Each sketch in this book is autobiographical, giving in order the following information where submitted: Name, place and date of birth; parents; education; marriage and names of children; business history, showing dates, locations and type of employment or business endeavor; war record; clubs and organizations; politics; church affiliation; hobbies and present office and home address. Where an individual is still active in a capacity as listed, we have given the date when such affiliation began, followed by a hyphen, as "1932- cashier, State Bank"; or "1929- mayor." Where such activity has terminated, both dates are given, as "1932-38 cashier, State Bank", etc.
| A & M | Agricultural & Mechanical |
| A&P Rwy | Atlantic & Pacific Railway |
| AA | degree of associate of arts |
| AAA | Agricultural Adjustment Administration |
| | American Automobile Association |
| AAONMS | Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine |
| AAAS | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| AASR | Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite |
| AAU | Amateur Athletic Union |
| AAUP | American Association of University Professors |
| AAUW | American Association of University Women |
| acad | academy, academic |
| acct | accountant |
| ACD | American College of Dentists |
| ACP | American College of Physicians |
| | Agricultural Conservation Program |
| ACS | American College of Surgeons |
| ADA | American Dental Association |
| adjt | adjutant |
| adm | admitted |
| AE | agricultural engineer (ing) |
| AEF | American Expeditionary Force |
| AF&AM | Ancient Free & Accepted Masons |
| AFI | All for Iowa |
| AF of L | American Federation of Labor |
| agcy | agency |
| agr (l) | agriculture (al) |
| agt | agent |
| AHEPA | American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association |
| AIEE | American Institute of Electrical Engineers |
| Ala | Alabama |
| ALA | American Library Association |
| AMA | American Medical Association |
| Amer | American |
| AMPA | American Newspaper Publishers Association |
| AOUW | Ancient Order of United Workmen |
| AP | Associated Press |
| appr | apprentice |
| apptd | appointed |
| apptmt | appointment |
| apt (s) | apartment (s) |
| ARC | American Red Cross |
| Ariz | Arizona |
| Ark | Arkansas |
| arty | artillery |
| AS | air service |
| ASAE | American Society of Agricultural Engineers |
| ASCE | American Society of Civil Engineers |
| ASME | American Society of Mechanical Engineers |
| ASSC | Air Service Signal Corps |
| assn | association |
| assoc | associate (d) |
| asst | assistant |
| AT&SF Rwy | Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway |
| att | attended, attending |
| atty | attorney |
| Aug | August |
| aux | auxiliary |
| ave | avenue |
| AZA | Aleph Zadek Aleph |
| b | born |
| B&A RR | Boston & Albany Railroad |
| B & L | Building & Loan |
| B&M RR | Burlington & Missouri Railroad |
| B&O RR Co | Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company |
| B&PW | Business & Professional Women |
| BA | bachelor of arts |
| BAE | Bureau of Agricultural Economics |
| BAgr | bachelor of agriculture |
| Bapt | Baptist |
| BArch | bachelor of architecture |
| BAS | bachelor of association science |
| batt | battalion |
| BBA | bachelor of business administration |
| B C | British Columbia |
| BCE | bachelor of civil engineering |
| BCL | bachelor of civil law |
| BCS | bachelor of commercial science |
| bd | board |
| BD | bachelor of divinity |
| BDi | bachelor of didactics |
| BDS | bachelor of dental surgery |
| BE | bachelor of education, bachelor of engineering,
bachelor of expression |
| BEd | bachelor of education |
| BEF | British Expeditionary Force |
| BFA | bachelor of fine arts |
| BJ | bachelor of journalism |
| bkkpr | bookkeeper |
| BL | bachelor of laws, bachelor of letters |
| bldg | building |
| BLitt | bachelor of literature, bachelor of letters |
