Keepers of the Past
QC PastPort would not be possible without the generous support of our partners. They are people, groups, businesses and institutions researching, documenting, archiving, celebrating and preserving our collective history. More than that, they generously share all this history with the public. We encourage you to get to each of know them, visit their buildings and support their work.
The Butterworth Center and Deere Wiman House are located in the Overlook District of Moline, Illinois. Both historic homes once belonged to John Deere’s descendants, but are now operated by the William Butterworth Foundation. They serve as year-round sites for quality educational and cultural events, meeting space for not-for-profit organizations, and tours for local, national, and international visitors. To learn more, click here.
The German American Heritage Center and Museum located in Davenport, Iowa is dedicated to sharing fun and educational experiences with you and your entire family. Founded in 1994 as a private not-for-profit organization, they seek to preserve the heritage of our German speaking ancestors for present and future generations and to enrich our knowledge of the German Immigrant experience. To learn more, click here.
The Moline Preservation Society was founded in 1986 by a group working to prevent the demolition of the 1858 Huntoon House. Although the house was ultimately demolished, a strong MPS emerged as a result. MPS advocates for the restoration of historic properties in the city of Moline as both an economic and cultural investment in the future. To learn more, click here.
The Putnam Museum and Science Center is a place where people connect with history and ideas by stations that make STEM concepts fun for all ages. The four exhibit halls (Black Earth/Big River, Hall of Mammals, River, Prairie, People and Egyptian Gallery) plus changing travel exhibits ensure there is always something to discover at the Putnam. To learn more, click here.
The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center at the Main Davenport Library has extensive local history and family history resources available for public viewing. The materials include books, maps, manuscripts, videos, oral history tapes and a photographic collection of more than 50,000 local images. The materials relate to Davenport and Scott County history. To learn more, click here.
The Rock Island Arsenal Museum on Arsenal Island first opened to the public on July 4, 1905. The primary mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of Rock Island Arsenal and Arsenal Island. By focusing on “People, Processes, and Products,” the exhibits tell the story of the people involved in the island’s history, the manufacturing process, and the military equipment that was produced. Included on the website is an interesting blog. To learn more, click here.
On August 9th, 1905, the Rock Island County Historical Society was organized when local citizens saw the need to “study and learn, to collect and preserve, and to disseminate the history of Rock Island County.” It was not until 1962 that the organization found a permanent home in the Burton Peek House in Moline, Illinois. In 1992 a research library was added that today contains 400 archival collections, 10,000 photographs, 6,000 book, 40,000 vertical files, and 9 different newspapers in print. To learn more, click here.
The Rock Island Preservation Society was founded in 1981 to support historic preservation in the community through education, research, and nominating buildings for local landmark status. To that end, establishing a local Preservation Ordinance was one the earliest projects. Since then, annual preservation awards, neighborhood walking tours, a quarterly newsletter, old house workshops, and historical programming have kept historic preservation alive and well in Rock Island. To learn more, click here.
The Rock Island Public Library first opened to the public on November 25, 1872, in a rental location in downtown Rock Island as a private library. After the 1872 Library Act in the State of Illinois, it became the first public library in the state. The current downtown building held its grand opening on December 15, 1903. Their first library director, Ellen Gale retired in 1937 after 65 years of service. The Illinois Room and the Local History Collection are good places to start your local research. To learn more, click here.
The Saint Ambrose University Library has Archives and Special Collections located on the third floor. The mission of both is to make accessible historically significant and unique materials which reflect the University’s origins, development and the achievements of faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Their digital collection is available online here.
Diane Oestreich, a Rock Island resident, has been a longtime advocate for historic preservation. As a historian she is adept at finding information about the people and events that bring a building to life. Check out her online Postcards from Home series.
Charles Pearson, President and CEO of Pearson Consulting, a company that specializes in development, planning and implementation of historic resources to revitalize dis-invested communities. He is also the driving force behind the Iowa African American Heritage Trail. Follow the African American Heritage Trail on Facebook.
Max Roach is the Headmaster at Rivermont Collegiate. He appreciates the long history of the Joseph and Elizabeth Bettendorf mansion that the school purchased in 1973. He has not only facts to share, but also the fun stories that bring a property to life.
Kay Runge is a retired library director. But retired may not be an accurate choice of words. She continues as a library consultant and a sharer of knowledge about Davenport and its history. kkrunge@libraryconsulting.org