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Frances Lynch McGuire Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MsC0652

  • Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

Wagon to a Star, a collection of stories about life on an Adair County farm in the 1870s.

Dates

  • Creation: -

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Biographical / Historical

Frances Lynch McGuire was born April 18, 1869, in Escanaba, Michigan, where her father, a Civil War veteran, was working in the lumber camps. News of the wonderful Iowa prairie country came from an uncle who had already settled there. The Lynch family moved in 1877 to a farm near the little town of Adair, Iowa. She graduated from Adair County Normal School, and afterwards taught at the Chestnut County School until her marriage to Patrick Henry McGuire. Four children were born to them: Eugene, Nicolete, Gertrude, and James. While living in Des Moines, Mr. McGuire became very ill, and Mrs. McGuire obtained a position with the Iowa Homestead, a farm paper. In 1906 she purchased the Iowa Farmer, for which she wrote the editorials, acted as business manager, and contributed material. When her husband had regained his health, she sold the magazine in 1914. The McGuires moved to Los Angeles, but it was difficult to stay away from children, grandchildren, and friends in Des Moines, and the McGuires returned to make it their permanent home. Mrs. McGuire died in 1947. Wagon to a Star was illustrated by the McGuire's daughter, Gertrude Williamson.

Extent

0.50 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Method of Acquisition

This collection was donated by the children of Frances Lynch McGuire in 1954.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the University of Iowa Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5921
319-335-5900 (Fax)