| BLS | bachelor of library science |
| blvd | boulevard |
| BM | bachelor of medicine |
| BME | bachelor of mining engineering |
| BMus | bachelor of music |
| B of LE | Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers |
| B of LF&E | Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers |
| BO | bachelor of oratory |
| BPd | bachelor of pedagogy |
| BPE | bachelor of physical education |
| BPOE | Benevolent Protective Order of Elks |
| B of RC | Brotherhood of Railway Clerks |
| brig | brigadier |
| BRE | bachelor of religious education |
| BRT | Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen |
| BSA | bachelor of agricultural science, Boy Scouts of America |
| BSc | bachelor of science |
| BSD | bachelor of didactic science |
| BSL | bachelor of sacred literature |
| BTh | bachelor of theology |
| bur | bureau |
| BVM | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| C&EI RR | Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad |
| C> Rwy | Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad |
| C&NP RR | Chicago & Northern Pacific Railroad |
| C&NW Rwy | Chicago & Northwestern Railroad |
| C&O Rwy | Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad |
| C&S Rwy Co | Colorado & Southern Railway Company |
| CAC | coast artillery corps |
| Cal | California |
| capt | captain |
| CAR | Children of the American Revolution |
| carp | carpenter |
| cash | cashier |
| Cath | Catholic |
| CB&Q Rwy Co | Chicago, Burlington & Quncy Railway Company |
| CCC&StL Rwy | Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St Louis Railway |
| CE | civil engineer |
| CGW Rwy | Chicago Great Western Railway |
| ch | chapter, charter, church |
| chg | charge |
| chmn | chairman |
| Chris | Christian |
| Chris Sci | Christian Science |
| clk | clerk |
| CLU | Central Labor Union |
| CM&StP Rwy | Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul Railway |
| CMTC | Citizens Military Training Camp |
| co | company (s), county (s) |
| COF | Catholic Order of Foresters |
| C of C | Chamber of Commerce |
| col | colonel |
| coll | college |
| Colo | Colorado |
| com | committee |
| comdt | commandant |
| comm | commander, community |
| commd | commissioned |
| comml | commercial |
| commr | commissioner |
| conf | conference |
| Congl | Congregational, Congressional |
| Conn | Connecticut |
| contr | contractor |
| conv | convention |
| co-op | co-operative |
| corp | corporation, corporal |
| COTS | central officers training school |
| coun | council |
| CP Rwy | Canadian Pacific Railway |
| CPA | certified public accountant |
| CRI&P Rwy | Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway |
| CStPM&O Rwy | Chicago, St Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway |
| CWA | Civil Works Administration |
| d | daughter |
| D&RGW RR Co | Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Company |
| DAgr | doctor of agriculture |
| DAR | Daughters of the American Revolution |
| DAV | Disabled American Veterans |
| D C | District of Columbia |
| DC | doctor of chiropractic |
| DCL | doctor of civil law |
| DD | doctor of divinity |
| DDS | doctor of dental surgery |
| dec | deceased |
| Dec | December |
| DEd | doctor of education |
| del | delegate |
| Del | Delaware |
| Dem | Democrat |
| DEng | doctor of engineering |
| dep | deputy |
| dept | department |
| DHL | doctor of Hebrew literature |
| dir (s) | director (s) |
| disch | discharged |
| dist | district |
| div | division |
| DLit (t) | doctor of literature |
| dir (s) | dealer (s) |
| DLS | doctor of library science |
| DM&C | Des Moines & Central Iowa Railroad Co |
| DMU Rwy | Des Moines Union Railway |
| DMus | doctor of music |
| DO | doctor of osteopathy |
| DOKK | Dramatic Order of Knights of Khorasson of America |
| DORC | dental officers reserve corps |
| Dr | doctor |
| DRE | doctor of religious education |
