Encyclopedia Dubuque:About

The basis of this website is a book published in 1991 entitled Dubuque: The Encyclopedia. This book, written by Randolph W. Lyon for FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DUBUQUE (now U.S. Bank), was used by the bank as a promotional item for people investing in certificates of deposit or for outright purchase.

The Encyclopedia was planned as a table-top reference of Dubuque's history. Exhaustive research and interviews over five years provided the material. Organized in alphabetical order, the format allowed for ease of use. Many entries offered related subjects. To indicate such sub-topics, bold face type was used. Editing the size of the entries and the number of photographs was necessary to keep the book of reasonable size and price.

Sales of the Encyclopedia after it was announced were brisk. The long-term response to the book can be measured by the CARNEGIE-STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY. Their copies had to be rebound from frequent use. Over the years, the Encyclopedia has frequently been cited in the local newspaper, the Telegraph Herald, as a source of information.

As Dubuque reached its sesquicentennial, the Dubuque City Council announced that it would fund ten applications from local historical societies or groups with projects involving Dubuque history. The Carnegie-Stout Library Foundation chose to apply for a grant to convert Dubuque: The Encyclopedia to an online format.

This grant application was approved.

I would like to thank the Carnegie-Stout Library Foundation for its encouragement and support of this project. EncyclopediaDubuque allows readers to quickly move from topics to related subtopics. Current entries can be updated and expanded. New entries and pictures will be added without the need to consider past publishing restrictions. We stand on the brink of creating an exciting nationwide community of historians. This offers the opportunity for additional fact checking and exciting opportunities for the acquisition of new information and photographs.

I have especially appreciated the support given to this project by Michael May of the Carnegie-Stout Library. His foresight in realizing the potential of the grant, writing the application, and then guiding it through to its approval earns him my highest respect. He has always been open to suggestions and has offered encouragement and insights at every phase of this work.

My technical support came from Angela and Ransom Briggs of Iowa City. Their knowledge of the Wiki and issues related to computers was unmatched.

In addition to all the people who provided pictures and information for the book Dubuque: The Encyclopedia I would like to add my deep appreciation to Bob Reding. Always willing to answer questions or provide material for pictures, he is a treasure.

For all the times I had to say, "Just a minute and I'll be there" or "I need a bit more time on the computer," I want to thank my wife, Ruth.

Randolph W. Lyon