25Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Winnesheik County Historical Society
Decorah, Iowa
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Decorah.
1857 to 2021Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
663,696Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Decorah, Iowa.
Get to know Decorah, Iowa in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Winnesheik County Historical Society's digital archive. Its twenty-five titles include material from 1857 to 2021.
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Selected titles
Examples from Winnesheik County Historical Society’s collection include “Bee and Decorah Journal” as well as “Ventilator”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
An earlier generation comes into view through the stories its newspapers chose to report, placing familiar names and events within the concerns of their time.
Historical newspapers can connect a family name with the events and everyday concerns of an earlier time, offering more than a date or a name on its own. Bring a family connection, a question about a familiar place or an interest in local history, and see where the sources lead. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse twenty-five titles and 663,696 digitized pages, with material from 1857 to 2021. A partnership between Winnesheik County Historical Society and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Start with a detail you already know, then browse the titles below for another perspective on the people and places connected with this collection.
Bee and Decorah Journal
6 pages in 1876
Calmar Courier
95,858 pages from 1894 to 2016
Daily Republican
64 pages from 1883 to 1886
Decorah Bee
480 pages from 1875 to 1878
Decorah Driftless Journal
2,606 pages in 2021
Decorah Gazette
8 pages in 1859
Decorah Journal
201,308 pages from 1893 to 2016
Decorah Journal and Press
24 pages from 1883 to 1885
Decorah Public Opinion
177,092 pages from 1895 to 2021
Decorah Public Opinion and Decorah Republican
17,004 pages from 1929 to 1942
Decorah Public Opinion And The Decorah Journal
92 pages in 1938
Decorah Radical
8 pages in 1880
Decorah Republic
1,932 pages from 1860 to 1866
Decorah Republican
44,552 pages from 1866 to 1928
Decorah Weekly Journal
24 pages from 1857 to 1858
Driftless Journal
2,872 pages from 2019 to 2020
Driftless Journal And Decorah Public Opinion
Page count not currently available dates not yet available
Nordic Fest
62 pages in 1985
Ossian Bee
1,582 pages from 1994 to 1995
Public Cresco Opinion
614 pages in 1895
Saturday Evening Journal
68 pages in 1876
The Decorah Journal
5,564 pages from 2017 to 2019
The Decorah Journal And Press
12 pages in 1885
The Ossian Bee
111,856 pages from 1885 to 2021
Ventilator
8 pages in 1876
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About the Society
About The Winneshiek County Historical Society at Luther College
The Winneshiek County Historical Society (WCHS), established in 1963 with Mrs. Carrie Lee as the first president, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Winneshiek County. The society operates out of the "old" county jail building, which serves as a repository for historical donations. The office is open to the public from 10am to 3pm, Monday through Friday, with archives accessible by appointment. WCHS is entirely run by volunteers who receive, catalog, and archive donated items, ensuring that the rich history of Winneshiek County is preserved for future generations.
Institution History
The History Of The Winneshiek County Historical Society at Luther College
WCHS was founded in 1963 with the mission to identify and mark historical sites throughout the county. Among the first projects were the installation of historical markers at eight sites, including Locust School, Saetre Log School, Frankville School, Hesper Friends Church, and the site of the first County Fair. Over the past 50+ years, WCHS has maintained these markers and continued to preserve the county's history through various initiatives. The society archives historical donations in the "old" county jail building and is open to the public by appointment. The society's collaboration with Luther College has strengthened its mission, providing a broader platform for historical preservation and educational outreach. Luther College, founded by the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1857, has a rich history intertwined with that of Winneshiek County. The college's dedication to the liberal arts and its robust academic programs, including study abroad opportunities and professional areas like nursing and social work, have enriched the cultural and intellectual landscape of Decorah and the surrounding region.
About the Community
About Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, located in Winneshiek County, Iowa, is a town rich in history and cultural heritage. Founded in the mid-19th century, Decorah has grown into a vibrant community known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, and strong Norwegian heritage. The town is home to Luther College, a renowned liberal arts institution, and hosts annual events like the Nordic Fest, celebrating its Scandinavian roots. Decorah’s commitment to preserving its history is evident in the extensive archives housed at the Winneshiek County Historical Society, providing valuable resources for researchers and history enthusiasts.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Check a text match against the page
Start with something you would like to understand about the past of Decorah. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Winnesheik County Historical Society to follow that question into the historical record. 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. If a search result looks incomplete or misspelled, inspect the scanned page when available. Record the issue date and page, then distinguish the printed wording from search text before following the story to another mention.
If a text match looks incomplete, compare it with the scanned newspaper page when available. Check whether wording or names differ, then record the page's printed wording with the issue date and page. Keep the search result distinct from what the page itself shows.
As you connect materials, note where each detail came from and what it can support. Record the title, date, and page or item reference where available. Keep names and relationships tentative until the evidence is strong enough to connect them, and mark which words come from the record and which are your interpretation.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Winnesheik County Historical Society, 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.
May 7, 2025
Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
Preserving documents on microfilm has been a popular method of storage for many years, and it still holds many benefits today. Here…
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May 7, 2025
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly…
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April 9, 2025
Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
Even the most esteemed police forces in the county encounter perplexing cold case files. These unsolved mysteries often leave investigators and genealogists…
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April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. This week in history, there is absolutely nothing to talk about… April Fools! April…
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March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. It has officially been a year since I started writing This Week in History,…
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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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