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If you don't see the university event you are looking for, please also visit events.uiowa.edu.

September 21, 2024
Minnesota vs. Iowa Football Hawkeye Huddle
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm (CDT)
Where: 615 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN US 55414

We look forward to seeing you at our Hawkeye Huddle in Minneapolis. You can enjoy cash refreshments and snacks, Hawkeye swag and door prizes, Hawkeye DJ, Herky the Hawk, and the Iowa Spirit Squads. We have room for more Hawkeyes to join us. Please share the registration link below with family and friends who are in or traveling to Minneapolis.

Register today!

Pre-registration is optional.

Contact: I-Club 319-467-3703

Departments: Center for Advancement

September 22, 2024 - November 24, 2024
Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop
2:30 pm - 4:15 pm (CDT)
Where: 160 West Burlington Street, Iowa City, IA US 52242

Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop is back for the Fall Semester!

Join us monthly to generate new creative writing inspired by works in the Stanley collection. Each session will be led by a different talented writer from our area, who will be offering a new prompt and a new approach to ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by visual art). Bring your own notebook and pencil or computer and leave with the beginning of a newly written piece.

Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry. Teen and adult writers in all genres are welcome.

Write at the Stanley meets every fourth Sunday of the month. 

Space is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your spot by clicking the dates below:

Sept. 22 | Alisha Jeddeloh

Oct. 27 | Blueberry Morningsnow

Nov. 24 | Barbara Price

Contact: Stanley Museum of Art 319-335-1727

Departments: University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, Pentacrest Museums, International Writing Program, The Writing University, Office of the Provost, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Center for Advancement

September 26, 2024
Keith Haring, Censorship, and the Power of Art | Panel Discussion
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm (CDT)
Where: 123 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Join us for a panel discussion exploring the power of art and information in the face of censorship. This collaborative event by the Stanley Museum of Art, the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, and the Iowa City Public Library will explore the enduring impact of Keith Haring's work in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We'll discuss the historical and contemporary implications of banned books on sexual health and the importance of unrestricted access to information.

Panel members:
o Saba Vlach, College of Education

o Oluwafemi Adeagbo, College of Public Health
o Sam Helmick, Iowa City Public Library
o Laura Cottrell, Iowa City Community School District

Contact: Kimberly Datchuk 319-335-1727

Departments: University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, College of Public Health, Center for Advancement, Obermann Center, Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice President for Research

September 27, 2024 - September 29, 2024
Celebrating 50+ Years of the LNACC: Sharing Our Stories, Looking to the Future
All Day ()

Register today! Registration closes on Friday, Sept. 6.

The University of Iowa Latino and Native American Alumni Alliance (LaNA³), in collaboration with the Latino Native American Cultural Center (LNACC) and the Division of Student Life, is thrilled to announce a momentous event: "Celebrating 50+ Years of the LNACC."

This event will bring together University of Iowa Latino and Native American alumni to share our stories and look to the future. While the event focuses on alumni, it will also draw current UI students, faculty, staff, and community members through speaker presentations, panels, social events, art and music presentations, and workshops.

Iowa Writers´ Workshop alumni Joy Harjo (78MFA), Sandra Cisneros (78MFA), and Juan Felipe Herrera (90MFA) will join us as special guest speakers, and Brenda Child (83MA, 93PhD) will serve as moderator. Registration is $75 and includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, appetizers on Saturday evening, speaker events, tours/exhibits, a T-shirt, and various swag items. Guest registration (partners, children ages 13+) is $25/guest and does not include a T-shirt.

Our theme - "Sharing Our Stories, Looking to the Future" - encompasses our event goals:

  • Supporting the continued success of the LNACC and Latino and Native American students.
  • Ensuring our history is preserved through the LNACC Archives at the UI Main Library.

Contact: Diego F. Rodriguez 319-335-0619

Departments: Center for Advancement, Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement

September 27, 2024 - September 29, 2024
Latino-Native American Alumni Alliance (LaNA³) 50th Reunion
All Day ()
Where: 308 Melrose Avenue, Iowa City, IA US 52246

Mark your calendars and register the LaNA3 50th Anniversary Alumni Alliance Reunion! The reunion will take place Sept. 27-29, 2024. 

