History to be learned out of the Woods

A chest filled with family treasures not only led a Virginia woman to delve deeper into the life of her great-great grandfather but also to visit the University Archives at Upper Iowa University’s (UIU) Fayette Campus. Christine (Woods) Grodek started researching her ancestor and UIU alumnus, Philo Woods, a few years ago after receiving the trunk from her father, James.

A self-proclaimed history nerd, Grodek believes her extensive genealogy research makes the past come alive and more personal. She connects to remarkable times in American history, such as the Civil War, knowing that an ancestor like Philo Woods was fighting in historic battles. Grodek’s specific interest in her great-great grandfather piqued after uncovering  a number of Woods’ family correspondence and being informed of a known collection of missing Philo Woods’ Civil War-era diaries.

 “When I started looking through the old chest, we found many drafts of Philo’s speeches presented either at Upper Iowa University graduation ceremonies or during his time as a UIU student in the Philomathean Society,” Grodek said. “To be able to read his personal convictions and opinions is always interesting – and again, just really makes him and my family’s history come alive.”

Accompanied by her father during the recent trip to northeast Iowa, Grodek first visited author Roger B. Bowen in Iowa City, Iowa. Bowen, a former UIU registrar, and Charles B. Clark, a former UIU academic dean, penned “University Recruits: Company C: 12^th Iowa Infantry Regiment U.S.A., 1861-1866.”

“I’m so happy to have seen Roger, discuss our findings and chat in more detail about his book,” Grodek said. “He has been so helpful in leading my search of Philo and connecting me with all of the right places to research in Iowa. I had no idea that Philo was captured at the Battle of Shiloh until I read Roger Bowen’s book, ‘University Recruits,’ which was based largely on Philo Woods’ Civil War diaries. Knowing what he endured as a prisoner of war on top of all the atrocities of the Civil War paints him in a new light for me.”

Philo R. Woods was a member of the “University Recruits” 12th Iowa Regiment, Company C. He enlisted September 15, 1861, as a private and was captured at Shiloh on April 6, 1862. Woods re-enlisted as a veteran on December 25, 1863. He was promoted to corporal on April 1, 1863, as sergeant on March 1, 1865, and mustered out on January 20, 1866.

He is recorded in the University Archives as being elected the Philomathean Society president on December 7, 1866.  The fraternity was the first student organization at Fayette Campus.  It was organized the first year of classes in 1857. UIU Archivist Janette Garcia noted that it can also be confusing because the name of the society was often shortened to “Philo.” Philo Woods graduated with Bachelor of Science degree from UIU in 1882. He also served as a tutor and instructor in mathematics at UIU from 1880-82. An 1875 edition of “The Collegian” reports that he taught in Ossian, Iowa.

During their one-day visit to the University Archives, Grodek and her father were showed the University Recruits’ hand-sewn Civil War flag, field desk and other artifacts that are being safely preserved at Fayette Campus.  Unfortunately, the Philo Woods’ diaries have yet to be uncovered.

“Although, I’m sad to say the Philo Woods’ diaries are somehow missing from the collection, which seems to be quite a mystery, it makes me even more thankful to have Roger Bowen’s book on the University Recruits that quotes so much of Philo’s diaries,” Grodek said. “I do think Janette has her work cut out for her. There are so many items in UIU’s archives that she continues to locate, sift through and record.”

As part of their Iowa visit, Grodek and her father also toured the Tama area where much of the Woods family lived for several generations. In addition, they visited local cemeteries where Philo Woods and his wife, Emily Churchill, and Grodek’s grandfather, Arthur Woods, and many other Woods ancestors were buried.

Grodek intends to continue her research by contacting the Iowa Historical Society in the hope that they may have more information on Philo and other ancestors.  In the meantime, she is also keeping her fingers crossed that one day the missing Philo Woods diaries will be discovered hidden away at the University Archives or another historical institution.

“I just think learning more about my ancestors and who they were as individuals gives me a better understanding of my family and a better appreciation of my own family history,” Grodek said. “I think it’s important to pass down such information to future generations. I plan to compile whatever I do find into organized files in hopes that one day my children will also be interested in their family history.”

Be a part of preserving UIU’s history

The Foster Cass Archives Walk provides a self-guided tour of UIU’s extensive collection featured across Campus. The centerpiece of the exhibits and displays is The University Archives, which is located on the first floor of Henderson-Wilder Library.

 

During a visit to the University Archives, alumni and other guests are invited to participate in the Oral History Project. As part of the interactive exhibit, visitors may record their own story to become part of the collection or view previously recorded alumni stories. To contribute to the UIU Oral History project, visit uiu.edu/resources/archives/oral-history/oral-history-contributing.html.

To view the digital archives, visit uiu.edu/digitalarchives. For additional information about the UIU Archives, contact Janette Garcia at garciaj26@uiu.edu or at 563-425-5722.