| DSc | doctor of science |
| DSC | distinguished service cross |
| DST | doctor of sacred theology |
| DTM | doctor of tropical medicine |
| DUV | Daughters of Union Veterans |
| DVM | doctor of veterinary medicine |
| DVS | doctor of veterinary surgery |
| E | east |
| ed | educated |
| ED | doctor of engineering |
| EdB | bachelor of education |
| EdD | doctor of education |
| EdM | master of education |
| edn (l) | education (al) |
| EE | electrical engineer |
| elec | elected |
| elem | elementary |
| emp | employed |
| engr (s) | engineer (s) |
| enl | enlisted |
| ent | entered |
| Episc | Episcopal |
| est | estate |
| estab | established |
| Evang | Evangelical |
| exec | executive |
| ext | extensive |
| extn | extension |
| FACD | Fellow of the American College of Dentists |
| FACP | Fellow of the American College of Physicians |
| FACS | Fellow of the American College of Surgeons |
| FBI | Federal Bureau of Inventigation |
| FCA | Farm Credit Administration |
| FDDM&Sou RR | Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad |
| FDIC | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| FE&MV RR | Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad |
| Feb | February |
| fed | federal |
| fedn | federation |
| FFA | Future Farmers of America |
| FHA | Federal Housing Administration |
| Fla | Florida |
| FOE | Fraternal Order of Eagles |
| frat | fraternity |
| FSA | Farm Security Administration |
| FSB | Federal Securities Board |
| FTDA | Florists Telegraph Delivery Association |
| FtDM | Fort Des Moines |
| furn | furniture |
| Ga | Georgia |
| GAR | Grand Army of the Republic |
| gen | general |
| GFWC | General Federation of Women's Clubs |
| GHQ | general headquarters |
| GMC | General Motors Corporation |
| GN Rwy | Great Northern Railway |
| gov | governor |
| govt | government |
| grad | graduate |
| groc | grocer |
| GT Rwy | Grand Trunk Railway |
| hdqrs | headquarters |
| hdw | hardware |
| HG | Home Guard |
| hist | historical |
| HOLC | Home Owners Loan Corporation |
| hon | honorable, honorary |
| hosp | hospital |
| HS | high school |
| ICC | Interstate Commerce Commission |
| IC RR | Illinois Central Railroad |
| ICS | International Correspondence School |
| IERA | Iowa Emergency Relief Administration |
| IFWC | Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs |
| IGA | Independent Grocers Alliance |
| IGN RR | International Great Northern Railroad |
| Ill | Illinois |
| impl | implement |
| inc | incorporated |
| Ind | Indiana |
| indep | independent (ly) |
| inf | infantry |
| ING | Iowa National Guards |
| ins | insurance |
| inst | institute |
| instr | instructor |
| int (s) | interest (s) (ed) |
| internatl | international |
| IOGT | International Order of Good Templars |
| IOOF | Independent Order of Odd Fellows |
| IPA | Iowa Press Association |
| ISTA | Iowa State Teachers Association |
| ISTC | Iowa State Teachers College |
| ITU | International Typographical Union |
| Jan | January |
| JCD, JDC | doctor of civil law |
| JCL | Juris Canonici Lector |
| JD | juris doctor, doctor of laws |
| JP | Justice of the Peace |
| jr | junior |
| JSD | doctor of juristic science |
| JUD | doctor of canon & civil laws |
| Kas | Kansas |
| KC | Knight of Columbus |
| KCCH | Knights Commandery of the Court of Honor |
| KCS Rwy | Kansas City Southern Railway |
| KP | Knights of Pythias |
| KT | Knights Templar |
| Ky | Kentucky |
| L & B | Loan & Building |
| L&N RR | Louisville & Nashville Railroad |
| La | Louisiana |
| LA&SL RR | Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad |
| lab | laboratory |
| lbr | lumber |
| LHD | doctor of the humanities, doctor of letters of humanity |
| LI RR | Long Island Railroad |
| lib | library |
| lic | licensed |
| LitD | doctor of letters, doctor of literature |
| LittB | bachelor of letters |
| LittD | doctor of letters |
