Quad Cities Archives Fair at the Putnam Museum & Science Center -- October 24.
Saturday, October 24, 1 – 4 p.m.
Putnam Museum & Science Center, 1717 West 12th Street, Davenport IA
On October 24, Davenport's Putnam Museum & Science Center will host the eagerly awaited 2026 Quad Cities Archives Fair, allowing the public to experience Quad Cities history by visiting with regional cultural and historical organizations, learning about unique collections and services, listening to talks on historical topics, and discovering some of the area's hidden gems.
The annual Archies Fair allows guests to chat with and learn from exhibitors, with nearly two dozen scheduled to participate, among them: Augustana Special Collections, Thomas Tredway Library; Bix Beiderbecke Museum & World Archives Ltd; Buffalo Bill Museum; Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House; Center For Belgian Culture; Davenport School Museum; German-American Heritage Center; Hannah Caldwell Chapter NSDAR; Muscatine Art Center; Muscatine County Genealogical Society; National Pearl Button Museum; Palmer College of Chiropractic Special Collections and Archives; Putnam Museum & Science Center; QC Beats; QC PastPort; Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center, Davenport Public Library; St. Ambrose University Archives; Schuetzen Park Historic Site; Scott Community College Archives; Scott County Historic Preservation Society; Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society (SCIGS); Swenson Swedish American Research Center; and Vintage Audio Restoration.
At 1:30 and 3 p.m., Archives Fair attendees are also invited to enjoy the special presentation Strange Objects: Celebrating the Wonderfully Weird Objects from the Putnam Collections. Davenport's Putnam Museum has been collecting natural science, history, and anthropology objects for almost 160 years. The collection is large and eclectic, to say the least. That’s a polite way to say that some artifacts are just weird. From hairballs to bloodletting devices, none of these objects will ever be designated “national treasures,” but many have earned a place in the hearts and memories of the Quad Cities’ community. Guests are encouraged to learn the stories behind these well-loved objects and many of the other wonderfully strange pieces preserved at the Putnam.
The 2026 Quad Cities Archives Fair will be held at Davenport's Putnam Museum & Science Center on October 24, admission to the 1 to 4 p.m. event is free, and more information is available by visiting Sites.google.com/view/qcarchivesfair/home?pli=1&authuser=0.