The reunion events include speakers Joy Harjo, Sandra Cisneros, Juan Felipe Herrera, and Brenda Child. Special events include an alumni networking lunch, Telling our Stories, a Cultural Gathering of Music, Art, Dance, and Literature, and many more. 

You can register for the event and learn more on the website

Contact: Adele Lozano 319-335-3059

Departments: Division of Student Life, Center for Advancement

September 28, 2024
Extra Life Charity Challenge: College Football 25 Presented by South Slope and Rival Warz
10:00 am - 4:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 825 Stadium Dr, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Register Now!

Test your college football video game skills in a charity tournament at Kinnick Stadium, with proceeds benefiting University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children´s Hospital!

Registration is $25, though all gaming participants must also raise a minimum of $200 to participate in the single-elimination, bracket-style tournament.

Due to venue capacity, this tournament will be limited to 240 participants. The first 240 to reach their $200 fundraising minimum (not counting their registration fee) will earn a bracket spot.

The games will be played on PlayStation 5, and participants must be 16 or older. Prizes will be awarded to the top three individual fundraisers and the tournament champion and runner-up.

Spectators may pay the $25 registration and come enjoy the event festivities at the Ted Pacha Family Club. Spectators can try the new video game in the free-play area, watch the tournament action, and participate in a silent auction and the Championship Game Wave.

You can find fundraising resources here.

Registrants who raise at least $200 but are not one of the first 240 to get a bracket spot will still gain access to Duke Slater Field, where they can meet Iowa football players and coaches, hear stories from families who have had a child receive care at Stead Family Children´s Hospital, and more!

Those who raise $500 or more will get to tour the Hawkeyes´ locker room and tunnel.

For any questions, please email Tyler Adams at tyler.adams@foriowa.org

Contact: Tyler Adams 319-467-3350

Departments: Center for Advancement, Division of Student Life, Department of Health and Human Physiology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

September 28, 2024
Hawkeyes at the Orchard | Des Moines
10:00 am - 2:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 32835 610th Ave, Cambridge, IA US 50046

Join fellow Hawkeyes for a day of family fun, including hayrides, pedal karts, a corn maze, and more, at Center Grove Orchard!

Register Today: https://foriowa.info/orchard24

Enjoy a discounted farmyard admission of $5 per person (regularly $16.95). Children 2 and under are free, and each family may purchase up to five discounted tickets. Attendees may pick up their tickets at the University of Iowa table near admissions anytime between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., though you´re welcome to stay until the orchard closes at 7 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you! Wear your black and gold-and spread the word to any Hawkeyes you know in the Des Moines area.

Contact: Hannah McClintock 319-467-3398

Departments: Center for Advancement

August 2, 2024 - December 5, 2025
Art & Write Night
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 39-53 East Jefferson Street, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces.

Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists.

Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session and will sometimes move about the Museum but we'll always start in the Hageboeck Hall of Birds (Bird Hall) on the third Floor of Macbride Hall. Join anytime between 6-8 p.m. and feel free to participate in a themed creation challenge or work on your own project with our exhibits as inspiration. We'll save the last 15-30 minutes of each session to share what we've been working on, connecting with others (optional, of course!).


Please note, the Museum is typically closed during this time, meaning the main entrance to Iowa Hall (atop the large staircase outside on the east side of Macbride Hall) will be closed and locked. All other building doors will be open, offering access to the Ground Floor of Macbride Hall. Bird Hall is located on the third floor of Macbride Hall and can be reached by stairs or by taking the elevator to the third floor and crossing the auditorium to the north side of the building. 

Contact: Carolina Kaufman 319-467-3130

Departments: Pentacrest Museums, Museum of Natural History, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Student Life, Leadership and Engagement, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, University Libraries, Department of English

October 13, 2024
Big Ten on Hilton Head Picnic
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 45 S. Port Royal Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC US 29928

You´re invited to our annual Big Ten picnic catered by Jimmy Fitts Catering!

Register Today!

The meal is $40 per person, while children age 12 and under are free. Wear your black and gold and bring your own beverages. The buffet opens at 4:15 p.m. and our program starts at 4:45 p.m. Rebecca Pany, the Big Ten´s senior vice president of sports administration, will be our featured speaker.

