RIDER, Linda

RIDER, Linda. (Dubuque, IA,--Berkley, CA, 1952). Rider, a teacher at DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL between 1907 and 1927, led her students in the compilation of Architecture of Dubuque, one of the first books to describe Dubuque's many styles of buildings. Over a three year period, Rider and the "Author's Club," fifty of her students, assembled ninety-one photographs and one hundred twenty pages of text including scholarly explanations of architectural terms and summaries of the different styles. Her Author's Club was also responsible for a comprehensive catalogue of local birds which was given to the library. (1)

Rider's "Author's Club" was started in November, 1919 from among the seniors at DUBUQUE HIGH SCHOOL. Those who had exhibited special ability in written work were offered membership which allowed them to avoid regular composition work. Those who did not measure up to the club's standards were allowed to withdraw. Volumes of work by the club were exhibited in the public library. (2)

In 1921 Rider was asked to make a presentation at the March meeting of the Northeastern Iowa Teacher's Association at its meeting in Waterloo. Her program for the English teachers involved "incentives to a Love of Literature." (3) She also contributed essays to the newspaper. (4) In 1924 her poem, "First Love," was published in Contemporary Verse, a literary magazine. (5)

When she retired in 1927, Rider was serving s the head of the high school English department. (6)

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Source:

1. "Library Prepares Bird Catalogue," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 29, 1921, p. 14

2. "Author's Club is a Decided Success," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 17, 1920, p. 7

3. "Dubuque Teachers to Attend Meeting," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, March 20, 1921, p. 47

4. "Name Origins," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 24, 1923, p. 45

5. "Poem by Miss Rider Published," Telegraph-Herald, December 12, 1924, p. 2

6. "Society," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, May 4, 1927, p. 21

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