The Joni Kinsey papers, 1984-2024, consists of class syllabi, transcripts of "talks," selected correspondence, and planning material from art exhibitions related to her work as a professor of American Art History at UI from 1991 to 2024.

Notably, the collection contains photographs, printed materials, reviews, and planning documentation relating to the exhibition "Plain Pictures: Images of the American Prairie." a 1996 loan exhibition at the University of Iowa Museum of Art, Amon Carter Museum in Fort Wroth, and Joslyn Museum in Omaha. This was a major event, funded by the NEH, and connected Iowa's sesquicentennial. There were numerous related events, such as a symposium, several small exhibitions (prairie book displays in the main library and the Education Department library), prairie grass plantings on campus, a film series, a show at Hancher by musicians Riders in the Sky and cowboy poet Baxter Black, and an art installation (inspired by Grant Wood's paintings) by Stan Herd planted on six acres near the Cedar Rapids Airport. The exhibition was feature on "CBS Sunday Morning." A VHS tape of the show and printed transcript are in the file, along with exhibition checklists, correspondence about the exhibition's planning, the NEH grant, noteworthy publicity, and an audience response book.

This scope and content note was provided in part by Joni Kinsey.