IARCHS History & Mission

A Brief History of IARCHS

In 1994, a small group of radio collectors headed by Dennis Hilberg and Gerald Lange organized and decided to form an Iowa club dedicated to old radio collecting and preserving Iowa radio manufacturing and radio broadcast history.

An early project was to establish a listing of Iowa radio manufacturers and their history. A link to that list can be found on the homepage of this site.

For four years in the late 90’s the club participated cooperatively in a radio swap/sales meet along with the local Ham club and PC club in Dubuque around Labor Day. An informative radio display for the public was part of the event.

In 1995 and 96 a radio exhibit was set up at the Maquoketa Historical Museum and ran for 45 days. A swap meet was held in conjunction with this exhibit each year

In 2003 and 2004 radio exhibits were set up and staffed at the Iowa State Fair. The Waukee Antique Power Show in July of 2004 - 2006 also became a  public outreach for the club. It is moving to their alternate show in September 2007 to reach a slightly different  post- summer crowd and definitely cooler weather! A variety of other outreach activities in Dubuque, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and elsewhere have been hosted by club members.

A quarterly newsletter is published. At least one annual meeting is generally held in Cedar Rapids early in the year in anticipation of our annual radio auction on the grounds of Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids and additional meetings & presentations are held whenever else they can be arranged. Local meetings of enthusiasts have recently become part of the club social agenda.

IARCHS Mission

IARCHS is an informal, not-for-profit club whose purpose statement is:

1) To provide an organization for collectors and historians of wireless, radio, television and other similar items.
2) To promote acquisition and preservation of biographical, technical and historical data, through the collecting of radios, stories, photographs, literature and other related items, particularly with respect to the inventors and early radio pioneers of Iowa.
3) To educate and enrich the public knowledge about the historical and cultural significance of radio by means of lectures, discussions, publications, workshops, displays and presentations.
4) To encourage and assist individuals in their preservation and restoration of radio and television related items to a condition consistent with the original intent of their manufacturer.
5) To create and foster an interest in radio history.

The IARCHS News newsletter is published and distributed (more or less) quarterly to all members of record and to similar clubs and organizations at their request.