First VEISHEA: Iowa Time Machine May 13, 1922

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On May 13, 1922, the first VEISHEA ended at Iowa State. The annual week-long celebration, which highlighted many departments, student groups, and other aspects of Iowa State, ran until Iowa State President Stephen Leath first suspended and ultimately discontinued the popular spring festival.

Named for the university colleges that existed at Iowa State College in 1922 (Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Science (Industrial), Home Economics, and Agriculture), the festival grew out of several other annual spring events, including Engineering’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Home Economics’ “HEC Day,” and the Ag Carnival. Professor Frank “Shorty” Paine conceptualized the combined celebration and the name VEISHEA to avoid so many distractions spread across the calendar.

Always a student-led and run event, Wallace McKee led the first VEISHEA Central Committee in 1922. After months of meetings in Beardshear Hall, the first festival featured traditional staples, including the May Queen Pageant, the knighting of Engineering students into the Order of St. Patrick, and the Ag Carnival Vaudeville Show. Departments hosted open houses, the first VEISHEA parade snaked through Ames, Home Economics sold cherry pies, and the ROTC even staged a mock battle. As time progressed, students built on the traditions established at the inaugural VEISHEA with events including “Stars Over VEISHEA,” the VEISHEA Village, and many others near to the hearts of Iowa State alumni. 

In 1935, the VEISHEA Central Committee donated two swans to Lake Luverne and hosted a contest to name them. Lancelot and Elaine, the winning names, still carry on with waterfowl rechristened on the iconic ISU water feature. Three Presidents visited VEISHEA: Harry Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Ronald Reagan, and many popular performers graced stages at the event over the years, including Sonny & Cher, Billy Joel, and the Goo Goo Dolls. 

The popular event also gained a reputation for getting out of hand as the years passed. Massive disturbances occurred in 1988, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2004, and 2014. The 2004 riot caused a reported $250,000 of damage, leading to ISU President Gregory L. Geoffroy suspending the popular event in 2005. After returning with new rules in 2006, the event continued until the 2014 riot ultimately led to its discontinuation. #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryCalendar