Photos: UI welcomes new Nonfiction Writing House

Angela Pelster-Wiebe of St. Paul, Minn., signs one of two copies of her book of essays, “Limber” during an open house for the University of Iowa’s new Nonfiction Writing House in Iowa City on Friday. The book was Pelster-Wiebe’s thesis. The new home of the nonfiction writing program joins the Iowa Writer’s Workshop’s Dey House and the International Writing Program’s Shambaugh House in the “writer’s row” neighborhood along North Clinton Street. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Visitors mill about during a dedication ceremony and open house for the University of Iowa’s new Nonfiction Writing House, 530 N. Clinton St. in Iowa City on Friday. The new home of the UI’s internationally-acclaimed Nonfiction Writing Program, cost $1.6 million and is entirely donor-funded. It joins the Iowa Writer’s Workshop’s Dey House and the International Writing Program’s Shambaugh House in the “writer’s row” neighborhood along North Clinton Street. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Lynette Marshall, president and CEO of the University of Iowa’s Center for Advancement, ascends the stairs to the second floor during an open house for the UI’s new Nonfiction Writing House in Iowa City on Friday. The UI Nonfiction Writing Program launched in 1976 in the department of English offering a three-year graduate degree involving courses on essay, literary journalism, memoir and travelogues. Like the UI Writers’ Workshop, the nonfiction program is exclusive in that it only admits about 4 percent of applicants. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Martha Strawbridge, a third-year graduate student in the University of Iowa’s nonfiction writing program looks at artwork displayed near her desk in the teaching assistants office suite during an open house for the University of Iowa’s new Nonfiction Writing House in Iowa City on Friday. The new home of the nonfiction writing program opens more than 15 years after UI initiated plans to build a new home for its internationally-acclaimed program. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Angela Pelster-Wiebe of St. Paul, Minn., signs one of two copies of her book of essays, “Limber” during an open house for the University of Iowa’s new Nonfiction Writing House in Iowa City on Fridat. Pelster-Wiebe met her husband, Richard, in 2009 when the two were taking a The History of the Essay class taught by longtime Nonfiction Writing Program director John D’Agata. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Angela Pelster-Wiebe of St. Paul, Minn., puts back a copy of her first book “The Curious Adventures of India Sophia” during an open house for the University of Iowa’s new Nonfiction Writing House in Iowa City on Friday. The collection of short stories was the catalyst for Pelster-Wiebe being accepted into the program. Pelster-Wiebe, met her husband Richard in 2009 when the two were taking a The History of the Essay class taught by longtime program director John D’Agata. The new home of the nonfiction writing program joins the Iowa Writer’s Workshop’s Dey House and the International Writing Program’s Shambaugh House in the “writer’s row” neighborhood along North Clinton Street. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)