Local history is being lost almost daily as people discard or destroy accumulated possessions.  The Ames Historical Society encourages residents and organizations to contact us at (515) 232-2148 to determine if material has historical significance before its disposition.  What is thrown away may be of value to future researchers studying our community.  This Acquisition Policy provides general guidance for potential donors.

The Ames Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1980 as Ames Heritage Association.  Its mission is to identify, record, collect, preserve, and provide access to evidence of the history of Ames and its immediate vicinity from pre-settlement times to the present.  To further this mission the Society collects and preserves artifacts and archival records, operates an 1860s one-room schoolhouse museum, and plans to create a future Ames Historical Museum.  Equally important, we initiate and promote research, publications, exhibits and programs, and collaborate with other organizations and institutions.

Collections come to the Society mainly by means of gift, but also by loan, exchange, transfer, bequest, and purchase.  Deeds of Gift establish the donor’s clear title to the material and transfer this to the Society.  The Society does not provide authentications or monetary appraisals of donations.  Material is processed, cataloged, preserved and stored according to current best practices.  Artifacts and archival materials are available for research and interpretive needs. Acquisitions are designated for a specific collection according to the guidelines below.

The Ames Historical Collection represents the Society’s main collecting effort and consists of materials documenting the history of Ames and its vicinity (portions of Washington, Franklin, Grant and Milford townships).  State entities located in Ames maintaining their own archives are excluded, i.e. Iowa State University and Iowa Department of Transportation.  The collection is housed in the Society’s administrative headquarters located in downtown Ames in Suite 101 at 416 Douglas.  This facility offers a secure, year-round, controlled environment for preserving items.

The Society solicits artifacts, archival records and other materials of historical significance that contribute to a clearer understanding of past activities and customs, or are associated with important events, periods, or personalities.  Archival records relating to individuals, organizations or businesses encompass such forms as correspondence, diaries, photographs, scrapbooks, minutes, ledgers, histories, biographies, genealogies, maps, audio and video recordings of oral history interviews, color slides and films.  Collection strengths include papers of prominent Ames families; school records, textbooks and photos; architectural drawings; local news photos; and records of Ames organizations and businesses.  In all instances preference will be given to items in good condition with a well-documented Ames/Story County connection, i.e. created, owned or used by area residents, organizations, businesses, and government.  The Society seeks to build a special focus of items that illustrate how education, research, science and technology have influenced the way we live and work in Ames/Story County.

The first schoolhouse in the vicinity was built in 1861-1862 to serve area residents before the city of Ames was established.  The acquisition, move, and restoration of this school were the driving forces in the founding of the Society.  In 1981 the one-room, log-frame building was moved to its present location on the grounds of Meeker School and restored.  Furnishings, fixtures, textbooks and other artifacts authentic to the period of the 1860s are solicited.  Year-round preservation is ensured by storage of artifacts at the downtown headquarters during the winter when Hoggatt is closed to visitors.

A pioneer log home was built near Huxley in 1865 by Norwegian immigrants Nils and Synneva Bauge.  This was acquired by the Society in 1988, moved to McFarland Park, and subsequently restored.  Although lost to arson in March 2004, most furnishings survived.  Additional artifacts authentic to the period 1890-1910 are solicited for furnishing replica rooms to be included as exhibits within a future Ames Historical Museum.  Some artifacts will be used in permanent and rotating exhibits in a new classroom addition to the Story County Conservation Center.  Priority is given to items owned by the Bauge family or used in Story County.  Examples include furniture, dishes, lighting and heating artifacts, clothing and textiles, and other articles of daily use.