7Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
St. Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Davenport.
1886 to 2021Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
75,258Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Davenport, Iowa.
Discover another side of Davenport, Iowa through yearbooks and annuals as well as school newspapers preserved in St. Ambrose University's digital archive. Its seven titles include material from 1886 to 2021. The collection also includes magazines or catalogs as well as college and university materials.
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Selected titles
Selected titles from St. Ambrose University include “Ambrose Scene” and “The Lens”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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Different views of the past
A magazine or catalog offers another perspective through the interests, subjects or offerings its publishers brought to their readers. Yearbooks and annuals bring together the people and activities their editors chose to remember, offering a view of life within a particular year.
Yearbooks and annuals record selected moments in the life of an institution or community, offering a way to explore how people represented their own time. If a name or activity catches your eye, look at the surrounding page and volume year. The details can raise a useful question while leaving room for other perspectives. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse seven titles and 75,258 digitized pages, with material from 1886 to 2021. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, St. Ambrose University shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Follow a family connection or a question about the community through the titles below and the history they preserve.
Ambrose Scene
5,690 pages from 1974 to 2021
Catalog
22,864 pages from 1886 to 1991
Newspaper
27,228 pages from 1931 to 2020
The Acorns and Oaks
2,394 pages from 1958 to 1974
The Ambrose Magazine
5,194 pages from 1984 to 1992
The Ambrosian
11,880 pages from 1923 to 1942
The Lens
8 pages in 1930
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Partner Story
Annual Reports, Financial and Tax Records
Saint Ambrose University Annual Catalog (1886-1956) Annual Catalog (1921-1991)
Partner Story
Booklets, Brochures, and Pamphlets
- The Buzz on Campus (1992-2020)
- The Ambrosian News (1931-1968)
- The Paper Sac (1968-1984)
- Ambrose Scene (1974-2021)
- The Ambrose Magazine (1984-1992)
Partner Story
Educational Institution Records
- Saint Ambrose University Summer Catalog (1936-1965)
- Summer Catalog (1959-1973)
- Freshman Catalog (1972-1972)
- Saint Ambrose University High School Catalog (1928-1929)
- Saint Ambrose University Yearbook (2003-2003)
About the Community
About The Saint Ambrose University
Saint Ambrose University, located in Davenport, Iowa, is a private, coeducational university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It was founded in 1882 by the Most Reverend John McMullen, the first bishop of Davenport, as a seminary and school of commerce for young men. The university has grown significantly over the years and now offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Known for its commitment to academic excellence and community service, Saint Ambrose University fosters an environment where students can engage in meaningful educational experiences and prepare for leadership roles in their professions and communities.
Partner Story
The History Of The Saint Ambrose University
Saint Ambrose University was established in 1882 and initially focused on providing education in the liberal arts and sciences, business, and seminary training. Over the decades, it expanded its academic offerings and facilities to accommodate a growing student population. The institution became coeducational in 1968, reflecting broader social changes and the increasing demand for higher education among women. The university has continued to evolve, emphasizing its core values of academic excellence, social justice, and service to others. Significant milestones in its history include the construction of new academic buildings, residence halls, and the establishment of various research centers and institutes.
About the Community
About The Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, located along the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa, is part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area, which includes Bettendorf, Iowa; and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois. Founded in 1836, Davenport has a rich history tied to its strategic location as a river port and rail hub. The city has a diverse cultural heritage, with influences from German, Irish, and other immigrant communities that settled in the area. Davenport is known for its vibrant arts scene, historic architecture, and numerous parks and recreational facilities. It is also home to several higher education institutions, including Saint Ambrose University and Palmer College of Chiropractic.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that Saint Ambrose University was originally named St. Ambrose Seminary and Commercial College when it was founded in 1882? The institution's first building, Ambrose Hall, is still in use today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, Davenport's unique Skybridge offers stunning views of the Mississippi River and connects downtown Davenport with the city's riverfront.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Follow an activity through the volume
The names and activities recorded in a yearbook can point toward school life in Davenport. Start with an entry in the yearbooks and annuals shared by St. Ambrose University, note its year and page, and compare captions or nearby references where available. Keep the volume’s perspective visible and use another source to test a wider family or community connection. If an activity or organization is listed, check its captions and nearby references. A second mention can help frame a question without establishing a person's full experience.
A missing match may reflect wording, dates, indexing, or the way a source is described rather than the absence of a historical record. Try a related term or period where available, and keep a note of unsuccessful searches so the limits of the search remain visible. Check the available newspaper titles and dates when a search comes up empty; record the terms you tried before drawing a conclusion.
Keep the title, date, page, or item reference with each useful finding. Separate the words in a historical account from your interpretation, and note conflicting perspectives rather than choosing one too quickly. These notes help connect a local story to its evidence and show what remains uncertain.
The college and university materials shared by St. Ambrose University offer another research path. These sources can connect a name or activity with the way an institution represented its own time. Keep the issuing institution, date and kind of item with a finding where supplied, and distinguish a publication’s account from the wider experience of its community.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of St. Ambrose University, 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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