| LLB | bachelor of laws |
| LLD | doctor of laws |
| LLM | master of laws |
| LOOM | Loyal Order of Moose |
| lt | lieutenant |
| ltd | limited |
| Luth | Lutheran |
| m | married |
| M&StL RR | Minneapolis & St Louis Railroad |
| MA | master of arts |
| MAgr | master of agriculture |
| maj | major |
| Mar | March |
| Mass | Massachusetts |
| math | mathematics, mathematical |
| MB | bachelor of medicine |
| MBA | master of business administration |
| mbr | member |
| mcht | merchant |
| MC&CL RR | Mason City & Clear Lake Railroad |
| MCL | master of civil law |
| MCS | master of commercial science |
| Md | Maryland |
| MD | doctor of medicine |
| MDi | master of didactics |
| MDip | master in diplomacy |
| MDS | master of dental surgery |
| mdse | merchandise |
| Me | Maine |
| ME | mechanical, military or mining engineering |
| med | medical, medicine |
| MEE | master of electrical engineering |
| merc | mercantile |
| Meth | Methodist |
| MFA | master of fine arts |
| mfg | manufacturing |
| mfr (s) | manufacturer (s) |
| mgr (s) | manager (s) |
| MGTC | machine gun transport company |
| Mich | Michigan |
| mil | military |
| min | minute |
| Minn | Minnesota |
| Miss | Mississippi |
| MIT | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| MK&T Rwy | Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway |
| MLitt | master of literature |
| MME | master of mechanical engineering |
| M&O RR | Mobile & Ohio Railroad |
| Mo | Missouri |
| Mont | Montana |
| MoP Rwy | Missouri Pacific Railway |
| MORC | medical officers reserve corps |
| MPd | master of pedagogy |
| MPE | master of physical education |
| MRE | master of religious education |
| MS | master of surgery |
| MSc | master of science |
| MST | master of sacred theology |
| MStP&SSM Rwy | Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway |
| MTC | motor transport company |
| MTD | motor transport division |
| MTh | master of theology |
| MusB | bachelor of music |
| MusD | doctor of music |
| MusM | master of music |
| MWA | Modern Woodmen of America |
| N | north |
| N&W Rwy | Norfolk & Western Railway |
| NAA | National Aeronautics Association |
| NARD | National Association of Retail Druggists |
| natl | national |
| Natl Edit Assn | National Editorial Association |
| N C | North Carolina |
| NC&StL Rwy | Nashville, Cattanooga & St Louis Railway |
| N D | North Dakota |
| NE | northeast |
| NEA | National Educational Association |
| Neb | Nebraska |
| Nev | Nevada |
| NG | National Guards |
| N H | New Hampshire |
| N J | New Jersey |
| N M | New Mexico |
| Nov | November |
| NP Rwy | Northern Pacific Railway |
| NRA | National Recovery Administration |
| NW | northwest |
| N Y | New York |
| NYA | National Youth Administration |
| NYC&HR RR | New York, Central & Hudson River Railroad |
| NYC RR | New York Central Railroad |
| NYNH&H RR | New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad |
| Oct | October |
| OES | Order of Eastern Star |
| ofcl | official |
| ofcr | officer |
| off | office |
| Okla | Oklahoma |
| opr (d) | operator, operate (d) |
| oprn | operation |
| ORC | Order of Railway Conductors, Officers Reserve Corps |
| Ore | Oregon |
| org (r) | organized, organizer |
| orgn | organization |
| ORT | Order of Railway Telegraphers |
| O/S | overseas |
| OSL RR | Oregon Short Line Railroad |
| OTC | officers training camp |
| OTS | officers training school |
| O-W RR&N Co | Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company |
| PCA | Production Credit Association |
| pct | precinct |
| PdB | bachelor of pedagogy |
| PdD | doctor of pedagogy |
| PdM | master of pedagogy |
| PeB | bachelor of pediatrics |
| Penn | Pennsylvania |
| Penn RR | Pennsylvania Railroad |
| Pharm | pharmacy (ist), (eutical) |
| PhB | bachelor of philosophy |
| PhC | pharmaceutical chemist,chiropractic philosopher |
| PhD | doctor of philosophy, doctor of pharmacy |
