Annals of Iowa Enters New Era with Andrew Klumpp at the Helm
The Annals of Iowa enters a new era this month with new editor Andrew Klumpp at the helm.
The Iowa native replaced Marv Bergman, who retired earlier this year. Klumpp has been working on his first edition of the history journal while relocating back to Iowa and working on his Ph.D. in American Religious History at Southern Methodist University. He specializes in religious and intellectual history, and his research examines the intersection of religion, imperialism and settler colonialism in the 19th-century Midwest.
We recently asked him a few questions to learn more about Iowa history and his plans for the Annals.
What interests you most about Iowa history?
Generally, I’m interested in how Iowa history helps us not only better understand our own communities and state but also how it helps us understand the region, nation and the world.
For instance, Iowa native Henry A. Wallace (1888–1965) was a groundbreaking agricultural scientist who made tremendous contributions to developments in farming. But he also managed FDR’s New Deal agricultural program as Secretary of Agriculture for eight years and went on to be vice president during FDR’s third term. If not for politicking by southern Democrats who thought he was too progressive on issues of race, Wallace wouldn’t have been replaced by Harry Truman on the Democratic ticket in 1944. When FDR died shortly after his inauguration, Wallace, not Truman, would have ascended the presidency. He’s just one example of how Iowa history isn’t just for Iowans. For folks who take the time to get to know Iowa history, they’ll not only find insights about our state but many men and women who shaped the world well beyond our borders.
Fundamentally, I’m interested in Iowa history because I’m convinced it matters not only to us as Iowans but to anyone who wants to develop a nuanced and rich understanding of the history of our region, nation and world.
What interests you most about the Annals?
In the very first issue of the Annals published in 1863 — during the middle of the Civil War, no less — the editor talked about the importance of capturing and exploring Iowa’s history. He mentioned the pioneers, Native Americans, politics and the war.
What interests me most about the Annals is that we are 157 years on and we are still taking up that original mandate. We’ve continued to expand our subjects, talking about agriculture, politics, immigration, gender, race, economics and so much more. What is exciting and so interesting for me, too, is that we are still holding onto that original mandate.
The journal began during the Civil War and through numerous wars, the Great Depression, the Farm Crisis and, now with the current pandemic, the journal has continued. It’s fascinating to see how the journal has persevered and continues to share Iowa’s rich history.
What’s a slice of Iowa history that most folks might not know?
There are so many great snippets of Iowa history! For example, did you know that Iowa is the home to the nation’s oldest “purpose-built” mosque? It’s in Cedar Rapids and was built in the 1930s.
Did you know that we got into such a heated dispute with Missouri in 1839 that the whole affair got named the Honey War? The two states couldn’t agree on where to place Iowa’s southern border. Tempers flared, guns were drawn and, ultimately, the Supreme Court had to step in.
Or, did you know that many county seats were originally fiercely contested, sometimes with full-on armed raids between towns? It wasn’t uncommon in the 19th century. My hometown, Sanborn, attempted to steal the O’Brien County seat in the dead of night in 1882 but failed. A few years earlier in Sioux County, the Dutch in Orange City raided the neighboring village of Calliope (now incorporated into Hawarden) and successfully overpowered the county officials to commandeer the county seat — a move that became official 10 months later when the county held a vote on the matter.
There are so many fascinating little tidbits of Iowa history that can be surprising and make you want to know more. These interesting facts aren’t just fun trivia but really invitations to say, “Why’d they do that?” and “Where can I learn more?” They’re invitations to start digging into Iowa history.
What are your plans for the publication?
The Annals has long been a home for new research about our state. It is the leading journal dedicated to scholarly history of the state, and it’s among the most respected journals in the region.
Sometimes that new research involves introducing new voices that haven’t received much attention from scholars, and sometimes that means exploring new perspectives on the evergreen interest in Iowa’s political and agricultural history.
First and foremost, my plans are to continue to build on that legacy, encouraging our authors to find new, untold stories about our state. I plan to keep turning over stones, finding new stories and helping others do that, too!
Beyond continuing the great work of the journal, I want to continue to find ways to bring our readers into contact with our authors, offering an even more dynamic opportunity to engage with the outstanding scholarship that we are publishing.
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The next Annals is expected to be delivered about July 15. Klumpp can be reached at andrew.klumpp@iowa.gov.
— Jeff Morgan, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
