RS 2/6

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Special Collections Department

403 Parks Library

Ames, IA 50011-2140
515 294-6672
http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/spcl.html

RS 2/6

Albert Boynton Storms (1860-1933)

Papers, 1902-1983, n.d.

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Descriptive summary

creator: Storms, Albert Boynton (1860-1933)

title: Papers
dates: 1902-1983, n.d.
extent: 1.68 linear feet (4 document boxes)
collection
number: RS 2/6
repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State
University.

Administrative information
access: Open for research
publication
rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred Albert Boynton Storms Papers, RS 2/6, University Archives, Special
citation: Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Biographical note

Albert Boynton Storms was born on April 1, 1860 in Lima Center, Michigan. He
received an A.B. (1884) and an M.A. (1893) from the University of Michigan, a Ph.D. in
Divinity (1903) from Lawrence University, and a Ph.D. in law (1905) from Drake
University. Storms became a Methodist minister in 1884 and held pastorates in
Detroit, Michigan and Madison, Wisconsin before coming to Des Moines in 1900 to be
the pastor of the First Methodist Church.

In 1903, A.B. Storms was appointed as the sixth president of Iowa State College
(University). During his tenure, Iowa State began the Agricultural Extension Service,
acquired hundreds of acres of land, developed a plan for campus landscaping and
modernization of utilities, and erected eighteen new buildings. Iowa State also
organized academic departments under the direction of deans and increased the
number and type of courses and degrees offered. In addition, the college lifted the ban
on fraternities and sororities as well as loosened other policies regarding the students’
social activities. It was also during this time that the State of Iowa established the
State Board of Education. Storms’ strong opposition to the newly created board led to
his resignation from Iowa State in 1910.

After leaving Iowa State College (University), Storms returned to the ministry. He
became a pastor in Indianapolis and in 1915 was appointed superintendent of the
Indianapolis District of the Methodist Church. In 1918, he became president of
Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. He remained there until his death on July 1,
1933.

Collection description

The collection contains reports, addresses, publications, correspondence, biographical

information, subject files, information regarding Storms’ inauguration, and family
information. The collection is comprised of seven records series.

Records Series 2/6/0/2: Reports, 1903-1909,consists of reports to Storms from the

Iowa State College (University) department heads and reports to the Board of Trustees
from Storms.

Records Series 2/6/1: Addresses and Publications, 1902-1910, contains the

speeches and writings of A.B. Storms. Subjects covered include modern chivalry, moral
uses of history, and civic enthusiasm.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Records Series 2/6/2: Biographical Material, 1903-1933, includes newsclippings,

obituaries, memorials, and information regarding Storm’s resignation from Iowa State.

Records Series 2/6/3: Correspondence, 1903-1910, contains letters to and from

members of the Board of Trustees for the State of Iowa and the faculty, staff, and
students of Iowa State College (University) regarding various topics, including finances,
faculty appointments, and the campus. There is also correspondence between Storms
and leaders of other institutions throughout the country.

Records Series 2/6/4: Subject Files, 1904-1910, consist of newsclippings, ephemera,

and correspondence relating to a variety of issues, which include the Board of Control,
Iowa State College’s (University), and the Higgins theft case that involved a rash of
thefts from campus buildings during 1908 and Iowa State’s association with Pinkerton
Detectives to solve the case.

Records Series 2/6/9: Inauguration Files, 1904, include the invitation, lists of guests,
correspondence, and Storms’ inaugural address, “Outlook”.

Records Series 2/6/10: Family History, 1916-1983, contains information regarding

two of his daughters, Lillian Storms Coover and Laura Storms Knapp.

Organization

Collection is arranged according to predetermined records series, then either

chronologically or alphabetically.

Container List

Box Folder Title Dates

1 1-2 Reports 1903
1 3-5 Reports 1904
2 1-3 Reports 1905
2 4-5 Reports 1906
2 6 Reports 1907
2 7 Reports 1908
2 8 Reports 1909

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Box Folder Title Dates

2 9 Reports n.d
3 1 Addresses and publications 1902-1910,
n.d
3 2 Biographical materials 1903-1933,
n.d.
3 3 Biographical materials, resignation from Iowa State 1910
College (University)
3 4 Correspondence 1903
3 5 Correspondence 1904
3 6 Correspondence 1905-1906
3 7 Correspondence 1907
3 8 Correspondence 1908
3 9-10 Correspondence 1909
3 11 Correspondence 1910
3 12 Correspondence n.d.
3 13 Correspondence, memorandum to the faculty 1906-1910
4 1 Subject files, African American students 1910
4 2 Subject files, Board of Control 1906-1910
4 3 Subject files, Caldwell, Grace 1907
4 4 Subject files, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement 1906-1910
of Teaching
4 5 Subject files, conservation 1908-1909
4 6 Subject files, Davis Bill 1907-1909
4 7 Subject files, Dean of Women 1908
4 8 Subject files, Department of Public Health 1910
4 9 Subject files, faculty expenses 1908-1909
4 10 Subject files, fraternities and sororities 1907, 1909-
1910
4 11 Subject files, George Washington University 1908-1910,
n.d.
4 12 Subject files, Higgins theft case 1908-1909

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Box Folder Title Dates

4 13 Subject files, Iowa State College (University) 1904-1909,
n.d.
4 14 Subject files, Legislative action n.d.
4 15 Subject files, Library 1905, 1908-
1909
4 16 Subject files, Louden, William 1908
4 17 Subject files, National Education Association 1909
4 18 Subject files, offices hours of department heads n.d.
4 19 Subject files, Olmstead Brothers 1906, 1909
4 20 Subject files, Proctor 1909
4 21 Subject files, Veterinary Medicine College 1908
4 22 Subject files, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) 1908-1910
4 23 Inauguration, address, “Outlook” 1904
4 24 Inauguration, correspondence 1904-1905
4 25 Inauguration, invitation 1904
4 26 Inauguration, invitation list 1904
4 27 Family history, Knapp, Laura Storms (daughter) 1916-1983
4 28 Family history, Storms, Lillian (daughter) 1941

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY