In the Footsteps of Charles Black: A Walk Around Iowa State University

Much of Iowa State University's campus—like the iconic campanile—looks exactly the same today as it did in the 1960s.

August 24–25, 2026

Shortly after I wake up on Monday morning, it starts raining—a steady, soaking rain that looks like it will keep going for hours. I guess it’s good that I decided to stay in an Airbnb this time instead of camping. I work on my computer for a couple hours in my lovely room at Onion Creek Farm, with a view of the woods out the window and chickens crowing in the background.

Then I dash out to my car and drive to a city park that’s conveniently located only a mile from Parks Library. It’s still raining, so I put up my umbrella and join the parade of people with umbrellas and backpacks heading in the direction of campus. I know that college students always take the shortest possible route between two points, so if I follow them I’ll get to campus as quickly as possible. Sure enough, soon we enter the Iowa State University campus right by the library, with twenty minutes to spare before Special Collections opens at 10:00 a.m.

I'm at ISU to learn more about Charles Black, who was a professor here.

I’ve been here before, back in November 2024, to look at archival documents related to the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). This organization was started in the early 1970s by Charles Black, an agronomist here at Iowa State, to “defend” science against environmentalism. While I found a lot of important information last time, I wasn’t able to look at the actual CAST archives because they were still unprocessed. The archivists have been giving me updates on their progress, and a couple weeks ago they sent me the long-awaited email saying that the collection is finally open for research. So here I am again.

Many of Charles Black's photographs show his eye for beauty--like this pair of swans.

Before I dig into the actual CAST archives, I look through some photographs of the ISU campus taken by Charles Black in the 1960s. I’m impressed by his eye for beauty. There are well-taken photographs for the most iconic buildings on campus, like the campanile and the agronomy building. There are photos of flowers and even a pair of swans in a pond. It’s easy to see that Black loved his campus and appreciated how beautiful it was.

Agronomy Hall looks almost exactly the same in 2026 (lower photo) as it did when Black photographed it in 1964 (upper photo). Only the landscaping has changed.

The main reason I rushed to squeeze this trip in before the end of August was because I wanted to see Iowa—and Iowa State University—in the summer. I’ve been to ISU twice before—once in February, when the high for the day was 4°F, and once in November, when all the vegetation was brown. Now, finally, I’m here when everything is green and cheerful—and by the time the archives close at 4:00 p.m., the rain has ended and the sun is shining.

After I leave the library, I wander around campus, trying to walk in Dr. Black’s footsteps as much as I can. I walk past the buildings he photographed, which look exactly the same today as they did in the 1960s. There are a few new buildings stuck in the gaps, but the campus mostly looks the same as it did in Black’s day. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place, bustling with college students heading from one class to another.

Another then-and-now comparison of Agronomy Hall, from a different angle. Upper photo by Charles Black, 1964; lower photo by me, 2026.

I have a productive two days in the archives, looking through dozens of boxes of papers and photographing every document that looks interesting. I finish going through the last box on Tuesday just before the reading room closes. Before I head back to my car, I wander down the quadrangle to look at the Memorial Union, where the CAST offices were housed after they moved out of the agronomy building. I look at the fountain out front and pause in the columned, stained glass–lit entryway with its memorial to World War I veterans.

The CAST offices were moved from Agronomy Hall to the Memorial Union in the late 1970s. Again, it looks almost exactly the same today as it did then.

Back through the quadrangle now. One last look at the columned temple that was the agriculture building before Agronomy Hall was built in the 1950s. Back past the library, around a fenced-off construction area, past the water tower. Back to my car and my Airbnb. And the next day, back on US-30, I-80, and I-94 to go home.

Curtiss Hall was the agriculture building before Agronomy Hall was built; Black took photos of this building as well.

It was a short trip, but I’m really glad I was able to see ISU in the summer. I’ve walked the paths Black walked, looked at the same buildings he did, and even stopped by his cute little hometown. And maybe, just maybe, this will help me portray him fairly and accurately—as a well-meaning man with high ideals who unfortunately was led astray by his unwavering belief in Progress.