The Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project (CLIP) is an interdisciplinary endeavor that seeks to chart the history of Iowa’s Carnegie libraries by creating a digital library of images and other documentary and statistical information. CLIP represents a partnership among Iowa’s library practitioners and members of Iowa communities. CLIP seeks to document the history and changes in Iowa’s Carnegie libraries by scanning each library’s collection of archival materials. As materials are collected and made available in a database record for each community, it will be possible to more completely study and understand the history of Iowa’s Carnegie libraries in the context of their evolving communities.
CLIP was begun in the Spring of 2002 under the leadership of Dr. Christine Pawley and Dr. James Elmborg, both faculty in The University of Iowa’s School of Library and Information Science. In May of 2004, Dr. Shana L. Stuart became the Director of CLIP.
In the Spring and Fall of 2008, three fellows from the University of Iowa’s School of Library and Information Science’s Digital Librarianship Program worked to expand CLIP’s digital collections.
Since the fall of 2016, the State Historical Society, Inc., has provided funding that has allowed for substantial expansion of the CLIP website and processing of the digital archival materials. In 2024, the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project moved to Cornell College. In addition, CLIP’s mission is supported by the State Library of Iowa.
Director of the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project, Dr. Shana L. Stuart
The director of the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project (CLIP), Dr. Shana L. Stuart, joined Dr. Christine Pawley and Dr. James Elmborg shortly after the inception of CLIP in the spring of 2002. She became the director in May of 2004.
Shana Stuart received her Ph.D. in Dutch and Flemish Art History in 1992 from the University of Kansas. In the Fall of 2001, she acquired her Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Iowa. She served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Iowa from 2004-2023. In 2024, she became an Adjunct Librarian at Cornell College.
In 2016, Stuart began service on the State Historical Society, Inc. board, and in 2018, she began serving as a Library Space Consultant under the auspices of the State Library of Iowa. In 2025, she became the Secretary-Treasurer of the Beta Beta Theta chapter Iowa Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the honorary library society.
2026, Jan. 4, KCRG News Coverage of Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project
In addition to helping Iowa communities preserve their early library history through this digital library, giving talks to share this information is one of the most enjoyable aspects of this endeavor. If you are interested in scheduling an individualized talk for your community, please contact Shana Stuart at: carnegielibrariesiowa@gmail.com
2021, State Library of Iowa CLIP Statement
The following students at Cornell College have contributed to the CLIP project:
Ariana Blackwood, Fall 2024-Spring 2025
Jake Cavanaugh, Fall 2024-Spring 2025
Ren Solis-Roman, Fall 2025
Mav Kaye, Spring 2025-Fall 2025
Ellianna Liljequist Fall 2025-
Liam Baldwin, Fall 2025-
Maya Huegel, Spring 2026-
Finn Hunter, Spring 2026-
The following volunteers across Iowa have contributed to the CLIP project:
Larry Ray Hurto, 2020- (Colfax & Newton biographies)
Melissa Stewart, Ph.D., Fall 2020 (Iowa City biographies)
Susan Henricks, Ph.D., 2021 (Dubuque history)
Pam Schnittjer, 2021 (West Liberty biographies)
Pat Baker, 2024 (Humboldt biographies)
The following University of Iowa graduate students have contributed to CLIP research:
Mark F. Anderson, 2002
Amber (Johnson) Hunt, 2002-2003
Sarah English, 2002-2003
Chris Schipper, 2003
Leslie Ross, 2003-2005
Anne Madura Earle, 2005
Elizabeth Engle, 2005-2006
Kate (Pickett) McNair, 2007
Amber Carlson, 2008-2009
Annette Dean, 2008-2010
Jill Wehrheim, 2008-2010
Amy Slowik, 2009
Charissa Loftis, 2009
Sarah Luko, 2010-2011
Claire Szeszycki, 2016-2017
Bethany Kluender, 2016-2017
Damien Ihrig, 2017-2018
Willa C. Liburd Tavernier, 2018
Laura Michelson, Fall 2018
Kayla Hodgson, 2018
Hannah Hacker, 2018
Jeanne St. Christian, 2018
Alecs Mickunas, 2018
Ellen Mays, 2018
Kathryn Heffner, 2018
Rachel Rackham, 2018
Alicia Henle, 2018
Megan Dial-Lapcewich, 2018
Cristin Noonan, 2018
Russell Buchanan, 2018-2019 (Pella history)
Annie Fitzgerald, 2019-2020
Meaghan Lemmnes, Fall 2020
Bailey Adolph, Fall 2020
Olivia K. Waller, Spring 2021-Spring 2022
Paige Wilkinson, Fall 2021-Summer 2022
Emily Schartz, Fall 2021-Spring 2023
Caitlin Matheis, Fall 2022-Spring 2023