Fairview Cemetery Project
Thomas Connors, University of Northern Iowa, 2011
Research Topics
Section I: General Topics
1. History and Development of Fairview Cemetery. Place the development of Fairview
Cemetery in the context of the evolution of the American Cemetery. Discuss its growth,
planning, landscape, and design; describe important sections. The use of city records
will be especially important.
2. Dayton Mausoleum. Explain the history, decoration, and architecture of the
mausoleum.
3. Western Home plot. Give background on the Western Home and its plot in Fairview.
4. The Iowa Soldiers’ Orphans Home. Explain the association between the Orphans
Home and the cemetery. Write a biographical sketch of Arthur Morrison, its
superintendent.
5. Epitaphs. Investigate epitaphs in the cemetery. Organize them into categories;
explain changes or continuity over time. Give locations of significant examples (family
name, approximate date, and section).
6. Metal Monuments. Discuss the style and design of metal monuments in the cemetery.
Who manufactured them? When were they erected? Give locations of significant
examples (family name, approximate date, and section).
7. Style: 19th Century. Describe the styles used during the nineteenth century (18501910). How do they reflect architectural styles? How do they reflect their time? How
do they develop over the period? Give locations of significant examples (family name,
approximate date, and section).
8. Style: 20th Century. Describe the styles used during the twentieth cemetery (since
1910). How do they reflect architectural styles? How do they reflect their time? How
do they develop over the period? Give locations of significant examples (family name,
approximate date, and section).
9. Religious Symbolism. Explain the meanings of religious symbols on tombstones,
drawing conclusions about change and continuity over time. Give locations of significant
examples (family name, approximate date, and section).
10. Other Symbolism. Explain the meanings of non-religious symbols on tombstones,
drawing conclusions about change and continuity over time. Give locations of significant
examples (family name, approximate date, and section).
11. Veterans. Analyze the information about soldiers and veterans that can be gained by
examining the tombstones at Fairview Cemetery. Discuss the wars they fought in and
the changing styles of symbols and government tombstones. Give locations of examples
(family name, approximate date, and section).
Section II: Biographies
Write biographical sketches of these individuals significant in the histories of Cedar Falls
and UNI. Give locations of their tombs (section, etc.).
12. Business Leaders I.
Bancroft, Elizabeth (1912) & Joseph (1913) - Greenhouse
Boehmler, George H. (1907) - Shoemaker, Immigrant
13. Business Leaders II.
Clay, Joseph (1973) - Clay Equipment
Cotton, Frank (1924) - Regent Theater
14. Business Leaders III.
Harris, Norman H. (1905) - Harris & Cole Pump
Hearst, Dr. Will (1932) - Viking Pump
15. Carpetbaggers.
Carpenter, Thaddeus B. (1904) - Carpetbagger
Carpenter, Henry H. (1871) - Carpetbagger
Hartman, John (1914) - Carpetbagger
16. Cedar Falls Ladies Society.
Boehmler, Barbara (1913) - CF Ladies Society
Sessions, Elmira (1899) - CF Ladies Society
17. Civic Leaders.
Pfeiffer, H. Jacob (1930) & Mary (1953) - Spring Park Donors
Santee, Charles (1943) - Business & Politics
Santee, Robert (1941) - Business & Politics
18. Civil War Soldiers.
Boehmler, Charles (1917) - POW
Rownd, George (1865) - Civil War Soldier
19. Civil War Veterans.
Savage, Charles (1867) - Civil War Veteran
Sessions, Fitzroy (1908) - Civil War Veteran
20. Early UNI History.
Bartlett, Moses (1912) - English Professor
Wright, D. Sands (1931) - Mathematic Professor
21. Hearst, James (1983) - Poet
22. ISTC/UNI Presidents.
Latham, Orval Ray (1940) - College President
Price, Malcolm (1975) - University President
23. Melendy, Peter (1901) - Mayor, Writer
24. Pioneers.
Rownd, Samuel, Sr. (1880) - Pioneer
Sessions, Col. William (1883) - Pioneer
25. Pioneers and Civic Leaders.
Sawyer, Moses W. (1916) - Clothing Store, Pioneer
Townsend, Edward (1900) - Mayor, Banker
26. Professors.
Fullerton, Charles (1945) - Music Educator
Nijim, Basheer K. (1991) - Geographer
27. The Radell Women.
Radell, Inez (1981) - Philanthropist
Radell, Neva Henrietta (1991) - Philanthropist
Radell, Sarah (1945) - CF Women’s Club
28. Sage, Leland (1989) - Iowa Historian
29. Seerley, Homer (1932) - College President
30. World War II Soldiers
Colville, John D. (1944)
Hall, George D. (1945)
Deadlines
First draft: Wednesday, September 22
Second draft: Friday, October 15
Walking Tour: Friday, October 15
Final draft: Friday, November 5
Grading Criteria
-Amount of research and work; initiative; exploitation of local sources, including surveys
of the evidence in the cemetery for some topics (history, 19th & 20th Century monuments,
metal monuments, epitaphs, mausoleum, veterans, etc.).
