! Iowa,
From yonder Misissippi's stream
To where Missouri's waters gleam
O! fair it is as poet's dream, Iowa, in Iowa.

See yonders fields of tasseled corn, Iowa in Iowa,
Where plenty fills her golden horn, Iowa in Iowa,
See how her wonderous praries shine.
To yonder sunset’s purpling line,
O! happy land, O! land of mine, Iowa, O! Iowa.

And she has maids whose laughing eyes, Iowa, O! Iowa.
To him whose loves were Paradise, Iowa, O! Iowa
O! happiest fate that e’er was known.
Such eyes to shine for one alone,
To call such beauty all his own. Iowa, O! Iowa

Go read the story of thy past. Iowa, O! Iowa
What glorious deeds, what fame thou hast! Iowa, O! Iowa
So long as time’s great cycle runs,
Or nations weep their fallen ones,
Thou’lt not forget thy patriot sons, Iowa, O! Iowa

[Penny Burger]

This is an interesting idea Dan. I wonder though, there are many resources for Iowa history on the web, besides wikipedia. I understand the idea of a wiki is different from other fixed sources of information, but I am wondering, what could we do differently here that the other sources have not? Could you clarify your vision?