Aldrich, Charles, 1828-1908

Charles Aldrich was a pioneer Iowa newspaperman (Hamilton Freeman, Dubuque Daily Times, Marshall Times), chief clerk of the Iowa House of Representatives (1860, 1862, 1866, 1870) , state legislator representing Hamilton County, Iowa (elected in 1881), first curator of the Iowa State Historical Dept. (1892-1908) and editor of the Annals of Iowa.

Charles Aldrich was a pioneer Iowa newspaperman (Hamilton Freeman, Dubuque Daily Times, Marshall Times), chief clerk of the Iowa House of Representatives (1860, 1862, 1866, 1870) , state legislator representing Hamilton County, Iowa (elected in 1881), first curator of the Iowa State Historical Dept. (1892-1908) and editor of the Annals of Iowa. Charles married Matilda Williams in 1851. Matilda died in 1892 and in 1898 Charles married Thirza Louise Briggs, a close friend of Matilda's. From boyhood Charles Aldrich was an avid collector of autographs. In 1884 he donated his extensive collection to the state of Iowa, a collection which became the cornerstone of the State Historical Department's holdings upon its establishment in 1892.