If you are purchasing only one ticket, enter "0" or "NA" in the other ticket holders´ places to continue. If you are purchasing multiple tickets, enter "0" in the space for tickets three through five. Once you purchase tickets, you'll receive a confirmation email.

If you have any questions about the event or purchasing tickets, contact Joan Apple Lemoine at 843-422-1442 or big10onhh@gmail.com. Stay connected by joining the Big Ten Conference on Hilton Head Facebook group.

We hope to see you in October!

Contact: Joan Apple Lemoine 843-422-1442

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 15, 2024
Literary Legends With Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Tracy Kidder
7:30 pm (CDT)
Where: 125 North Madison Street, Iowa City, IA US 52245

Sit in on a one-of-a-kind evening with writer and Iowa graduate Tracy Kidder, "a master of the nonfiction narrative" (Baltimore Sun), as he reflects on his lengthy literary career and reads from some of his bestselling work.

The event will feature a conversation about the power of long-form investigative writing between Kidder and renowned author Stuart Dybek (73MFA), as well as a Q&A session and book signing.

Register here: https://foriowa.info/3yUJ2h8

The author of nonfiction classics such as The Soul of a New Machine and Mountains Beyond Mountains, Kidder is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Iowa. In addition to being a Pulitzer Prize winner, he also is the recipient of the National Book Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Award, and many other honors.

This event is possible due to support from the Jonathan C. Goldsmith Visiting Author Fund in the Iowa Writers´ Workshop. Literary Legends is a special collaboration among the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, the UI Lecture Committee, the Iowa Writers´ Workshop, the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, and the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature.

Contact: Laurel Hall 319-467-3518

Departments: Center for Advancement, MFA in Spanish Creative Writing, Nonfiction Writing Program, International Writing Program, The Writing University, Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, Division of Student Life

October 16, 2024
Fall Tree Tour
11:00 am - 1:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 120 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA US 52240

It's time for a Fall Tree Tour with a new route and all new (to the tour!) trees!

Join the Pentacrest Museums in partnership with UI Facilities Management, the Sciences Library, and liveWELL, for a guided stroll on campus featuring the ecological diversity, symbolism, history, and lore of our trees. We're hoping for peak foliage for this autumnal nature walk and talk in this program - designed for you - with resilience and curiosity in mind.

  • Meet at the the Sciences Library, 3rd Floor for a presentation at 11 a.m., walk to follow at noon.
  • Rain, snow or shine (we'll reschedule if lightning). 
  • All are welcome (students, staff/faculty, community).
  • Staff and faculty: our campus has encouraged programming of this nature for employee wellness. Make sure to let your supervisor know you'd like to attend if you need a little extra travel time before and after the walk.

Contact: Carolina Kaufman 319-467-3130

Departments: Pentacrest Museums, Museum of Natural History, liveWELL, Center for Advancement, Office of the Provost, University Libraries, University Human Resources, Office of the Vice President for Research

September 15, 2024 - December 15, 2024
Drawing Salon with Robert Caputo
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm (CDT)
Where: 160 West Burlington Street, Iowa City, IA US 52242

The Drawing Salon focuses on drawing artworks from the museum's collection. Each session will focus on a different artwork. The sessions will begin with an introduction and discussion of the selected work. Participants will be encouraged to pursue their own visions and to take inspiration from the artworks in the gallery.

Pencils and sketchbooks/paper are the only artmaking materials allowed in the galleries. The museum has golf pencils with erasers and clipboards for participants to use. Stools and benches are available in the galleries.

Robert Caputo, an Iowa City-based painter and sculptor, will lead the Drawing Salons.

The drawing salon is limited to 15 participants. Please reserve your spot by clicking below:

Sept. 15, 2024

Oct. 20, 2024

Nov. 17, 2024

Dec. 15, 2024

Contact: Stanley Museum of Art 319-335-1727

Departments: University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, Pentacrest Museums, Center for Advancement, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

October 24, 2024 - October 26, 2024
Alumni Band Homecoming Celebration
All Day ()
Where: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA US 52244

Are you ready to step off on the next 50 years of the Iowa Alumni Marching Band? Registration is now open for the Alumni Band Homecoming Reunion, Oct. 24-26, 2024!

