15Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Buena Vista University Library
Storm Lake, Iowa
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Storm Lake.
1892 to 2019Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
39,712Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Storm Lake, Iowa.
Discover another side of Storm Lake, Iowa through local history resources preserved in the Buena Vista University Library's digital archive. Its fifteen titles include material from 1892 to 2019.
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Selected titles
In the collection shared by Buena Vista University Library, you will find “Alternative Papers” and “View”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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Ways to explore
A story about Storm Lake may take shape across several sources, with each contributing a different detail.
A community's history is made up of many lives and perspectives. Historical materials offer a way to explore those connections without reducing the past to a single story. A family story, a classroom project or curiosity about a familiar place can lead to a closer look at the community and the lives of earlier generations. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse fifteen titles and 39,712 digitized pages, with material from 1892 to 2019. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Buena Vista University Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
If you are tracing a family connection or exploring local history, the titles below offer a place to begin and a thread to follow.
Alternative Papers
12 pages in 1987
Beaver Report
224 pages from 1955 to 1958
Buena Vista Tack
6,246 pages from 1916 to 2012
Bulletin
42 pages from 1944 to 1964
BV Briefs
1,024 pages from 1999 to 2015
BV Today
5,918 pages from 1973 to 2019
College World
144 pages from 1892 to 1893
College Yell
40 pages in 1895
Inquisitor
6 pages in 1988
Journal Herald
Page count not currently available dates not yet available
Tack
25,240 pages from 1895 to 2017
Tackless
16 pages in 1997
Tacky
96 pages from 2000 to 2003
Tick
10 pages in 2000
View
694 pages from 1965 to 1972
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Local History
Local History Resources
- Tack (1895-2017)
- Buena Vista Tack (1916-2012)
- BV Today (1973-2019)
- BV Briefs (1999-2015)
- View (1965-1972)
- Beaver Report (1955-1958)
- College World (1892-1893)
- Tacky (2000-2003)
- Bulletin (1944-1964)
- College Yell (1895-1895)
- Tackless (1997-1997)
- Alternative Papers (1987-1987)
- Tick (2000-2000)
- Inquisitor (1988-1988)
About the Community
About The Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University, founded by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1891, has a long history of fostering academic excellence and community engagement. The university, initially known as Buena Vista College, has grown significantly since its inception. It was first accredited in 1952, and in 1995, the institution transitioned from a college to a university, expanding its graduate programs and facilities. The campus, located in Storm Lake, Iowa, has grown from four buildings to nearly two dozen, covering several blocks along the picturesque shores of Storm Lake. The original building, “Old Main,” opened in 1892 and served as the primary campus structure until it was destroyed by fire in 1956. The subsequent expansion included residence halls, a science building, a physical education complex, a library, and more.
Partner Story
The History Of The Buena Vista University
In 1980, Buena Vista University entered a new era with an $18 million anonymous gift, later revealed to be from Harold Walter Siebens. This gift significantly boosted the university's endowment, leading to the construction of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum. This facility has since undergone extensive renovations, enhancing its student-focused spaces. The university has continuously adapted to meet the needs of its students and community. In the mid-1970s, it opened its first satellite location for non-traditional students, eventually expanding to numerous locations across Iowa and an online program. In 2000, BVU became the nation’s first “wireless community,” providing laptops to all full-time students and faculty with campus-wide wireless connectivity. Over the years, BVU has developed several distinctive programs, such as the William W. Siebens American Heritage Lecture Series and the Institute for Agriculture. The campus has also seen the addition of state-of-the-art facilities, including the Library and Information Technology Center, the Lamberti Recreation Center, and the Estelle Siebens Science Center.
About the Community
About Storm Lake, Iowa
Storm Lake, Iowa, is a vibrant community known for its picturesque landscapes and strong sense of community. Located in northwest Iowa, Storm Lake offers a blend of cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities. The town is home to Buena Vista University, contributing to the area's dynamic atmosphere and fostering a rich educational environment.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that Buena Vista University became the nation’s first “wireless community” in 2000? This innovative step provided laptops to all full-time students and faculty, allowing them to connect to the campus-wide wireless network and enhancing the university's commitment to technological advancement and accessibility.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Compare sources without forcing agreement
If a story from Storm Lake has reached you through family or community memory, note what is known and what remains uncertain. Use the collection details shared by the Buena Vista University Library to look for a source that can add context or test a detail. When another source is available, compare its dates, names, and context with the first. Preserve differences until the evidence explains them.
Compare a promising result with the title information and date context available for it. If the details do not fit your question, keep it as a possible lead and look for another account or source where available rather than forcing a connection.
Capture the title, date, and page or item location for a detail you may want to revisit. Label your interpretation as your reading, not the source's own words. Keep enough context with the note that another reader can retrace it.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Buena Vista University Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
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It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
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