Tama County Historical Society & Genealogical Library

06/01/2026

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of patriotic music, storytelling, dance, and community celebration on Sunday, June 14 from 2–4 PM at the Tama County Courthouse lawn & bandstand. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a family-friendly event honoring our nation’s history, flag, and spirit—complete with performances by local talent, community singing, and special appearances inspired by America’s founding story.

🎶 Patriotic music by the Community Band, group singalongs & more
🎨 Kid-friendly activities, coloring contest & prizes
🍦 Free cake & ice cream following the program

🎥 Bonus! Catch the documentary “After Ike” at 1 PM at the Wieting Theater before the celebration.
☔ In case of rain, the event moves to the Wieting Theater. Follow the Tama County Economic Development page for updates!

05/31/2026

Just a reminder about tomorrow morning’s opportunity to see this (June1, 2026)! And it sounds like The Pump in Tama has a food special lined up as well as someone else with a coffee food truck set up. I know from traveling and seeing some of these beautiful trains it is quite the experience so please find the time for this opportunity.

05/28/2026

Calling all photographers! Youth and adults are invited to showcase their creativity and capture the beauty, meaning, and inspiration of flags flying across our county! Submit up to two original photos to Jake Buchanan, Tama County Economic Development Director at [email protected]. Please include your name, the location where the photo was taken, and your contact information with your submission. Tama County Board of Supervisors will select inspiring entries to be displayed in the Tama County Annex Building. Don’t miss the chance to have your photography featured and celebrate community pride through your lens! Deadline to submit is June 12.

05/15/2026

Currently I am working on this year’s self-guided cemetery tour which will be in Woodlawn in Toledo, Iowa and found this picture from the Tama County Historical Society’s Museum & Library archives of a group of Toledo women. The back of the picture that it was at “Chehalis”, Jennie Safley’s home in the SW corner of Section 28. This home was located in the NE area of the intersection of what is now O Avenue and 210th Street south of Traer, Iowa.
It was a house party that took place Oct. 12-15, 1908 and includes the names of the women who were all friends from Toledo where John G. & Jennie Safley used to live. We are grateful that we have a picture of these women. The names are in the comments below.
There is a wonderful article about that party in The Toledo Chronicle, 22 Oct 1908, page 5, columns 4-5. You can find it at this link:
https://tamacounty.historyarchives.online/viewer?k=%22safely%22&i=f&by=1908&bdd=1900&d=10121908-10241908&m=between&ord=k1&fn=toledo_chronicle_usa_iowa_toledo_19081022_english_5&df=1&dt=10&cid=2711
I copied the picture and ran it through some photo software to repair spots/tears if possible.

05/14/2026

We enjoyed a wonderful program by storyteller Darrin Crow last night. Thank you to everyone who came to see him. He will be here again on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM to present Tales of Colonial America and the Revolution. These stories bring the streets of old Boston and Philadelphia and the battles of the Revolution to life. It includes stories of John Paul Jones, the Blacksmith of Brandywine, and Molly Pitcher. Please join us. He will also be at the Marshalltown Public Library, 105 W Boone Street, Marshalltown, Iowa on Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

05/12/2026

From the Tama County Historical Society’s archives. On the back of this picture. it notes it was of the Old Settler’s Picnic taken 29 August 1908 in the Tama schoolyard. Gifted from Alice Bracken Brice of Tama, Iowa. See Comments for more.

05/12/2026

Reminder of our program Wednesday, May 13, 2026 starting at 6:30 PM at the Wieting Theatre in Toledo, Iowa. Darrin Crow will share a story called "Coal Car Riggs and Little Eva: The Great Depression in Iowa." An enjoyable program for everyone.

05/09/2026

Photo just says - Traer Bunch - no names. Any ideas who they are?

02/26/2026

An exciting day is planned for March 21st in Traer! Be sure to mark your calendars! There are four new books written by author Cherie Dargan in the Traer Public Library. You may want to do a quick read before her presentation!

02/17/2026