Register here: https://foriowa.info/3zAmClj

This year we are celebrating Kevin Kastens, director of the Hawkeye Marching Band for 20 years, who instituted the "Take Back the Field" pregame performance. He will return to Iowa City as our honored guest for the 51st Alumni Band Homecoming Reunion, which will culminate in a postgame performance of a favorite chart from the Kastens era! Hint: Zombie dance moves are required!

Registration closes Sept. 6; however, registration for Saturday´s pregame performance closes when we reach 300 registrants, which may be earlier. advan

Contact: Lindsey Koby 319-467-3351

Departments: Center for Advancement, School of Music

October 24, 2024
Osterhaus Medal for Lifetime Achievement and Alumni Awards Ceremony
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 180 South Grand Avenue, Iowa City, IA US 52242

Join us as we honor nine UI College of Pharmacy award recipients during homecoming weekend.

  • Osterhaus Medal for Lifetime Achievement Award - Matt Osterhaus (80BSPh) and Marilyn Osterhaus (80BSPh)
  • Distinguished Alumni Award - Barry Carter (78BSPh), Val Jensen (90BSPh), and David Miller (83BSPh)
  • Honorary Alumni Award - Judy Domer and Tim Franson (81R)
  • Genesis Alumni Award - Jessica Frank (07PharmD) and Yogita Krishnamachari (11PhD)

The ceremony is free to attend, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Contact: Holly Lauer 319-353-5626

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 25, 2024
Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 93 East Burlington Street, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Join us in celebrating the 2024 class of Distinguished Alumni Award recipients!  Free and open to the public, please register.

Contact: Nici Bontrager 319-467-3607

Departments: Center for Advancement, Homecoming

October 25, 2024
The University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Awards
3:30 pm (CDT)
Where: 93 East Burlington Street, Iowa City, IA US 52240

From health care innovators to world-renowned researchers, University of Iowa graduates know how to go for the gold in all they do - and each year since 1963, we´ve recognized a select group of these luminaries with our prestigious University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Awards.

UI President Barbara Wilson cordially invites you and a guest to join us in celebrating our newest recipients, who have followed their dreams and helped change the world.

Register Today!

A reception will immediately follow the ceremony. RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.

This event is part of Iowa´s 2024 Homecoming festivities. For more information, contact Nici Bontrager at nici.bontrager@foriowa.org or call 319-467-3607.

2024 University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

  • Michael V. Michener, Distinguished Friend of the University Award
  • James A. "Jim" Wiese (58BBA), Distinguished Hickerson Award
  • Jon Lensing (20MD), Distinguished Recent Graduate Award
  • John A. Kundel (69BA, 74MA), Distinguished "Forevermore" Staff Award
  • John J. Callaghan (83R), Distinguished Faculty Award*
  • Morgan Jones (60BM, 61MA), Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Mary Seelman Mascher (75BA, 82MA), Distinguished Service Award
  • Kathryn M. Edwards (73MD), Distinguished Achievement Award

*2023 recipient

Learn more about our honorees.

Contact: Nici Bontrager 319-467-3607

Departments: Center for Advancement, Tippie College of Business

October 25, 2024
UI College of Nursing Tailgate
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 50 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA US 52246

Join us for a free, family-friendly homecoming tailgate at the UI College of Nursing. Learn more online or by contacting Leah Koppes at 319-467-3295.

Parking will be available in the Newton Road Ramp.

Contact: Leah Koppes 319-467-3295

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 25, 2024
UI Henry B. Tippie College of Business Tailgate
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 21 East Market Street, Iowa City, IA US 52245

Celebrate with fellow alums at the annual Tippie Tailgate. Mingle with Tippie Dean Amy Kristof-Brown and enjoy free food and family-fun entertainment before the parade. Learn more online.

Contact: Tippie College of Business 319-335-0862

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 25, 2024
Homecoming Parade
5:45 pm - 7:30 pm (CDT)
Where: 1 North Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA US 52240

The homecoming parade is an annual tradition that brings Hawkeyes together from both near and far. Parade participants include students, staff, faculty, and members of the Iowa City and surrounding communities.

Contact: Annabelle Bergholz-Cannizzaro 319-335-3059

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 25, 2024
University of Iowa Celebration in Tokyo
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm (CDT)

Connect with fellow Hawkeyes, hear about current happenings at the University of Iowa, and learn about the future of the Japan Iowa Club.

