Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/56382
the household. Later Ethel'smother lived with them. Following WorldWar II, the Schwengels opened their home in Davenport to eleven displaced persons fromPoland, helping themlearn the English language, find jobs, and become U.S. citizens. In 1966, their grandson, Robert Schwengel, joined the household.When he left for college in 1979, it was the first time in 48 years of marriage that Ethel and Fred Schwengel were without extended family in their household. After Congressman In 1944, her husbandwas elected to the IowaHouse ofRepre- sentatives for five terms, and in 1954 hewas elected to theUnited States House of Representatives where he served from 1955 to 1965 and from1967 to 1973. During the years that her husbandwas in public office, Ethel Schwengel was a strong presence in public life as well. She campaigned for her husband, butwas evenmore important as a stabilizing influence in the Schwengel household. She was a gracious andwonderful hostess, often responding to lastminute calls from her husband about some additional people for the dinner table. During their years in Washington, D.C., the Schwengels hosted "Washington Week" for an Iowa professor and two college students, one of whom was Senator Tom Harkin. She supported her husband's efforts to collect antiques and Abraham Lincoln memorabilia, always arranging for them to be appropriately displayed in the Schwengel house. A highlight of their home was her garden which featured her tomatoes and Fred's beloved rhubarb aswell as a colorful spring display of azaleas. Throughout their 61 years of marriage Ethel and Fred Schwengel maintained a large extended family. They raised two children, Frank and Dorothy. Moreover, immediately after marrying, their household became home to Fred's brother, Forrest, and sister, Helene. Then Fred's widowedmother joined WINTER 2012 Schwengel retired from Congress in 1973, Fred and Ethel continued to make their home in Arlington, VA. Fred Schwengelwas a principal founder of the United States Capitol Historical Society in 1962 and headed that organization as its president until his death in 1993. Ethelwas a strong supporter of the Historical Society and a member of its Honorary Board of Trustees.Her grandson,Dr. Robert Schwengel of Providence, R.I., is a member of the Society's active Board of Trustees; her son-in-law,Neale Cosby, is its treasurer aswell as a trustee; and her grandson, Scot Cosby, will join the Board of Trustees in 2012. Mrs. Schwengelwas amember of TheCongressionalClub in Washington,D.C., the LincolnGroup of theDistrict ofColumbia and an Associate Member of the Cosmos Club. She attended Calvary BaptistChurch inWashington,D.C., andwas amember of theWomen's Missionary Union, the Lucia Green Circle, and theWashington Baptist Fellowship. The Schwengel's important collection of Abraham Lincoln memorabiliawas donated to Truman StateUniversity as the Fred and Ethel Schwengel Collection. In 1998, Ethel Schwengel received the President's Leadership Award from Truman State University. The Schwengels' contributions to the state of Iowa were recognized in 1995, when Ethel participated in the ceremony that named the Interstate 80 Bridge near Davenport, Iowa, as the Fred SchwengelMemorial Bridge. Mrs. Schwengelwas laid to rest beside her husband inDaven- port Memorial Park in Davenport, Iowa. The family requested thatmemorial contributionsmay bemade in her name toCalvary Baptist Church or to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society.✯ Special thanks to Allan Schimmel who provided most of the infor- mation for this article, and toDorothyCosby andKaraDavisCosby for the photographs. THE CAPITOL DOME 27