Our German Heritage in Eastern Iowa

In the mid 1800's, many German immigrants settled in the Scott and surrounding Eastern Iowa Counties.  In 1847 as many as 30,000 Germans fleeing the Revolution of 1848 settled in Iowa.  In 1890 there were over 127,000 German-born Iowans. Nearly twenty-five percent of Scott county's total population were German-born.

The clubs, organizations and libraries listed herein have a wealth of information for those wanting to trace their German heritage.

Donations & gifts to the organizations noted herein are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Libraries

Davenport Public Library
Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center
321 Main Street
Davenport, IA 52801
Tel: 563-326-7902

Bettendorf Public Library
2950 Learning Campus Drive
Bettendorf, IA 52722
Tel: 563-344-4175

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
"Family History Center"
4929 N. Wisconsin Ave.
Davenport, IA 52806
Tel: 563-386-7547

American/Schleswig - Holstein
Heritage Society
'
ASHHS'

The American/Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society was organized in 1989 to preserve the heritage of our Schleswig - Holstein forefathers.

ASHHS is the only German Heritage Society dedicated to promoting and preserving the heritage of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

The Society achieves its goals by:

  • Assisting, promoting and preserving an
    interest in the heritage of Schleswig-Holstein.

  • Encouraging cultural exchanges, the study
    of the language and dialects .

  • Publication of their ASHHS Newsletter

  • Creating a genealogy database & library

  • Offering genealogy research help for their
    members.

  • Maintaining an Endowment Fund that provides support of current programs and expansion of society activities.

Research Library hours are 9-3 Tuesdays. Other days by appointment only. Membership includes 6 issues of the Newsletter.

Quarterly programs open to the public are the 3rd Sunday of February, May, August & November at 1 :30 pm at the address below.

American/Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society P.O. Box 506,
121 W. Bryant Street - Walcott, IA 52773-0506 
Tel & fax: 563-284-4184.  
E-mail: ashhs@ashhs.org  web site:  www.ashhs.org

 

Schuetzenpark Gilde
Schuetzen Park Historic Site

The Schuetzen Park Historic Site is a nature park "Naturschutzgebiet" located in west Davenport at 700 Waverly Road. From 1870: 1923 it was primarily a target shooting area for the Davenport Schuetzenverein. It also included an inn, zoo, dance hall, music pavilion, outdoor athletic facilities, bowling alley, roller coaster, refreshment stands and its very own streetcar station. In its zenith, as many as 12,000 people visited the Park in a single day for major events such as Saengerfests or Turnfests.

The Park began to decline around the time of WW1 when anti-German hysteria restricted the rights and activities of German-Americans. Another blow was dealt when the "Prohibition Act" of 1919 outlawed the sale of alcoholic beverages - one of the Park's primary sources of income. The Park was sold in 1923 and its wooded areas remained essentially unchanged for the next 80 years.

Recently, most of the Park's former grounds were re-acquired and are being preserved as a "Wildpark". It comprises about 20 acres and is owned and maintained by the Scheutzenpark Gilde. Nature trails are maintained throughout the site. Hours of operation are sun-up to sundown, May-November.

The Park maintains a display of historical items pertaining to its history.

Park facilities are available for private and public events.

Scheutzen Park Historic Site Administrative Office
3401 Schuetzen Lane #224,  Davenport, IA 52804-4353
Tel: 563-322-5489 or 563-449-2358
E-mail: SchuetzenPark@yahoo.com 
Web site:  www.schuetzenpark.info

Scott County Historical Society

The Scott County, Iowa Historical Society was organized in 1968.

The Society's aims and objectives are to:

  • Promote interest in state and local history through historical markers, meetings, tours and pageants of early pioneer history.
  • Collect and preserve articles and materials relating to Scott County history.
  • Preserve and publish recollections and reminiscences of those who have taken part in the growth of our county.
  • Promote preservation of public records of the county, cities and villages.
  •  Cooperate with other organizations with these same objectives.
  • Preserve and maintain Summit Church, built in 1858 in Butler Township. The church is on Utica Ridge Road, 5 miles north of Kimberly Road.