2024 October 25 (Friday)
6 p.m. (18:00)

Tokyo American Club
2-1-2 Azabudai
Minato-ku Tokyo
106-8649 Japan

Register here: https://foriowa.info/3yoOFUw

Hors d´oeuvres and a hosted bar will be provided. Katharine Lasansky, executive director of development at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, will be your host for the evening.

Registration is $30 and will help the Japan Iowa Club create student and scholarship support opportunities.

Contact: Katharine Lasansky 319-541-0471

Departments: Center for Advancement, International Studies Program, International Writing Program, Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

October 25, 2024
UI College of Engineering Party After the Parade
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 103 South Capitol Street, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Stop by after the parade to learn about the exciting things happening at the UI College of Engineering. The party features STEM-based activities led by our student organizations. Herky the Hawk and the Hawkeye Marching Band will also make an appearance.

Pre-registration has ended. Visitors are welcome to stop without pre-registering but will be asked to register upon entry. Contact Brian Morelli at brian-morelli@uiowa.edu with questions.

Contact: Brian Morelli 319-467-3017

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 25, 2024
UI College of Pharmacy Alumni, Family, and Friends Celebration
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 210 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Join alumni, friends, faculty, and staff for a family-friendly event following the homecoming parade. We´ll honor the 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019 classes. Food will be served, and a cash bar will be available.

Pre-registration is required. Adults are $15, children ages 6-12 years old are $8, and children 5-and-under are free.

Contact: Holly Lauer 319-356-5626

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 26, 2024
UI Medicine Alumni and Friends Tailgate
9:00 am - 11:00 am (CDT)

We hope you will join us for the medicine alumni and friends breakfast tailgate. Reserve your spot online, and join us as you will have the wonderful chance to connect with alumni, current students, and faculty and staff. We´ll also have medical campus tours and STEM-related activities.

Parking will be available in the Newton Road Parking Ramp.

Contact: UI Health Care Outreach and Engagement 319-335-8886

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 26, 2024
UI College of Education Alumni and Friends Tailgate
11:00 am - 1:00 pm (CDT)
Where: 240 South Madison Street, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Enjoy free boxed picnic lunches, gifts, prize drawings, and musical entertainment provided by the Silver Swing Band. The Iowa Raptor Project will also provide an opportunity to meet one of the hawks in the courtyard. Register online!

Contact: Lois Gray 319-335-5347

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 26, 2024
UI College of Public Health Alumni and Friends Lunch
11:30 am - 1:30 pm (CDT)
Where: 145 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA US 52246

Join fellow alumni, students, faculty, and staff for a free pregame lunch provided by area food trucks. We´ll also have live music by Ingrid Streitz. Learn more online or by contacting Tara McKee at tara-mckee@uiowa.edu or 319-384-4277.

Contact: Tara McKee 319-384-4277

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 26, 2024
Iowa Football vs. Northwestern
2:30 pm (CDT)
Where: 825 Stadium Dr, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Cheer on the Hawkeyes as they face off against Northwestern.

Contact: Department of Athletics 319-335-9327

Departments: Center for Advancement

October 26, 2024
University of Iowa Celebration in Seoul
6:00 pm (CDT)

Connect with fellow Hawkeyes, hear about current happenings at the University of Iowa, and learn about the future of the Korea Iowa Club.

2024 Oct. 26 (Saturday)
6 p.m. (18:00)

Register here: https://foriowa.info/4e5IILe

Mondrian Seoul Itaewon
23 Jangmun-ro
Yongsan-gu, Seoul
04392 South Korea

Hors d´oeuvres and a hosted bar will be provided. Katharine Lasansky, executive director of development at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, will be your host for the evening.

Contact: Katharine Lasansky 319-541-0471

Departments: Center for Advancement, International Studies Program, International Writing Program, Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

November 8, 2024
Football Hawkeye Huddle: UCLA
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm (CST)
Where: 119 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA US 91105

Iowa football season is almost here! In addition to our seven home games, we hope you can join us at one of our Hawkeye Huddles this season when the Iowa football team is on the road.

