Prudence in the Library

Prudence. Wooden doll crafted in Amana, Iowa. Arrived at Wolf Law Library ca. 2000. Wolf Law Library Archives, AFT.2000.001 Prudence hails from Amana, Iowa, where she was constructed as part of a local woodworking festival. She arrived at the law library after being purchased by then-director Jim Heller, who noticed her among a series of wooden figures populating Iowa City. Although her initial appearance – laid out in a coffin-shaped box and revealed beneath a mass of packing peanuts – surprised many members of the staff, she has since become a notable figure in the library community. Almost 25 years later, her unexpected presence in a room continues to startle unsuspecting visitors. Photo courtesy of David Morrill. Hear about Prudence in Jim Heller's oral history.