Jeff Bremer shares untold Iowa stories in “A New History of Iowa”

By NICOLE HASEK nhasek@iowainformation.com

Jeff Bremer, author and professor of American history at Iowa State University, shared his book “A New History of Iowa,” to Jefferson community members on Sunday at the Greene County Historical Museum as part of the Author Talk series hosted by the Jefferson Public Library and Greene County Historical Society.

The book took Bremer nine years to write and serves as the most updated history book of the state. He said it was his goal to write it in a way that anyone could enjoy and to create an easy read for those interested in Iowa history.

A main source of information was “Prairie Grass Roots: An Iowa Small Town in the Early Twentieth Century,” written by Tom Morain in 1988. This book showcases social changes in small midwestern towns during this time period, primarily focusing on Jefferson. Bremer also references hundreds of news stories throughout the book.

The main point of the book, as Bremer describes, is to show how Iowa is important, worth studying and ever-changing. 

“[Iowa’s] economy is changing, its demographic is changing, the cities are growing and rural areas are still losing population, and Iowa especially represents rural America,” Bremer said.

Bremer stressed the importance of understanding state history beyond what is taught in school, as lessons often end as early as elementary school.

“History is complex, and it’s messy, and if you only take history of your state in fourth grade, when things are kind of watered down and possibly more positive, then you may not have an appreciation for the complexities,” Bremer said.

One section of the book is titled “Iowa: The Most Midwestern State,” which Bremer said is because the Great Plains are represented in the west, industrial aspects are represented in the midwest and east and there is a mix of rural and urban living.

When Bremer was halfway through writing the book in 2019, he was teaching U.S. and Iowa history in China as a Fulbright Scholar. An undergraduate student who was studying populism in Wisconsin asked him why Iowa was so important, to which he gave an answer about politics and agriculture. After this, he realized he needed to dig deeper with his book.

“I tried to, as I went through the book, make sure to give a broad story that includes as many different people as possible, that talks about everything from urban areas to rural areas, from farming to slavery,” Bremer said.

Many historical figures are represented throughout the book, with Bremer’s Sunday presentation highlighting Samuel H. M. Byers, Judith Ellen Foster and James B. Morris, Sr. Bremer said these three individuals highly contributed to the Iowa that is known today. Byers was a Civil War soldier who escaped three Confederate prisoner of war camps, Foster was one of the first female lawyers in Iowa and Morris was a World War One veteran and journalist who published the “Iowa Bystander” newspaper. 

“They all shared a deep desire to leave Iowa and their country a better place,” Bremer said. “Fighting the State of the Union, battling against the evils of alcohol consumption and leading the fight for equal rights for African Americans in the early and mid 20th century.”

It was a priority of Bremer’s to include lesser-known historical events in the book, including Des Moines’ Black Panther Party, 19th century Chinese immigration, Meskwaki code talkers and the Anti-Monopoly Party.

“A New History of Iowa” ends in 2020 discussing the pandemic, making it the most up-to-date Iowa history book. Bremer is currently working on a book over the history of Des Moines, which would be the first book of this kind. “A New History of Iowa” is available to purchase on Amazon.