Hawkeye Huddles are free, pregame pep rallies that feature cash refreshments and snacks, door prizes, a Hawkeye DJ, Herky the Hawk, and the Iowa Spirit Squads. 

Register today: https://foriowa.info/UCLA24

Pre-registration is optional. For Hawkeye Huddles that do not have game times set, these events will begin three hours prior to game time or no earlier than 9 a.m.

For more information and additional details on 2024 Hawkeye Huddles, visit the I-Club website at www.jointheiclub.com or email hawkeyeevents@foriowa.org.

Contact: Hawkeye Events 319-467-3410

Departments: Center for Advancement, Department of Athletics, Dentistry Alumni, Division of Student Life

Related Content

The newly released College Football 25 recreates the magic of Kinnick, which will be the site of a first-of-its-kind fundraiser benefiting Stead Family Children?s Hospital.

It vanished from campus 34 years ago. Now a UI relic with a fascinating history returns to the Chemistry Building. Photo: Frederick W. Kent Collection of Photographs, UI Special Collections University of Iowa professor Elbert W. Rockwood gives a lecture in the 1930s in the Chemistry Building. Police divers were combing the icy Raisin River in southeast Michigan in January 2001 when they spotted a strange figure. There, amid the murk and muck, was the upper torso and head of a mustachioed man, hair neatly parted down the center, in a necktie and academic robe. Michigan State Police had been dredging the riverbed for discarded evidence from a robbery. Instead, what they pulled from the water was an old bronze bust, 2 feet tall and about 60 pounds. The face wasn't familiar to police in Michigan?or anyone else living in the 21st century, for that matter. Authorities could, however, decipher the signature etched into its base: ?E.W. Rockwood.? Back at the crime lab, a Michigan State Police employee searched for the name online and came up with a hit. It seemed that the man with the mustache was linked to the University of Iowa's history. She contacted the State Historical Society of Iowa, which sent over a Rockwood signature from its archives. It was a match. But questions remained. How did the statue of an Iowa City academic end up in the bottom of a river 450 miles away? Just how long had it been there? And who heaved it in? The bust of Elbert W. Rockwood, which was reinstalled in the Chemistry Building earlier this summer, disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the 1980s. A century earlier and a couple states west, the living, breathing Elbert W. Rockwood (1895MD) was one of the most recognizable faces at the State University of Iowa. A distinguished professor of chemistry and toxicology, Rockwood had likely taught more students than any other professor since the founding of the university, the Iowa Alumnus wrote in 1924. Rockwood, who came to the university in 1888, was the first director of the university's hospital and established what's believed to be the first courses on physiological chemistry in this part of the country. He served as head of the Department of Chemistry from 1904 to 1920, growing the department from 50 students to 575 enrolled in courses. In fact, Rockwood was such a popular lecturer that a group of his former students commissioned a bronze bust in his honor in 1930?no small expense during the Great Depression. To capture their professor's likeness, they hired a noted Chicago sculptor named Alice Littig Siems (1919BA), who also had deep ties to the university. An Iowa City native and daughter of a UI physician, Siems studied at the prestigious Chicago Art Institute after earning her degree at the UI. She was the prot?g? of renowned sculptor Lorado Taft, a frequent lecturer at the UI who had met Siems on a visit in 1921 when she was working as a museum assistant in the zoology department. Taft was so impressed by her artistic talent that he invited her to work in his Chicago studio. Siems became one of the more prominent sculptors of her era and exhibited work at galleries in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. She created portrait busts of many well-known figures, including Taft and poet Carl Sandburg. Several UI leaders also sat for Siems, who sculpted bronze likenesses of university president Walter Jessup (34LITTD), Graduate College dean Carl Seashore (27BSAS), and political scientist Benjamin Shambaugh (1892BPH, 1893MA), among others. ?Each head is a forceful portrait,? the Chicago Tribune once wrote of Siems' work. ?These portraits stand out, each one alone, complete, able, and distinctive substitutes for the men who sat for her.? Rockwood remained on the faculty until his death in 1935, but his bust became a longstanding presence in the Chemistry Building. Though not a permanent one, as it turned out. Photo: 1932 Hawkeye yearbook. Alice Littig Siems, a prominent sculptor last century, graduated from the State University of Iowa in 1919 and created busts of several university dignitaries, including E.W. Rockwood. Students who frequent the Chemistry Building may be as science-minded as they