IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
ALMA MARIE KOUBA KRESS (1908-2006)
PAPERS
1925-2006
2.5
linear inches
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ACQUISITION: |
The papers (donor no. 576) were donated by Kay Brown in 1998. |
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ACCESS: |
The papers are open for research. |
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COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to The University of Iowa. |
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PROCESSED BY: |
Heather Stecklein, 2001. [KressAlma.doc] |
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Biography
Alma Kress graduated from high school in Cedar Rapids in
1924 and attended Coe College from 1924-1936. She taught fifth and sixth grade
at Rowley Elementary School in Rowley, Iowa, and South Elementary School in
Independence, Iowa from 1958 to 1973.
Kress was an
active member of two social clubs. The Happy Hour Club met the first Wednesday
of every month and provided a social and cultural outlet for married women west
of the river in Cono Township, Buchanan County. Kress was an active member of
the club from the 1960s to the 1990s, and occasionally served as a club
officer. Kress also participated in the Quasaqueton Federated Garden Club in
the 1980s. The club began in 1935, and had twenty-three members in 1987. Its
members met once a month and used their meetings for garden related projects
and activities.
Scope and Content Note
The
Alma Kress papers date from 1925 to 2006 and measure three linear inches. The papers are arranged in four folders: Teaching
Documents, Quasqueton Federated Garden Club, Happy Hour Club, and Personal
Calendars.
The Teaching documents pertain to Alma Kress’
teaching career and include transcripts from her education at Coe College
(1924-1926), State of Iowa teaching certificates (1925-1968), and teaching
contracts from Independence and Rowley Schools (1957-1973).
The Quasqueton Federated Garden Club folder
contains club programs for the years 1986-1987. Each program is approximately
35 pages long and lists the clubs members and the activities planned for the
year.
The Happy Hour Club folder
documents the activities of a small social club in Buchanan County. The club
met the first Wednesday of each month, and strove to promote cultural
advancement and social activity among married women in Cono Township. The
series contains programs from scattered years between 1963 and 1995 and an
undated copy of the group’s constitution and by-laws. The programs detail the
officers and members of the group, along with the planned activities of the
group for the year.
The Personal calendars are two two-year calendars that Kress used to
document appointments and other personal data. The 1976-1978 calendar includes
short descriptions of daily activities from a trip to the Western United States
and Kress’ notes on religion and peace. The 1978-1980 calendar documents
meeting times and appointments through the year 1979.
Box no. Description
Box 1
Teaching
Documents, 1925-1973
Quasqueton Federated
Garden Club Programs, 1986-1987
Happy Hour Club Programs and Constitution, 1963-1995
and
undated
Personal
calendars and obituary, 1976-1979, 2006