Iowa Files: Over the Hill to the Poor Farm

Program Type:

Program

Age Group:

Adults
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Event Details

Poor farms were residential institutions, often operated by counties, that provided basic social services and housing for the poor, disabled, and elderly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. These farms were typically located in rural areas and relied on the labor of residents to help sustain the facility and offset costs. They were a common feature of the social welfare landscape before the rise of modern government-funded programs.

Gayla Harkin was a long time administrator of the poor farm in Boone, and will share her stories about the programs and residents.

This joint library-Historical Society event is free and open to the public thanks to the support of West Des Moines Historical Society Members and the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation. 

All Iowa Files programs will be live streamed on the West Des Moines Historical Society’s Facebook Page and all videos will be closed captioned. They will also be uploaded to their YouTube channel after the event takes place.