Press release:
Life in Muscatine, Iowa from 120 years ago is brought to life through the lens of renowned photographer Oscar Grossheim in an all-new 2021 calendar on sale now to benefit reading in Muscatine. Kent Corporation partnered with Friends of the Musser Public Library to create the wall calendar, which features more than a dozen throwback images taken by Grossheim in the early 1900’s.
“Many people may not realize the rich history that exists right here in Muscatine,” said Carol Reynolds, Kent Corporation Corporate Spokesperson. “We are very lucky to have thriving businesses today, but the building blocks of our reality were set into place long ago. The Oscar Grossheim collection of images is a treasure that sheds light on this history and Kent Corporation is proud to support it.”
Kent Corporation donated $5,000 to Friends of the Musser Public Library to sponsor the release of the 2021 Oscar Grossheim calendars, which can be purchased at various downtown businesses and at Musser Public Library. Friends of the Musser Public Library is a non-profit group of local citizens who volunteer their efforts to promote the growth of the Musser Public Library.
Oscar Grossheim was an American photographer who lived and worked in Muscatine nearly all his life. The Oscar Grossheim Collection consists of over 55,000 glass plate negatives taken from approximately the late 1890’s to the early 1940’s.
Tens of thousands of glass negatives of Grossheim’s work have been saved to tell their stories for future generations. Many prints from these negatives may be seen today at Musser Public Library.