| PhG | graduate in pharmacy |
| phys | physician |
| P I | Philippine Islands |
| P M | postmaster |
| PM RR | Pere Marquette Railroad |
| P O | postoffice |
| prac | practice (d) |
| prep | preparatory |
| pres | president |
| Presby | Presbyterian |
| prin | principal |
| priv | private |
| prof | professor |
| prop | proprietor |
| Prot | Protestant |
| PTA | Parent Teachers Association |
| ptr | partner |
| pub | public |
| pur | purchased |
| PWA | Public Works Administration |
| QMC | quartermasters corps |
| QMRC | quartermasters reserve corps |
| RA | resettlement administration |
| RACC | Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation |
| RAM | Royal Arch Mason |
| R&SM | Royal & Select Mason |
| REA | Rural Electrification Administraion |
| recd | received |
| Rep | representative, republican |
| res | reserve, residence |
| ret | retired |
| retd | returned |
| Rev | Reverend |
| RFC | Reconstruction Finance Corporation |
| RFD | Rural Free Delivery |
| R I | Rhode Island |
| RN | registered nurse |
| RNA | Royal Neighbors of America |
| ROA | Reserve Officers Association |
| RR | railroad |
| s | son |
| S | south |
| S & L | Savings & Loan |
| SA | Salvation Army |
| SAL Rwy | Seaboard Air Line Railway |
| SAR | Sons of the American Revolution |
| SATC | Student Army Training Corps |
| SBA | Security Benefit Association |
| S C | South Carolina |
| SC | Signal Corps |
| sch | school |
| Scot | Scottish |
| S D | South Dakota |
| SE | southeast |
| secy | secretary |
| sen | senator, senate |
| Sept | September |
| sgt | sergeant |
| SJD | doctor juristic science |
| SNTC | student naval training corps |
| soc | society |
| SP Co | Southern Pacific Company |
| Sp-Amer | Spanish American |
| SPEE | Soc for the Promotion of Engineering Education |
| sr | senior |
| SS | steamship, Sunday School |
| St | Saint, street, state |
| STB | bachelor of sacred theology |
| STD | doctor of sacred theology |
| steno | stenographer |
| StJ&GI RR | St Joseph & Grand Island Railroad |
| StL&SF RR | St Louis & San Francisco Railroad |
| StL&M&S MoP | St Louis & Missouri & Southern Missouri Pacific |
| STP | professor of sacred theology |
| supt | superintendent |
| supvr | supervisor |
| surg | surgeon |
| SUV | Sons of Union Veterans |
| SW | southwest |
| T&P Rwy | Texas & Pacific Railway |
| tchr | teacher |
| TDS | Telegraphic Delivery Service |
| tech | technical |
| tele | telephone |
| teleg | telegraph |
| Tenn | Tennessee |
| Tex | Texas |
| T H | Territory of Hawaii |
| ThD | doctor of theology |
| ThM | master of theology |
| TPA | Travelers Protective Association |
| treas | treasurer (s) |
| tsfrd | transferred |
| tsptn | transportation |
| TVA | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| twp | township |
| U | university |
| U B | United Brethren |
| UCT | United Commercial Travelers |
| UMWA | United Mine Workers of America |
| Uni | university |
| UP | Union Pacific, United Press |
| US | United States |
| USDA | United States Department of Agriculture |
| USN | United States Navy |
| USS | United States Ship |
| USWV | United Spanish War Veterans |
| Va | Virginia |
| vol | volunteer |
| VP | vice-president |
| vs | versus |
| Vt | Vermont |
| W | west |
| Wash | Washington |
| WCF&N RR | Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Railroad |
| WCTU | Womens Christian Temperance Union |
| Wes | Wesleyan |
| WFMS | Woman's Foreign Missionary Society |
| WHMS | Woman's Home Missionary Society |
| whol | wholesale |
| Wis | Wisconsin |
| WOW | Woodmen of the World |
| WP RR | Western Pacific Railroad Company |
| WPA | Works Progress Administration |
| WRC | Women's Relief Corps |
| W Va | West Virginia |
| Wyo | Wyoming |
| Y D | Young Democrats |
| YMCA | Young Men's Christian Association |
| Y R | Young Republicans |
| YWCA | Young Women's Christian Association |
