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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Drake Community Library

Grinnell, Iowa

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

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6Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1870 to 1932Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

93,618Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Grinnell, Iowa.

Discover another side of Grinnell, Iowa through newspapers preserved in the Drake Community Library's digital archive. Its six titles include material from 1870 to 1932.

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

    Drake Community Library shares titles including “Poweshiek County Herald” and “The Signal”.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • A closer look

    Newspaper pages connect individual accounts with a wider story, preserving how events were reported and presented to the readers of the day.

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

Browse six titles and 93,618 digitized pages, with material from 1870 to 1932. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Drake Community Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

A familiar name or place can be the beginning of a story. Explore the titles below to see where that connection leads.

Poweshiek County Herald

604 pages from 1870 to 1871

The Grinnell Herald

65,620 pages from 1871 to 1931

The Grinnell Register

24,374 pages from 1911 to 1932

The Malcom Bulletin

236 pages in 1871

The Montezuma Standard

216 pages from 1871 to 1872

The Signal

2,568 pages from 1882 to 1886

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About the Library

About The Drake Community Library

The Drake Community Library, located in Grinnell, Iowa, stands as a beacon of learning and community engagement. Designed by the renowned architectural firm Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle (MS&R) from Minneapolis, the library opened its doors in November 2009. The 31,500-square-foot facility is a testament to sustainable design, proudly holding a LEED Gold Certification. Key features of the building include a geothermal heating and cooling system, clerestory windows for ample natural light, LED lighting, and flooring and furniture crafted from recycled materials. Additionally, the library is equipped with water-saving fixtures and permeable pavers, and is surrounded by prairie and native landscaping, reflecting a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.

Drake Community Library photo 1

Library History

The History Of The Drake Community Library

Drake Community Library has its roots deeply embedded in the Grinnell community, serving as a vital educational resource for decades. The modern facility, opened in 2009, replaced an older building that had long served the community’s needs. The library has continuously evolved to meet the changing demands of its patrons, incorporating advanced technology and a diverse collection of resources. The partnership with Advantage Archives has further expanded its role as a guardian of local history, ensuring that the community’s past is preserved and accessible.

About the Community

About The Grinnell, Iowa

Grinnell, Iowa, is a city with a rich history and a vibrant community. Founded in 1854, the city has grown into a hub of education and culture, home to Grinnell College, one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. The city’s historical significance is reflected in its well-preserved architecture and the strong sense of community among its residents. Grinnell is known for its commitment to sustainability and innovation, values that are evident in the design and operation of the Drake Community Library.

Drake Community Library photo 2

Local History

Did You Know?

• The Drake Community Library’s geothermal system significantly reduces its carbon footprint, making it one of the greenest buildings in the area. • Grinnell, Iowa, was named after Josiah Bushnell Grinnell, an abolitionist and congressman, who was famously advised by Horace Greeley to “Go West, young man.” • The city of Grinnell is home to the historic Grinnell Herald, one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in Iowa, now available in digital form through the library’s archives.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Follow a story beyond the first mention

The history of Grinnell includes individual lives as well as events remembered by the wider community. In the digital archive shared by the Drake Community 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 Drake Community 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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