come, but even they have their superstitions. For decades it was tradition for test takers to rub the old bust perched outside the lecture hall for luck. In fact, so many nervous hands had patted the sculpture that E.W. Rockwood's nose was said to have developed a distinctive shine to it. The bust also was a favorite target for pranksters. On several occasions the sculpture went missing from its 5-foot pedestal only to reappear a few days later. Fraternity members were the presumed culprits. In the mid-1980s, the bust vanished yet again?only this time it never turned back up. ?It disappeared so often that the last time it disappeared, I don't think anyone really noticed,? chemistry professor emeritus Jack Doyle told a reporter years later. Eventually the empty pedestal was removed, and as the years passed, memory of Rockwood faded. That is, until the 2001 phone call from Michigan. The bizarre story of a UI statue found among the fish in Michigan made headlines in Iowa. The Gazette dubbed it ?heads-up investigative work,? while the Des Moines Register reported that Michigan authorities weren't interested in prosecuting anyone involved in the decades-old caper. ?We just want someone to give up the information so we can find out what happened,? a state police employee said. Soon after the Register story ran, an anonymous caller from Des Moines told Michigan police that fraternity members swiped the bust in fall 1984 and eventually dumped it in the Raisin River. He provided no further details. The statue had been found in waters near Adrian, Michigan, home to Adrian College and Siena Heights University and about 35 miles away from the University of Michigan. It's plausible that the bust's abductors had dumped it while visiting fraternity brothers in Michigan. Or perhaps Michigan fraternity members swiped it from a house in Iowa City and brought it back home before discarding it. Regardless of how it ended up in Michigan, the sculpture was grimy but otherwise in fine shape for sitting at the bottom of a Lake Erie tributary for years. After its discovery, Michigan authorities shipped the bust back home to Iowa City, where the UI Museum of Art took possession of it for restoration. For various reasons, however, the statue was never put back on display. Early on, there was talk of raising money for a new marble pedestal, but the idea proved too costly. The Chemistry Building, which opened in 1922 while Rockwood was leading the department, also underwent major renovations after the sculpture's return, further delaying its reinstallation. Then, the flood of 2008 swamped the old art museum, and the bust and thousands of other UI-owned art pieces were evacuated and placed into emergency storage. Once again, the bust was all but forgotten. Brenna Goode, a departmental administrator, first heard the story of the missing sculpture from a longtime faculty member when she joined the chemistry department in 2010. Goode was curious and inquired about its whereabouts over the years. Her persistence paid off; the bust was located among the items mothballed by the museum after the flood, and plans took shape earlier this year to return it to its rightful perch. The department recently commissioned a new plaque and pedestal. Then in late July, after its strange journey and 34-year absence, the memorial to E.W. Rockwood made its homecoming to the Chemistry Building, no worse for the wear. When students return for classes this fall, Rockwood will be keeping watch just inside the building's main entrance, ready to be rubbed by a new generation of chemists. ?It's great to see the Rockwood bust finally returned to its prominent place in the Chemistry Building,? says Edward Gillan, an associate professor of chemistry who has written about the department's history. ?Our alumni honored Rockwood's teaching legacy with this bust. I hope that its return inspires current and future chemistry faculty to sustain the Rockwood teaching legacy.? One important alteration has been made to the statue, it should be noted. The bust is now fixed to the pedestal, and the pedestal is secured to the floor and wall. ?No one should be able to get at it without some significant effort,? laughs Goode. Do you remember the Rockwood bust or its disappearance? Email josh.oleary@foriowa.org. Department Head A new plaque now accompanies the bust of E.W. Rockwood, which was reinstalled last month just inside the main entrance of the Chemistry Building. The plaque reads: ?Dr. Rockwood joined the teaching staff in 1888 and pioneered laboratory instruction in physiological chemistry at Iowa. Head of the Department of Chemistry from 1904 to 1920, he served as professor until his death.?In 1890, on his return from studying with German master of physiological chemistry Felix Hoppe-Seyler, three medical students asked Dr. Rockwood to introduce them to the field. He later said, ?Our work together on Saturday afternoons... was the beginning, at least west of the Mississippi, of what is now called biochemistry.'?

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