A John Deere Publication

Neil Dahlstrom smiling among vintage John Deere equipment with his hands on his hips

Neil Dahlstrom has served as John Deere’s archivist and historian for over twenty years.

Agriculture, Specialty/Niche December 01, 2024

A Day in the Life

Behind the scenes with John Deere's archivist.

Tucked away in East Moline, Ill., lies a large warehouse that serves as the home to the John Deere archives. The building stores a diverse collection of more than 500 vintage pieces of equipment and thousands of records and artifacts. And at the core of its operation is Neil Dahlstrom, Manager, Branded Properties, Heritage & Library at John Deere.

"We're a multi-purpose facility but for the most part, we're storing vintage equipment from the history and heritage of John Deere," he says.

Neil's favorite is a two-piece wool bathing suit owned by Mr. John Deere. "That's something physical, a three-dimensional item that he actually wore. I just think it's super cool," he explains.

Neil's responsibilities extend beyond overseeing the archives building. He and his team also field daily requests like "Do you have a photo of the first John Deere tractor?" or "Can you find the issue of The Furrow that my relative was pictured in…eighty years ago?"

Neil also determines placement of artifacts at key locations like John Deere Worldwide Headquarters. Neil and his team also support attraction sites like the John Deere Pavilion in Moline and the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum in Waterloo.

Neil emphasizes the importance of history. "Examining past efforts, even those that did not succeed, is extremely valuable," Neil says. "It connects us to our shared foundation and provides inspiration and insights for the future we want to create."

In his spare time, he's also a writer, a speaker, and a lover of all things historical. "History helps to tell us where we're going," says Neil. His research and speeches have taken him to historical societies and museums, abandoned factories-turned-coffee shops, and state-of-the-art research centers across the country. To read more about Neil, visit neildahlstrom.com. ‡-