Luther College and UNI formed a partnership in 2009, recognizing the need for collection and documentation of the immigration raid that occurred May 12, 2008 at the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville. The raid signified a major historical event in the state of Iowa and nationally, as it was the largest workplace raid up to that time in U.S. history and essentially decreased 20 percent of Postville’s population.

While the 2008 immigration raid served to focus national and international attention on Postville, the raid is part of the much larger story of rapid demographic change and transition of a small rural community since the 1980s due to an influx of people of many cultures and nationalities.

Receiving ongoing, generous funding from the State Historical Society of Iowa and continuing support from Luther College and the University of Northern Iowa, The Postville Project contributes to the historical record in the state of Iowa and nationally by collecting and preserving materials and stories related to one of the largest raids in the state of Iowa and the United States and the effects of such events on small, rural communities such as Postville.

Add to the Collection

Individuals and organizations with materials in any format relevant to The Postville Project are encouraged to contact a project representative in order to investigate the possibility of including their materials in the archive. Development of The Postville Project provides a beneficial opportunity for both the archive developers and the individuals and organizations who allow their material to be included in the collection. Copyright holders and authors will contribute to the permanent historical record and enhance the visibility and accessibility of their work, and at the same time expand the scope of the archive.

The Luther College Archives and the UNI Rod Library are committed to upholding both the letter and spirit of copyright law and to honoring intellectual property rights. A written agreement ensures copyright holders and authors retain rights to their material, and outlines in basic, understandable terms the rights and responsibilities regarding inclusion of material in the archive. Authors who do not hold the copyright for their material are encouraged to work with a project representative to pursue obtaining rights to include their material in The Postville Project.