Scott County Historical Society
P.O. Box 5165, Davenport, IA  52805-5165
Susie Venhorst Tel: 563-332-5986

Deutsch Americanische National Kongress
(German American National Congress)
D.A.N.K.

The German American National Congress is the largest organization of Americans of German descent.

The organization seeks to bring Americans of German descent together in the pursuit of cultivating and presenting their heritage and interests on local, regional and national levels.

Some of their objectives and activities are to:

  • Foster friendship between the United States and Germany and promote a positive image of Germans among Americans.

  • Establish exchange programs and cross-cultural activities among young Germans and Americans.

  • Encourage and support German language and culture studies in public schools, colleges and universities.

  • Facilitate genealogy research of German
    ancestry.

German American National Congress
Executive Offices, D.A.N.K. Haus
4740 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625
Tel: 773-275-1100, Fax: 773-275-4010
E-mail: info@dank.org

President of DANK in Scott County:
Foline Koch
1717 Taylor Street - Davenport, IA 52804
Tel: 563-322-4806
E-mail: nsteenbock@aol.com

 
German American Family Club
of Illinois & Iowa

The German American Family Club of Illinois & Iowa was founded in 1973 to perpetuate the German culture in the Midwest. Over the years the club has donated to many organizations that are related to traditional German activities and customs.

Dinner/Dances are held in April and October of each year.
Michael Rivera
872 38th Avenue, East Moline, IL 61244
TeI: 248-830-7312

German American Pioneer Society
of Scott County, Iowa

The German American Pioneer Society was founded in 1902 when a number of citizens, emigrants from Germany, gathered for a picnic at Schuetzen Park. Over the years membership grew to several hundred. Sociability and renewing of old acquaintances are the main object. Its festival and business meetings are held annually, usually in September.

Up to 1940 a newsletter was printed in German. In 1946 it was printed in German and English. Since 1969 it is printed in English.

Monthly dances are at the Walcott, IA Coliseum.

Jack Wampfler
736 West Lombard St
Davenport, IA 52804
Tel: 563-326-1741
E-mail: wampfl@aol.com

LeClaire Township
Genealogy & Historical Society

The LeClaire Township Genealogy and Historical Society was formed in 2002.

Their objective is "to collect, preserve and display items of historical value" relating to LeClaire Township, to collect historical material of all kinds, and to "promote and disseminate historical information".

One of the society's goals is to encourage interest in the history of their families and town, today and for the future generations. This is achieved by the many activities of the society, which includes:

  • Tours of their museums and grounds
  • Lecture series
  • Displays of historic items
  • Research library
  • Online Newsletter
  • Speakers and various preservation activities.

Genealogy and Historical Society of LeClaire
POBox 294 - LeClaire, IA 52753
Tel: 563-370-9168
E-mail: rossmiller.dolan@gmail.com 
Web site:  www.leclairegenealogy.com

Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society
'SCIGS'

The Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society is open to all and is dedicated to create and foster interest in genealogy and family history, gather and preserve the records of ancestors, founders and early settlers of our county and to aid individuals in their genealogical pursuits

SCIGS has its genealogical collection at the 'Richardson-Sloane Special Collection Center' located in the Davenport Public Library.  If your ancestors once lived in the Scott County area, you will find the SCIGS collection very productive and useful.

The Society is committed to increasing its collection. Resources include many of the Scott County Courthouse Records, local church and cemetery records, naturalization and probate records, and abstracted names from the local newspaper for 1899-1946. Numerous records for neighboring Iowa counties and other states are included.

Membership includes the quarterly issue of the Scott County IOWAN.

Meetings are the 1st Monday of the month (except January & July). Call 563-326-7902 for time & place.

Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 3132 - Davenport, IA 52808-3132
President, Len Stevens  Tel:563-359-9672