Panther time capsule

Panther time capsule

Discover the everyday objects and remarkable relics that reflect UNI’s 150-year story

Every university has a story — ours begins in 1876 and continues with every Panther who has walked this campus. In celebration of UNI’s 150th anniversary, we’ve gathered time-capsule items from the UNI Museum that trace our journey from a small normal school to a vibrant, modern institution. These artifacts hold memories of classrooms, traditions, triumphs and change. They remind us that history is built not only by grand moments, but by everyday experiences that leave a lasting mark. As you explore these pieces, we invite you to rediscover UNI’s past and imagine all that lies ahead.

An Iowa State Normal School pennant

Homemade Iowa State Normal School pennant (1908)

A pin with an early image of the Iowa State Normal School and the words, "Normal School Quarter Centennial"

Iowa State Normal School 25th anniversary pin (1901)

Purple & gold ISTC beanie

Iowa State Teachers College beanie (1923-1960)

A vintage football reading Iowa Teachers - 31, Augustana 7

Game ball used in the 1960 match between ISTC and Augustana College

A purple & gold pennant with the ISTC seal that says Cedar Falls
Iowa State Teachers College embossed pennant (circa 1950s-1960s)

Left to right: Iowa State Teachers College letter sweater (1933), Commencement booklet (1933), Iowa State Teachers College band uniform (circa 1950s-1960s)

A vintage yellow sweater with a purple "I" on front
A purple commencement booklet with a tassel and ISTC seal
A vintage marching band uniform dress with a yellow top emblazoned with a panther and a purple skirt
A vintage purple panther booklet whose eyes say ISTC

Homemade dance invite (circa 1930s)

A purple & gold homemade wall hanger that reads, "Cedar Falls ISTC"

Iowa State Teachers College souvenir wall hanger (circa 1930-1950)

A State College of Iowa bleacher pad

State College of Iowa bleacher pad (1961-1967)

An ISTC booklet that reads, "Frosh Nite, October 4, 1935, The Commons, 8:30

Freshman entertainment show (Frosh Night) booklet (1935)

A printing block that reads, "Old Gold"

‌Old Gold Yearbook “Panthers” printing block (circa 1960s-1970s)

Vintage TC Panther mascot head

TC mascot head (circa 1990s-2000s)

‌Vintage Homecoming pins from SCI & UNI

Homecoming pins from 1966, 1971 and 2012

‌A postcard that reads, "Greetings from Cedar Falls, Iowa, home of Iowa State Teachers College"

Cedar Falls postcard (circa 1940s-1950s)

Football jersey from the 100-year anniversary of ISTC/UNI football (1995)

A purple UNI football jersey

Iowa State Teachers College sweatshirt (1994)

An Iowa State Teachers College sweatshirt

Left to right: Panther decanter for the 100-year anniversary (1976), UNI souvenir jacket (circa 1970s), Pantherville Homecoming pin (1958)

A decanter that shows a Panther on top of the UNI-Domoe
UNI souvenir jacket
A gold pin with a dangling gold football & purple ribbons that reads, "Pantherville Homecoming 1958"

A purple and gold pennant with a panther and the words Iowa Teachers big and ISTC Panthers

Iowa State Teachers College panther pennant (circa 1950s)

A stuffed purple kangaroo

Souvenir plush ISTC kangaroo (circa 1940s-1950s)

A vintage baseball with handwritten, "ISTC-17, Luther-10"

Game-winning baseball, 1929. Red and black stitching with “ISTC-17, Luther-10.”

A 1981-82 beer can that says, "Iowa Sports Premium Beer. Hawkeyes, Cyclones, Panthers, Bulldogs." with illustrations of the mascots and the state of Iowa

Iowa Sports Premium Beer souvenir can (1981-1982)

A purple and gold Panther Tracks premium ice cream half gallon with the UNI-Dome, a Panther football player and cheerleaders

Panther Tracks ice cream made by Anderson Erickson Dairy (1998)

Left to right: UNI cheerleading squad uniform (2010), University of Northern Iowa pennant (1986-2000), Warner’s Crunch Time cereal (2000)

UNI cheerleading squad uniform
University of Northern Iowa pennant
Warner’s Crunch Time cereal with a photo of Kurt Warner

ISTC baseball uniform (1938-1939)

An ISTC baseball uniform

Signed Sports Illustrated magazine featuring UNI student Ali Farokhmanesh, ’10

Signed Sports Illustrated magazine featuring UNI basketball player Ali Farokhmanesh
A gold 1963 State College of Iowa Homecoming pin with a panther and purple and gold ribbons

State College of Iowa Homecoming pin (1963)

A vintage postcard of Prexy's Pond and the Campanile that says, "Scenic View of Campus, Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, Iowa"

Scenic view of campus postcard — Prexy’s Pond (1947)

A vintage UNI football helmet

125th anniversary UNI football helmet (2001)

A 2001 UNI Homecoming Pin that says "If you could see us now... 125 years, October 7-14"

125th anniversary Homecoming pin (2001)

Step into 150 years of UNI.

Explore special sesquicentennial exhibits at the Rod Library and other campus locations featuring artifacts, photos and stories from across our history — from 1876 to today.

See UNI’s history come to life!