Collection Dates: 1916 -- 1948
(Bulk Dates: 1925 -- 1945)
59 items
This document describes a collection of materials held
by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu
Posted to Internet: January 2003
Acquisition Note: The papers of Dante Melville Pierce were obtained for
the University of Iowa Libraries as a result of the interests, efforts, and
correspondence initiated by George M. Sheets, 1958 -- 1959. The papers were
a gift of Richard S. Pierce of Des Moines, Iowa.
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does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this
collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections
Department.
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Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.
Chronological biography of Dante Melville Pierce
1880 -- Born in Bedford, Iowa, August 29, 1880, the son of James Melville and Kate L. (Southard) Pierce
189? -- AttendedIowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Artsn.d. -- Enlisted in Company I, Fifth Missouri Regiment, United States Army, during the Spanish American War (1898)
n.d. -- Worked as livestock fieldman for The Iowa Homestead in Iowa and Illinois1906 - married Florence Prather Pierce
1912 -- His son, Richard S. Pierce, was born in Springfield, Illinois
1920 -- Succeeded his father, James M. Pierce, as publisher of The Iowa Homestead, at his father's death, November 1, 19201929 -- Sold The Iowa Homestead to the Wallace Publishing Company. The consolidated journal became the Wallace's Farmer and Iowa Homestead; divorced Florence Prather Pierce
1932 -- Repurchased the Wallace's Farmer and Iowa Homestead after the 1930 -- 1932 depression had ruined the Wallace interest. Henry Agard Wallace remained its editor until 1933.
1933 -- Second wife, Laura Rawson Coffee died; married Dr. Grace O. Doane, September 10, 1936, his third marriage
1950 -- His son, Richard S. Pierce, became associate publisher of Wallace's Farmer and Iowa Homestead1955 -- Died at his Des Moines home, July 27, 1955, at the age of 74
The strength of the collection lies in its introductory visualization of the national importance of the Iowa agricultural press and the large extent to which the nation's lawmakers rely on the local Iowa agricultural publisher to provide them with a clear insight into the local food growers' and producers' problems. The significant weakness of the collection lies in the smallness of its size, i.e. fifty-nine items.
Related materials
"Dante Pierce Is Dead," New York Times, July 29, 1955, page 17, column 5.
Dodge, Edward N. (ed.). "Dante M. Pierce," in Business Men of Iowa, 585. Des Moines: Midwest Publications, Inc., 1953.
Murphy, Donald R. "Dante Melville Pierce, 1880-1955," Wallace's Farmer and Iowa Homestead, LXXX, no. 15 (August 6, 1955), 12.
Smith, C.R.F. "The Iowa Homestead,"
The Palimpsest, XI, no. 6 (June 1930), 229 -- 241.
RLFingerson
Inventory
FOLDER
1
