1908 BOMB

Object NameBook

Date1908

OriginUSA

MediumLeather and paper

Dimensions12 1/4 × 7 × 1 1/8 in. (31.1 × 17.8 × 2.9 cm)

ClassificationsBooks, Manuscripts, Documents, Personal Symbol & Correspondence

Credit LineGift of Dennis Wendell. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object number85.19.11

Status

On view

Collections

CultureAmerican

Label TextFrom the University Museums Collections Handbook, vol. 2, 2025: The Bomb, the official yearbook of Iowa Agricultural College (now Iowa State University), was published annually from 1893 to 1994, with the sole exception of 1902. Initially, the junior class oversaw its production from 1891 until 1925, at which point the senior class took charge, releasing a special edition that year. The origin of the yearbook’s distinctive title was explained in the 1895 edition: "The first thought that comes to mind at the mention of the name ‘Bomb’ is that of an instrument of war, exploding and causing destruction amongst enemies. But a bomb is occasionally put to a much pleasanter use than that of an engine of destruction. One form is used as a means of conveying messages to distant friends. Our Bomb agrees with such a definition also. Its mission is to awaken pleasant reminiscences in the minds of the alumni, and to convey to them information regarding all their brother graduates." As the university grew, so did the Bomb’s legacy as a cherished record of student life, academics, and campus events. However, by the late 20th century, financial difficulties began to take a toll on its production. In April 1995, due to mounting financial concerns, university administration announced that no further editions of the Bomb would be produced. Though the yearbook had once been a vital part of student tradition, preserving over a century of campus history, its discontinuation marked the end of an era at Iowa State. The Farm House Museum retains several editions of the Bomb beginning in 1894 through 1910. The Bomb allows a close look at the college, its people, and its impact. The Iowa State University Library has digitized all editions of The Bomb. ________________________________________________________________________ Another notable graduate of Iowa State, Ada Hayden, appears in the 1908 Bomb. Ada Hayden was born August 14th, 1884 on a farm just outside Ames. She graduated from Iowa State with a degree in botany in 1908, and received her Ph.D. from Iowa State in 1918, the first woman ever to do so (Lewis 2001, 215; Isely 1989, 1). She can be found in the 1908 Bomb on page 128, listed as an award recipient for the women’s basketball team. Ada Hayden was a respected botanist, ISC faculty member, curator of ISC’s herbarium (now named in her honor), and a passionate advocate for prairie conservation. Her conservation efforts led to the first protected prairies in Iowa (Lewis 2001, 216). Ada Hayden Heritage Park in Ames is named in her honor. Livestock judging remains an active endeavor for many in the animal sciences. The award pictured on pg.202 is Les Deux Amis, Arabe et son Cheval, 1900 by Victor Peter (French, 1840–1918). Charles Curtiss made livestock judging important at the college. The competition appealed to students since J.A. Craig initiated it when he was department head at Wisconsin before coming to the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station in 1896. The story goes that the department fielded a team in 1900 and was only 5th at the International in Chicago. This was not sufficient to lure prospective students to animal husbandry at Ames. The University of Illinois won the 1900 contest. They were coached by W. J. Kennedy on their faculty. Dean Curtiss hired W. J. Kennedy to be head of animal husbandry when Curtiss became dean. Kenedy was a good coach and subsequently Iowa State retired the Spoor’s Trophy, the Bull in Defiant Stance by Isedore Bonheur by winning the international contest in 1901, 1902 and 1903. This bronze graced the rotunda of Curtiss Hall from then on. (It is now proudly displayed in the Kildee Hall Ensminger Room.) The team won the horse judging in 1904, 1905, and 1906 and retired the horse trophy “Deux Amis”. This bronze sculpture was displayed in the ISU President’s Office in the late 1900’s and is now also located in the Kildee Hall Ensminger Room. Lewis, Deborah Q. 2001. Ada Hayden: Champion of Iowa Prairies. Presented at the North American Prairie Conference, pp. 215–219, Mason City, Iowa. Isely, Duane. 1989. Ada Hayden: A Tribute. Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science 96(1):1–5.

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