-Care taken in writing project: professional appearance & style; free of errors in spelling,
punctuation, and grammar; smooth flow and clarity of prose; follows project format style
& instructions.
-Links to illustrations and map.
-Fully addresses concerns and comments raised in previous drafts.
*Projects receiving a B-/C+ or lower will not be considered suitable for publication.
Illustrations and Maps:
I. Illustrations
-Turn in a list of photographs desired, divided up by location of the original (cemetery,
historical society, address of house, etc.)
-Give full description of location: section, block & lot number; CFHSA series, box & file
#; street address of house, etc.; book title, author, & page #.
-Mark specific locations for photographs on a cemetery map.
Samples:
Tombstone of Dempsey Overman, Original Portion, Block 1. See attached map.
Cabinet photograph of Joseph Sartori, CFHS, details of collection, folder, etc..
Robert Speer House, 212 Franklin Street, Cedar Falls.
II. Map
-The location of any monument you mention must be indicated on the map, accurately
oriented to nearby roads, paths, etc.
-The map locations must be numbered clearly. A typed key to your map should indicate
the number, name and full location of monument.
-Turn in THREE copies of this assignment.
Project Paper Format
The papers you write for the local history project must all follow the same format so that
they can be easily mounted as part of a website and edited for publication. If they are to
be published, the papers must be entirely free from any errors of spelling, grammar, and
punctuation that would reflect badly on yourself, your instructor, UNI, and the publisher.
Using PC compatible programs as opposed to Macintosh will make adding your material
to the website much easier. Underline words that will link to photographs and map
locations.
In papers mainly consisting of separate biographical sketches, each sketch (and, if
needed, the introductory essay) should be self contained, with a full & separate title,
footnotes, and bibliography.
Format:
Center the section (or paper’s) title:
Epitaphs in Fairview Cemetery
by Jane Q. Student
Titles of specific biographies should include the individual’s years of life:
John A. Pioneer (1809-1887)
Location: Second Addition, Block 5, Lot 3
by Jack Q. Student
The text of your paper should then follow. The sources of all information must be
documented in footnotes. Footnotes should be noted in the text with a number in
brackets. [1]
This number refers to the notes at the end of each full section.
When you mention specific tombstones, you should note the individual or family name,
location (by section and block), and the approximate date the stone was erected.
Exceptions to this should be made with more recent burials (all stones erected since 1970,
with the exception of named biographies, like James Hearst, and all children since 1940).
In these cases, references to family or given names should be avoided and locations
should be limited to section and block.
Sample Citations
Endnotes/Footnotes
1. Herb Hake, Still More Stories of Cedar Falls (Cedar Falls: Sturgis Press, 1978), 47.
2. Cedar Falls Historical Society Archives: Series XIV (Military Affairs): Box 1: Folder
16 (WWI: Naval Base Hospital): Elizabeth Louis to Martha Louis, July 12, 1918.
3. CFHSA: Series XX (Parks, Recreation, Cemeteries, etc.): Box 2: Folder 12 (Veterans):
“Sgt. William Yank” (obituary) in Cedar Falls Record, April 4, 1906, p 6.
4. CFHSA: Series XVII (Structures): Box 1: Folder 12 (Melendy House): Untitled typed
history of Melendy House, unsigned and undated, p 8.
Bibliography
Sample format. List in alphabetical order.
Burr, Aaron, “Killing Mr. H” in The Duelist 8 (1805), 43-96.
Cedar Falls Historical Society Archives: Series XIV (Military Affairs): Box 1: Folder 16
(WWI: Naval Base Hospital/Louis Correspondence): Elizabeth Louis to Martha Louis,
July 12, 1918.
CFHSA: Series XVII (Structures): Box 1: Folder 12 (Melendy House): Untitled typed
history of Melendy House, unsigned and undated, 8.
CFHSA: Series XX (Parks, Recreation, Cemeteries, etc.): Box 2: Folder 12 (Veterans):
“Sgt. William Yank” (obituary) in Cedar Falls Record, April 4, 1906, 6.
Hemmings, Sally, My Life with Tommy-Boy. Boston: Adams Press, 1800.
Madison, James, ed., Following the Big Guy. Richmond: Dolley Press, 1818.
