The University of Iowa in the Twentieth Century: An Institutional History (Lecture Notes in Economics and)

The well-illustrated volume captures the history of this school, with eight chapters. Using the extensive university archive of personal correspondence and reminiscences, it captures the vigor and color of the people and the school. In order to write this exhaustive history, Persons focused his research on the extensive university archive of personal correspondence and reminiscences. The result is a study rich in personality, character, and insight, complete with political and economic drama. The definitive analytical history of the school, this volume captures the vigor and color of the people it chronicles. Organized by president, this history follows the school's struggle to establish a major public university in an agricultural state. Persons shows how George MacLean introduced the institutional forms of the modern university and oriented it toward the major state university of the upper Midwest. Walter Jessup was successful in strengthening the faculty and laying the foundations of the modern physical plant. Howard Bowne's attempt to revivify the school was cut short by the campus uprisings of 1968 to 1970. Since no part of the university has undergone more striking changes than the College of Medicine, Persons has devoted a chapter to the efforts to find an effective organizational pattern for that college. And, in the area of undergraduate education, he outlines the struggle to define and implement a successful general education program. More than just a recounting of past issues and accomplishments, The University of Iowa in the Twentieth Century also serves to identify a pattern of historical development which will provide a context in which the present issues facing the school can be most fruitfully addressed. This book should be read by everyone interested in the development of the university, educators, higher education administrators, and all those captivated by Iowa history. An historical account of the creation and development of the University of Iowa is presented. Organized by presidental administration, this institutional history concentrates on the period when the university established its place among the major U.S. universities, and follows the school's struggle to establish (through three distinct stages) a major public university in an agricultural state. Among the historical events presented are: (1) how George MacLean introduced the institutional forms of the modern university and oriented the school toward the major state universities of the upper Midwest; (2) how Walter Jessup succeeded in strengthening the faculty and laying the foundations of the modern physical plant; and (3) how Howard Bowen's attempt to revivify the school was cut short by the campus uprising of 1968 to 1970. A chapter is devoted entirely to the efforts to find an effective organizational pattern for the university's College of Medicine, the one area of the university that has undergone the most striking changes over time. Finally, in the area of undergraduate education, the study outlines the struggle to define and implement a successful general education program. Contains an index and 651 references. (GLR) By Stow Persons. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 299-334) And Index.