History of Iowa State: People of Distinction

Sponsored by the University Archives, Iowa State University Library

Copyright 2006

Albert Boynton Storms

 Albert Boynton Storms was born on April 1, 1860 in Lima Center, Michigan. He received an A.B. (1884) and an M.A. (1893) from the University of Michigan, a Ph.D. in Divinity (1903) from Lawrence University, and a Ph.D. in law (1905) from Drake University. Storms became a Methodist minister in 1884 and held pastorates in Detroit, Michigan and Madison, Wisconsin before coming to Des Moines in 1900 to be the pastor of the First Methodist Church.

In 1903, A.B. Storms was appointed as the sixth president of Iowa State College (University). During his tenure, Iowa State began the Agricultural Extension Service, acquired hundreds of acres of land, developed a plan for campus landscaping and modernization of utilities, and erected eighteen new buildings. Iowa State also organized academic departments under the direction of deans and increased the number and type of courses and degrees offered. In addition, the college lifted the ban on fraternities and sororities as well as loosened other policies regarding the students' social activities. It was also during this time that the State of Iowa established the State Board of Education. Storms' strong opposition to the newly created board led to his resignation from Iowa State in 1910.

After leaving Iowa State College (University), Storms returned to the ministry. He became a pastor in Indianapolis and in 1915 was appointed superintendent of the Indianapolis District of the Methodist Church. In 1918, he became president of Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. He remained there until his death on July 1, 1933.

Resources available online

RS 2/6
University Archives, Iowa State University Library