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Irving Weber's Iowa City

Historical Stories about Iowa City
Written by Irving B. Weber
For the Iowa City Press Citizen
Published by the Iowa City Lion's Club

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Irving B. Weber was born in Iowa City, December 19, 1900; educated in the Iowa City Schools and graduated from Iowa City High School in 1918; and the University of Iowa in 1922.
His business career was devoted to the Dairy and Wholesale Ice Cream business in eastern Iowa and northern Illinois, but always made his home in Iowa City.  He remained active in the Quality Chekd Products Association which he helped found in 1944.
His life long interest in the history of the local area developed into the writing of historical articles for the Iowa City Press-Citizen as a retirement hobby.  During this second career, he wrote over 800 articles and published eight books.  Since then, the U of Iowa Library worked with the Lion's Club and the Iowa City Public Library to digitize his collections. Off-site links to the books are below.
Weber, a 4th generation in Iowa City and Johnson County on the maternal side of his family, and a 3rd generation on the paternal side, had a sound foundation on which to write local history stories.
Mr. Weber had a consuming passion for learning and he continued to generate new articles of historical significance to the greater Iowa City area.
Irving Weber was a man who was known as someone who "continually gives and never takes". Indicative of the man and his generous nature is the fact that sales of volumes 1 - 7 of his "Irving Weber's Iowa City" series raised in excess of $60,000 for sight and hearing conservation projects in the name of the Iowa City Host Noon Lions Club. Throughout the nearly 20 years since the publication of Volume 1, Irving Weber steadfastly insisted that not a dime enure to his personal gain.  He was also known to personally buy books but later give them away.  His commitment and generosity were truly ingrained in everything he did.  While space does not permit an in depth review of his distinctions and rewards, some of the highlights include:
  • Recipient of the James E. Stronks award for distinguished service to the Iowa City Noon Lions Club.
  • Recipient of the Melvin Jones Award - highest award in international Lionism
  • Designation as the official Iowa City Historian.
  • Election to the National Iowa Letterman's Club Athletic Hall of Fame
  • The naming of Iowa City's first new elementary in 24 years - Irving B. Weber Elementary School.
  • Lifelong active member of the First United Methodist Church.
Mr. Weber passed away March 16, 1997.   Click to view Obituary

(Off-site links to U of IA Digital Library)
A compilation of the first 102 stories written by Irving B. Weber for the Iowa City Press Citizen and which were published between Jan 22, 1973 and Jan 15, 1975.
They include old historic Iowa City homes and their owners; early business firms and factories; U of Iowa buildings, Iowa City churches; and early modes of transportation into the city.		A presentation of articles selected by the Lions Club, which in their opinion, have greatest value in preserving the rich heritage of Iowa City, the University of Iowa and Johnson County early history.
A popular series of articles in this Volume were titled "10 Kids Who Grew Up Downtown In Iowa City".  The stories describe an earlier downtown Iowa City when  many merchants lived upstairs above their businesses. 		A compilation of 44 of Weber's articles with 117 pictures which have appeared in the Iowa City Press Citizen. Features an agricultural section which includes articles about four Johnson County Century Farms, those in the same family for over 100 years.
Coinciding with Iowa City's 150th birthday, the articles for this volume were selected by Lions Club members as ones which they felt appropriately commemorate the sesquicentennial celebration. This volume contains a separate section of 10 pages of interesting Iowa City pictures.The publication of this volume coincided with Irving weber's 90th birthday. Many of the articles were written during Iowa City's Sesquicentennial year.By the time this volume was published, Mr. Weber had written over 818 articles for the Press Citizen about Iowa City, U of IA, and Johnson County. The articles for this volume were chosen by the Lions Club in order to preserve the area's rich historical heritage. The articles for this volume were selected by the Host Noon Lions Club as representative of the history of Iowa City, The University of Iowa and Johnson County with special emphasis on the Iowa City Community Schools. This volume continues the club's endeavor to preserve the rich historical heritage of this area.

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