Scope and Content

The main focus of this collection is Celestia Lee Barker's journal, which she began in 1863 at the age of 17. She wrote consistently in the journal from 1863 to 1866, documenting the events of her daily life. There are only occasional entries after 1866. These later entries, written on birthdays or anniversaries, relate to the Barker's marriage and family.

Abstract Ordella J. Fossel (1909-2001), later Ordella Thompson, was born in Gilbert, Iowa. She graduated from Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) in 1930 and taught school in Dinsdale, Iowa. The collection consists of two of Ordella's scrapbooks. These scrapbooks contain black and white photographs, mainly of her family and of the classes she taught in Dinsdale. The scrapbooks also contain two obituaries of Ordella's acquaintances and two cards from the memorial service. The...