History of Iowa State: Student Life

The Bomb

 The Iowa Agricultural College/Iowa State University yearbook, the Bomb was published annually from 1893 to 1994, with the exception of 1902. The junior class produced the yearbook from 1891 to 1925, when the senior class took over with their own special 1925 special edition. The origin of the yearbook's title is explained in the 1895 edition; "The first thought that comes to mind at the mention of the name"Bomb" is that of an instrument of war, exploding and causing destruction amongst enemies. But a bomb is occasionally put to a much pleasanter use than that of an engine of destruction. One form is used as a means of conveying messages to distant friends. Our Bomb agrees with such a definition also. Its mission is to awaken pleasant reminiscences in the minds of the alumni, and to convey to them information regarding all their brother graduates." In 1968, the Government of the Student Body set up a five-year plan to make the Bomb financially independent and made their last regular allocation in 1971. During the 1980s and early 1990s the yearbook suffered with decreased sales, poor financial management, and a contract dispute with an outside vendor. By 1989 the yearbook had accumulated a $17,000 budget deficit. The deficit grew to $90,000 in five years, and in April 1995 the university administration announced that no future yearbooks would be produced at Iowa State University until a sustainable plan was developed.

Available online:

The Bomb 1894

The Bomb 1895