Historic photography display comes to Farnham Jan. 6

They are images some may look at with fond memories of by-gone days, while others view with strange curiosity at a day that’s not so familiar. In any case, the photographs on display at Simpson College in Indianola beginning Jan. 6 pay homage to Don Berry, a man who gave so much to journalism and captured so much of Iowa with his photography.

The photographs come from a collection of negatives bestowed to Simpson College after the death of Berry, a long-time publisher of the Indianola newspaper. With a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the negatives were restored and 40 of the photographs will be on display Jan. 6 through 30 in Simpson’s Farnham Galleries on North C Street in Indianola.

The NEA grant is the first NEA grant for Simpson College and one of only a few received in Iowa in 2004.

The collection features 4,000 negatives that were given to the college in 1974 in envelopes and old boxes. Not long after they were given to the college, a member of the Berry family asked for the negatives back to create a coffee table book, but it was never made. The negatives remained out of Simpson’s possession for nearly 20 years until they were returned in the late 1990s, but not after they were damaged by time and smoke.

“The photographs are a wonderful document of Indianola and are a part of this town’s heritage,” said Michael Adams, director of public relations at Simpson College and a collaborator on the restoration project.

A collaborative effort between professor of art David Richmond, Simpson’s Dunn Library director Cyd Dyer and Adams preserved these important images for future generations. Their work resulted in the grant from the NEA.

The collection, which was in serious danger of deterioration due to being stored in a non-archival environment, also included antique nitrate-based negatives, which have the potential to ignite and cause a fire. With help from Roy Hampton of Indianola and award-winning Des Moines photographer Ray Andrews, the negatives were cleaned and prints and contact sheets were created for display and cataloging.

"We’re saving these images,” said Richmond. “They would have just languished.”

The photographs to be on display are some of Berry’s best work, depicting Iowa and Warren County life in the 1920s through 1940s. Gallery visitors will see a rich assortment of images, such as Iowa landscapes, WACS in Army Jeeps on the Indianola town square, children at play and families of a long-gone era.

“People will see a fascinating piece of Indianola,” said Adams. “It’s going to show the people and places at a very important time in Warren County history, during the Depression and the war.”

Of the 40 photographs on display, 39 illustrate Iowa and one is from Berry’s travels to California.

"The most satisfying photographic work I have ever done has been in my native Iowa,” Berry once said. “When I have found something on a Warren County lane, along Warren County streams, in her pastures, her forests or amongst her barnyards, I have much more the feeling of having done something original and creative than to have added myself to the millions who have photographed Pike’s Peak, the Grand Canyon of Colorado, Yosemite Falls or the capitol of Washington.”

Berry began his career as a reporter for The Des Moines Register in 1903 after graduating from Simpson College. In 1904 he left the newspaper to be a farmer. He never lost his love for journalism, and in 1920 Berry purchased the Indianola Record, which is now The Record-Herald and Indianola Tribune. He remained editor and publisher of the Warren County paper for 40 years, retiring in 1960.

In addition to his long-time career in journalism, Berry was a staunch Republican, and served as a delegate to the 1936 Republican Convention. He was also appointed executive secretary of the National Republican Farm Study Committee, in addition to numerous other political groups. He died in 1974 at the age of 94.

As part of the NEA grant, the photographs will be displayed at other locations throughout Iowa, including at Grandview College in the fall of 2006.

An exhibit reception will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26 in Farnham Galleries. Senior professor emeritus of history Joseph Walt will present “Don Berry, Iowan” at 7:30 p.m. that day in Camp Lounge of the Brenton Student Center, 701 North C St. in Indianola. For more information, call (515) 961-1600 or (515) 961-1761.

Written by Emily A. Roush

Emily A. Roush is the news services manager and public relations specialist for Simpson College.


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Historic photography display comes to Farnham Jan. 6 They are images some may look at with fond memories of by-gone days, while others view with strange curiosity at a day that’s not so familiar. In any case, the photographs on display at Simpson College in Indianola beginning Jan. 6 pay homage to Don Berry, a man who gave so much to journalism and captured so much of Iowa with his photography. The photographs come from a collection of negatives bestowed to Simpson College after the death of Berry, a long-time publisher of the Indianola newspaper. With a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the negatives were restored and 40 of the photographs will be on display Jan. 6 through 30 in Simpson’s Farnham Galleries on North C Street in Indianola. The NEA grant is the first NEA grant for Simpson College and one of only a few received in Iowa in 2004. The collection features 4,000 negatives that were given to the college in 1974 in envelopes and old boxes. Not long after they were given to the college, a member of the Berry family asked for the negatives back to create a coffee table book, but it was never made. The negatives remained out of Simpson’s possession for nearly 20 years until they were returned in the late 1990s, but not after they were damaged by time and smoke. “The photographs are a wonderful document of Indianola and are a part of this town’s heritage,” said Michael Adams, director of public relations at Simpson College and a collaborator on the restoration project. A collaborative effort between professor of art David Richmond, Simpson’s Dunn Library director Cyd Dyer and Adams preserved these important images for future generations. Their work resulted in the grant from the NEA. The collection, which was in serious danger of deterioration due to being stored in a non-archival environment, also included antique nitrate-based negatives, which have the potential to ignite and cause a fire. With help from Roy Hampton of Indianola and award-winning Des Moines photographer Ray Andrews, the negatives were cleaned and prints and contact sheets were created for display and cataloging. "We’re saving these images,” said Richmond. “They would have just languished.” The photographs to be on display are some of Berry’s best work, depicting Iowa and Warren County life in the 1920s through 1940s. Gallery visitors will see a rich assortment of images, such as Iowa landscapes, WACS in Army Jeeps on the Indianola town square, children at play and families of a long-gone era. “People will see a fascinating piece of Indianola,” said Adams. “It’s going to show the people and places at a very important time in Warren County history, during the Depression and the war.” Of the 40 photographs on display, 39 illustrate Iowa and one is from Berry’s travels to California. "The most satisfying photographic work I have ever done has been in my native Iowa,” Berry once said. “When I have found something on a Warren County lane, along Warren County streams, in her pastures, her forests or amongst her barnyards, I have much more the feeling of having done something original and creative than to have added myself to the millions who have photographed Pike’s Peak, the Grand Canyon of Colorado, Yosemite Falls or the capitol of Washington.” Berry began his career as a reporter for The Des Moines Register in 1903 after graduating from Simpson College. In 1904 he left the newspaper to be a farmer. He never lost his love for journalism, and in 1920 Berry purchased the Indianola Record, which is now The Record-Herald and Indianola Tribune. He remained editor and publisher of the Warren County paper for 40 years, retiring in 1960. In addition to his long-time career in journalism, Berry was a staunch Republican, and served as a delegate to the 1936 Republican Convention. He was also appointed executive secretary of the National Republican Farm Study Committee, in addition to numerous other political groups. He died in 1974 at the age of 94. As part of the NEA grant, the photographs will be displayed at other locations throughout Iowa, including at Grandview College in the fall of 2006. An exhibit reception will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26 in Farnham Galleries. Senior professor emeritus of history Joseph Walt will present “Don Berry, Iowan” at 7:30 p.m. that day in Camp Lounge of the Brenton Student Center, 701 North C St. in Indianola. For more information, call (515) 961-1600 or (515) 961-1761. Written by Emily A. Roush Emily A. Roush is the news services manager and public relations specialist for Simpson College.
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