Images of America: Coralville, Iowa

Images of America: Coralville, Iowa

The Images of America: Coralville, Iowa collection contains the photographs gathered by Timothy Walch as he did research for his 2015 book Images of America: Coralville, which is part of the "Images of America" series by Arcadia Publishing. The photo history by Walch covers the history of Coralville: the early founders of the city, changing industry and commerce throughout the years, the city's relationship to the Iowa River, local governance, service given by residents to both the local community and the United States of America, students and education, and social functions such as city festivals and recreational programs. The wide range of topics is reflected in this collection, which includes family photographs, images of the mill industries and other local businesses, a portrait series of past mayors, and class pictures from Coralville schools. Also included are images of community groups, road construction, destruction from fires and floods, and local holiday celebrations.

Descriptions for each image were written by Rachel Black and Wendy Stevenson using information from the donors and the primary sources listed below. If users of this database have additional information about the images or notice discrepancies, they are encouraged to reach out to the Coralvillle Digital History Library.

A special thank you to Timothy Walch, Allison Ames Galstad, Ellen Hampe Alexander, Rex Brandstatter, Wendy Stevenson, and all of our donors. 

This collection currently contains 297 items. To access all items in this collection, please click here.

Timothy Walch

Rachel Black

Wendy Stevenson

Ancestry Library
Ancestry Library is a genealogical collection of databases created out of a partnership between ProQuest and Ancestry.com for the use of library patrons. The databases include federal censuses, military draft cards and enlistment records, directories, records of birth, marriage, divorce, and death, and much more. Coralville Public Library patrons can access Ancestry Library through the library website. In library use only.

The Coralville Courier
The Coralville Courier was a weekly newspaper that began publishing in Coralville, Iowa on November 27, 1968 and was delivered to over 2,500 homes and businesses in the Coralville area. The last publication occurred in October of 1982. The Coralville Courier can now be found on microfilm at the Coralville Public Library. Digitized copies can also be found through this link: https://coralville.advantage-preservation.com/

Horwirtz, R. (1985) The Strip: An American Place. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
Richard P. Horwitz, an American Studies professor and consultant, wrote The Strip: An American Place in order to examine both the people and landscapes associated with business strips. Set in Coralville, Iowa, from the years 1978-1982, Horwitz interviews employees at the Carousel, Millie from Diamond Mil's Lounge, and Ermal Loghry from Loghry's. Photographs in this book were taken by Karin E. Becker. Copies of the The Strip can be found at the Coralville Public Library.

All photographs taken by Karin Becker for this project have been given this citation, regardless if the photograph was printed in the book or not.

Iowa City Press-Citizen
The Iowa City Press-Citizen is a newspaper local to Iowa City, Iowa; generations of citizens living in Coralville, Iowa has subscribed to this paper, as well. It was formed in 1920 when two newspapers merged: the Democratic Iowa State Press, which began printing in 1860, and the Republican Iowa City Citizen, which was founded in 1891. A digital collection of articles dated from the 1890s to current day exists on the Iowa City Press-Citizen website; users can access these for a subscription fee. A second collection of articles that range from November 2002 to current day can be accessed through the Iowa City Public Library.

Users of the Coralville Digital History Library may note an asterisk (*) behind Iowa City Press-Citizen article citations listed in the Sources of individual photographs. This indicates a physical copy of the article can be found in scrapbooks put together by Coralville Public Library volunteer Marilyn Jensen. These scrapbooks, due to their fragile condition, are stored at the Coralville Public Library with limited access. They are not available for check-out.

Lovetinsky, P., Rogers, F., Russell, V., & Schwab, J. (1973) Lest We Forget: Coralville, Iowa, 1873-1973. 
Pauline Lovetinsky, Frances Rogers, Vera Russell, and Jean Schwab, librarians from the Coralville Public Library, compiled and edited Lest We Forget in celebration of the City of Coralville's centennial in 1973. The book contains information about the early history and pioneers of Coralville, essays about how different businesses and social groups formed, and short histories about families who lived in Coralville.

Reuman, J. (2019) Iowa Firefighters Memorial History.
Joan Reuman compiled this history on the Iowa Firefighters Memorial, located in Coralville, Iowa. The book include a timeline of events from the conception to the creation of the memorial, as well as brief vignettes on memorial services, death notices for firefighters across Iowa, and poems. This resource includes a DVD and is available for check out at the Coralville Public Library.

Walch, T. (2015) Images of America: Coralville. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing.
Historian Timothy Walch wrote and compiled this photo history of Coralville, Iowa with help from Rex Brandstatter, the Johnson County Historial Society, the Coralville Public Library, and numerous community donors. This book acted as the impetus for the creation of the Coralville Digital History Library. Images of America: Coralville is available for check out at the Coralville Public Library. Copies can also be purchased at the circulation desk.

All photographs that are included in Walch's book have this citation listed in Sources.

Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. 
Author and photographer Lois Wiederrecht-Finke worked in partnership with Blue Top Motel owners Larry and Judy Smith to create this history and memoir of the Blue Top Motel in Coralville, Iowa. This book can be found at the Johnson County Historical Society Museum and the Coralville Public Library.

Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.

Created January 2018

Johnson County Historical Society

Rex Brandstatter

City of Coralville

Michael Parker

Dolores Slade

Bill Ackerman

Jim Cannon

Lois Wiederrecht-Finke

Larry & Judy Smith

Marilyn Cermak

Coralville Public Library

The photographs in The Images of America: Coralville collection are shown with the permission of the private owners and of the Johnson County Historical Society, and are for educational use only.

TIFF versions of most photographs are available for researchers and students upon request.

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Johnson County, Iowa