Date Span: | 1962-1998 |
Creator: | Flansburg, James S. (1932-) |
Extent: | 16.00 linear feet. |
Collection Number: | MSC0496 |
Repository: | University of Iowa Special Collections |
Summary: | Journalist and editor for the Des Moines Register. Correspondence, editorials, and subject files reflecting his professional career as a reporter, editor, and columnist for the Register. |
Alternate Extent Statement: Photographs in Boxes 9 and 10.
Access: This collection is open for research.
Use: Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.
Acquisition: These papers were given to the University Libraries by James S. Flansburg in 1996 and 1998.
Preferred Citation: James S. Flansburg Papers, 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/sc |
James Sherman Flansburg was born in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, on January 21, 1932, but grew up in Tiffin, the son of A.C. and Esther Flansburg. After two years at the University of Iowa, he joined the U.S. Army, and served in Korea. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University in 1957. While a student, he was City Editor of The Daily Iowan and in 1956 he married Carol Ann McCauley and they had four children.
After graduation, he went to work as a reporter for The Des Moines Tribune, an afternoon newspaper, where he worked until 1965. In 1965, Flansburg became a reporter for The Des Moines Register and in 1966 wrote a famous series of articles on Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. Then, in 1971, he moved into the position of Chief political writer and columnist for the Register. As a political reporter for Iowa's largest newspaper, Flansburg gained prominence during the Iowa caucuses held in presidential election years. This was particularly true in 1976. From 1983 to 1989 he was editor of the editorial pages. In this position, he sought out new talent to write for the opinion page, including Robert Waller. In 1989, Flansburg returned to writing his Old Reporter column which he continued until he retired on January 21, 1997.
Browse by Series:
Series 1: CORRESPONDENCE
Series 2: APPOINTMENT BOOKS
Series 3: DES MOINES REGISTER
Series 4: EDITORIALS
Series 5: SUBJECT FILES
Series 6: GENERAL
Series 7: MARCH 2006 ADDENDUM
Series 8: OVERSIZED MATERIAL
This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.