Melendy, Peter, “Selling Cedar Falls by the Pound” in Iowa Business Quarterly 17
(1901), 23-56.
The War of 1812 Website, http:/war1812.com/html/
Abbreviations.
These abbreviations for local archives may be used after your first full citation:
CFHSA - Cedar Falls Historical Society Archives
CFPL - Cedar Falls Public Library
Grout - Grout Museum, Waterloo
RLSP, UNI - Special Collections, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa
Resources for Cedar Falls Local History
Libraries and Collections
Cedar Falls Historical Society: Archives [Call ahead for appointment]
Cedar Falls Public Library: Iowa Collection
Grout Museum of History and Science, Waterloo: Library & Collections [Call ahead for
appointment: Jan Taylor (archivist), Lorraine Ihnen (collections manager)]
Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa: Special Collections
University Museum, University of Northern Iowa: Local History Collections
Cedar Falls Cemetery Records [UNI Special Collections: F627.B6B5; Iowa Collection,
CF Lib.]
Greenwood Cemetery Index
Fairview Cemetery Index
Hillside Cemetery Index
Books
Cedar Falls
Clarence W. Baldwin, Crossroads on the Cedar (1967)
Clarence W. Baldwin, Historical Sketches (1982)
Brian C. Collins, Images of America: Cedar Falls, Iowa (1998) historic photographs
Herb Hake, 101 Stories of Cedar Falls (1977)
Herb Hake, Bicentennial Outlines of Cedar Falls (1974)
John Hartman, ed., History of Black Hawk County, Iowa and its People (1915)
Biographical and Historical Record of Black Hawk County, 2 vols. (1886)
Historical Tour of Black Hawk County (1996) [also on the Web]
Iowa History and Culture: A Bibliography of Materials Published 1952-1986 (1989)
Kenneth Lyftogt, From Blue Mills to Columbia (1993) Civil War units, pioneer period
Peter Melendy, Historical Record of Cedar Falls (1893)
Justin and Karen Nelson, The Band Played On: History of the Cedar Falls Band (1991)
Neva Radell, The Sartori Legacy (1985)
Glenda Riley, Cities on the Cedar (1988)
Mary Logan Sweet, Stone Ware in Cedar Falls (1984)
History of UNI
Marshall R. Beard, A History of Religious Activities at Iowa State Teachers’ College
(1937)
Irving Hart, The First 75 Years (c. 1951)
William C. Lang, A Century of Leadership and Service, 2 vols. (1990) history of UNI
Val Martin, Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home, 1863-1876 (1983)
Clarence T. Molen, The Evolution of a State Normal School into a Teachers’ College
(1974)
David Sands Wright, Fifty Years at the Teachers’ College (1926) early history of UNI
Cedar Falls Biographies and Memoirs
Janice Abel, Community Shapers: Conversations with Retired Women (1996)
Bess Streeter Aldrich, A Lantern in her Hand (1928) fiction
Bess Streeter Aldrich, Song of Years (1939) fiction
S.W. Barnett, Unseen Battles of the Night (1974) doctor’s memoir
Margaret McHugh Chehock, Mayor C.N. McHugh (1990)
James Hearst, My Shadow Below Me (1981) autobiography
Roger Leavitt, When Cedar Falls Was Young (1928) memoir
Kenneth Lyftogt, ed. Left for Dixie: the Civil War Diary of John Rath (1991)
Alice Myers, It Seems to Me (c. 1980 or later) local newspaper columns, 1975-80
Ferner Nuhn, The Ice Wagon and Other Vanished Wonders (1981)
Ferner Nuhn, William C. Nuhn: A Memo (1980)
Carol Miles Petersen, Bess Streeter Aldrich: the Dreams Are All Real (1995) biography
Leland Sage, Turning Points: an Autobiography (1990)
Mary Logan Sweet, William Sturgis: First in Cedar Falls (1981)
Luella Wright, Peter Melendy: The Mind and the Soil (1943) biography
Vivian Youngberg, Bess Streeter Aldrich Scrapbook (1989)
Newspapers & Journals
Annals of Iowa [index in CF Library Special Collections]
Cedar Falls Gazette, 1860-1916
Cedar Falls Globe / Weekly Globe, 1889-1909
Cedar Falls Record, 1903-1983
Des Moines Register, 1871Iowa Journal of History
Iowa Journal of History and Politics
The Iowan
The Palimpsest [index in CF Library Special Collections]
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Daily Courier, 1859-
General Cemetery Websites
www.findagrave.com
http://politicalgraveyard.com
Sample Cedar Falls Website:
http://www.uni.edu/historyofblackhawkcounty/greenwoodcem/greenindex.html
or http://www.uni.edu/connors/