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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Roy R. Estle Memorial Library

Dallas Center, Iowa

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

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Explore publications and collections from the past.

2022Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

288Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Dallas Center, Iowa.

Explore the past of Dallas Center, Iowa through scrapbooks, clippings, and articles in the Roy R. Estle Memorial Library's digital archive. The archive includes Dallas Center Scrapbook, with material from 2022.

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

    Roy R. Estle Memorial Library shares “Dallas Center Scrapbook”.

  • 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.

Historical materials can connect a name or a familiar place with the experiences of earlier generations, revealing how personal stories fit within a community's past. Whether you are tracing a family connection, exploring a local event or sharing history with a class, there is more to discover than names and dates alone. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.

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Titles in this collection

Explore Dallas Center Scrapbook through 288 digitized pages, with material from 2022. This collection is shared through Roy R. Estle Memorial Library's partnership with Advantage Archives.

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

Dallas Center Scrapbook

288 pages in 2022

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Partner Story

Scrapbooks

Dallas Center Scrapbook (2022)

About the Library

About The Roy R. Estle Memorial Library

The Roy R. Estle Memorial Library was dedicated on November 6, 1976, as a generous gift from the late Minnie Estle in memory of her son, Roy. After he died in 1969, Minnie honored him and his love of reading with a bequest in her will to donate the funds needed to build the library. In 2001, thanks to a wonderful donation from the Labor family, along with contributions from other area residents and businesses, an addition was built and dedicated as the Doris Labor Program Room. The library continues to serve as a vital community resource, offering a wide range of materials, programs, and services to the residents of Dallas Center and surrounding areas.

Roy R. Estle Memorial Library photo 1

Library History

The History Of The Roy R. Estle Memorial Library

The Roy R. Estle Memorial Library's origins trace back to the generosity of Minnie Estle, who dedicated the library to honor her son, Roy, after he died in 1969. The library opened its doors on November 6, 1976, providing the community with a dedicated space for reading and learning. In 2001, the library expanded with the addition of the Doris Labor Program Room, made possible by a significant donation from the Labor family and other community contributions. This expansion allowed the library to enhance its offerings and accommodate a growing number of patrons and activities.

About the Community

About The City of Dallas Center

Dallas Center, Iowa, is a small town with a strong sense of community and a rich history. Located in Dallas County, the town is known for its welcoming atmosphere and active community life. The Roy R. Estle Memorial Library plays a crucial role in Dallas Center, providing residents with access to a wealth of local historical resources, educational programs, and community events. The library's commitment to serving the community reflects the values and spirit of Dallas Center.

Roy R. Estle Memorial Library photo 2

Local History

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Roy R. Estle Memorial Library was a gift from Minnie Estle, who dedicated it in memory of her son, Roy, in 1976? Additionally, the library's Doris Labor Program Room added in 2001 was made possible by a generous donation from the Labor family and other community members. The Library also has a support cat on staff, named Cheese!

Roy R. Estle Memorial Library photo 3

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Trace the source behind a clipping

A question about Dallas Center may lead you to scrapbooks, clippings, and articles in the collection shared by the Roy R. Estle Memorial Library. Start with the title, date, and page or item reference where shown, then follow one detail that fits your search. The material type offers a direction; the source’s own wording and context determine what it can support. Keep a clipping’s original publication, date, page, and any compiler’s note separate when those details are present. A scrapbook or selected article preserves a chosen set of material, not the full coverage of an event or community.

Look for an original issue or independent account where available, and compare the wording and date. Record missing source details as gaps instead of guessing who collected or published an item.

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

Roy R. Estle Memorial Library photo 4

Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Roy R. Estle Memorial 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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