Medals and badges having more or less Masonic character are numerous and interesting. One of the most important pieces in the collection is the large Washington medal by the famous American sculptor, Saint-Gaudens. The Library possesses an extensive and valuable collection of autograph letters written by men famous in Masonry, literature, and history, the latter especially rich in connection with Iowa. Among the thousands of items in the museum cases on the second floor are a number of rare examples showing the evolution of the written and printed word. The earliest records are found on the ancient Babylonian clay bricks, upon which inscriptions were cut with a stylus prior to baking.
Photographs show the ancient Eqyptian writings on papyrus.
These are only a few of the items in this distinguished group, all of which claim the interest of hundreds of visitors yearly. In this general museum will be found atractive colonial, Indian and foreign exhibits, gradually accumulated over a long period of years, and donated, as in the Masonic section, by friends of the Library. Included in the memorial are Dresden, Meissen, and Royal Daulton figurines, animal figurines of handmade Rosenthal, Chinese and Japanese cloisonne, cut glass, paintings, wall hangings, jewelry, and furniture.