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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Council Bluffs Public Library

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Council Bluffs.

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1Title

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1883 to 1897Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

34,674Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Discover another side of Council Bluffs, Iowa through newspapers preserved in the Council Bluffs Public Library's digital archive. The archive includes The Globe, with material from 1883 to 1897.

You can open the archive using the link below.
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  • Selected title

    Council Bluffs Public Library shares “The Globe”.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • Ways to explore

    Begin with a question of your own. Keep any date or description shown with your notes so you can return to the material.

The reporting of earlier years offers a way to explore how events were understood as they happened and how local experiences became part of the historical record. 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

Explore The Globe through 34,674 digitized pages, with material from 1883 to 1897. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Council Bluffs Public Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

A family name, place or date can help you decide where to begin.

The Globe

34,674 pages from 1883 to 1897

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About the Archive

About the Council Bluffs Public Library’s Digital Archives

The Council Bluffs Public Library offers free and open access to its digitized collection of historical newspapers and documents, providing an invaluable educational resource for researchers, genealogists, and community members interested in exploring Council Bluffs' collective history. In partnership with Advantage Archives , the library has digitized a significant number of pages spanning from the mid-19th century to the present. This initiative underscores a shared responsibility to preserve and make accessible the firsthand accounts and perspectives that document history as it happened.

Council Bluffs Public Library photo 1

About the Library

About the Council Bluffs Public Library

Located at 400 Willow Avenue in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the Council Bluffs Public Library is dedicated to serving the informational and educational needs of the community. Established in 1866, the library has evolved to become a central hub for learning, research, and community engagement. The library provides a welcoming space for reading, research, and events, reflecting its commitment to greater access to historical content. Through partnerships and outreach, the library continues to engage the community in preserving and discovering local history.

Council Bluffs Public Library photo 2

Library History

The History of the Council Bluffs Public Library

The Council Bluffs Public Library began as a subscription library in 1866 and transitioned to a free public library in 1882. In 1905, with funding from the Carnegie Foundation, a new Beaux-Arts-style library building was constructed. This building now houses the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. In 1998, the library moved to its current location on Willow Avenue, offering modern facilities and expanded services to the community. Learn more about the library's history .

About the Community

About Council Bluffs, Iowa

Council Bluffs, located in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, is a city rich in history and cultural heritage. Situated on the east bank of the Missouri River, it serves as a gateway to the American West. The city has a population of approximately 62,000 residents and is known for its historic sites, including the General Dodge House and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Learn more about Council Bluffs .

Local History

Did You Know?

The Council Bluffs Public Library's Special Collections include a wealth of resources for genealogists and historians, such as:

  • City directories dating back to 1866
  • Local yearbooks from various schools
  • Extensive photograph and newspaper archives
  • Historic maps and documents

These resources provide a comprehensive view of the city's development and are invaluable for anyone researching the area's past. Explore the Special Collections .

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Follow a story beyond the first mention

The history of Council Bluffs includes individual lives as well as events remembered by the wider community. In the digital archive shared by the Council Bluffs Public Library, begin with a name, place or date connected with the story you want to explore. When using historical newspapers, try alternate spellings and nearby dates, then read the surrounding page to place a local story in its time. Compare later reporting or another available title to explore different perspectives rather than treating one account as the whole story.

When a promising newspaper lead runs out, check the dates and titles represented before trying another name, place, or nearby issue. Keep unsuccessful searches with useful findings; gaps in coverage can limit what a search reveals. Use the dates and references to shape your next question, not as proof a missing result never existed.

As you piece together a story from the past, note where each detail came from and why it matters. Include the title, date, and page or item reference. Mark uncertain identifications and unanswered questions so a promising connection does not become an unsupported fact.

Review collection titles

Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Council Bluffs Public 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
Read All About It

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.

Newest published articles

March 18, 2025

It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?

We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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