IRWIN T. BODE PAPERS

The Irwin T. Bode Papers contain items from the years 1918 to 1970. Correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, articles, presentations, and various ephemera form part of the collection. The items pertain to Bode's work in the Iowa and Missouri state conservation efforts. Bode's personal interests are also reflected in the scrapbooks, correspondence, programs, and items from his membership in a foresters' group.

This collection provides insight into Bode's professional conservation efforts. Correspondence, newspaper clippings, memos, and reports provide both the public and internal views of Bode's sometimes-controversial tenure in Iowa and Missouri. The various articles and presentations provide insight into Bode's writing style and personal opinions on the issues of his day. The research notes, scrapbooks, correspondence, and personal records that are part of the collection reflect Bode's meticulous nature. The papers as a whole provide a picture of Bode as a very detail oriented, opinionated, respected professional conservationist whose first priority was the preservation and protection of the wildlife and wilderness of the Midwest.

Bode’s employment with the states of Iowa and Missouri are covered in this series. He served as state extension forester and taught history during his time in Iowa. Bode was also the head of the American School for Wildlife Protection. All of these positions are reflected in this series in correspondence, newspaper clippings, and programs. While in Missouri, Bode served as director of the Missouri Conservation Commission until his retirement in 1957. Correspondence from both his move to Missouri to his retirement, newspaper clippings, memos, and ephemera all cover this time in Bode’s professional life.

While he was working in various conservation positions, Bode was also writing various articles and giving presentations on conservation topics. Many of these articles and speeches were not titled, and are in the form of a draft or notes. These items are arranged chronologically and separated by type of item. Those articles that were titled are arranged by title.

Also included in this collection are items that do not directly deal with Bode’s official duties. Correspondence to friends and family are part of this series. Information about the purchase and sale of homes in Ames, Iowa and Jefferson City, Missouri are also included in this series. Correspondence to and from Bode dating from his retirement years is part of this series. Bode’s scrapbooks of conservation-theme newspaper clippings are included, and are divided by topic. Bode was a contemporary of J.N. “Ding” Darling, who was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, and later director of the U.S. Biological Survey. Correspondence and scrapbooks of cartoons by Darling are part of this series.

Bode was also involved in the Brotherhood of Venery, which was a foresters organization. Meeting minutes, correspondence, and publications from the group are included in this series.