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Guide to the Old Brick Records

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Collection Overview
Date Span:1971-1982
Creator:Old Brick
Extent:1.50 linear feet.
Collection Number:MSC0406
Repository:University of Iowa Special Collections
Summary:Iowa City building. Legal documents, correspondence, financial records, etc. used in the battle to save Old Brick from destruction.

The building known as Old Brick is located at 26 E. Market Street in Iowa City, Iowa. Originally the home of the First Presbyterian Church, its construction was completed in 1850, making it one of the oldest surviving buildings in Iowa City. The Romanesque revival architecture was heavily damaged by fire in 1856, and the present structure is the result of the post-fire rebuilding. In 1877. The one hundred fifty three foot spire collapsed and was replaced by the present battlement. When the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church decided to build a new church building, the fate of Old Brick came into question. Whether the building would be razed or saved became a controversial issue, not just within the church but throughout the entire community. In 1973, as part of an on-going effort to save the building, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The records of Old Brick date from 1971 to 1982 (with clippings from the 19th century) and consist of 1.5 linear feet of documents. The records deal primarily with the efforts to 'save" Old Brick. Many related groups were formed for this purpose including the Old Brick Associates, Ltd., the Old Brick Legal Defense League, and Friends of Old Brick. Historical background material, correspondence, photographs, restoration plans, real estate and zoning material, petitions, and newspaper clippings all relate to efforts to preserve this building. These labors were eventually successful. Old Brick still stands on the corner of Market and Clinton Street near downtown Iowa City.

Access: This collection is open for research.

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

Acquisition: The records were given to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1982 by Robert R. Dykstra.

Preferred Citation: Records of Old Brick, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa.

Repository:University of Iowa Special Collections
Address:Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:319-335-5921
Curator:Greg Prickman
Email:lib-spec@uiowa.edu
Website:http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/

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This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.


Corporate Names:
First Presbyterian Church (Iowa City, Iowa)

Topics:
Buildings
Historic buildings

Geographic Names:
Iowa City (Iowa)

Genre/Form of Materials:
Clippings (Information artifacts)

Browse:
Clergy and the Church