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Iowa Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Helps For Using This Research Outline
References To The Family History Library Catalog
References To Other Family History Library Publications
Archives And Libraries
Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Familysearch™
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Federal Censuses
Mortality Schedules, 1850–1880
Territorial Censuses
State Censuses
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Divorce Records
Emigration And Immigration
Routes To Iowa
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Nationwide Indexes
Statewide Collections And Indexes
Historical Geography
History
Land And Property
Land Office Records
Homestead Grants
Other Iowa Land Records
County Records
Early Private Land Claims, 1700s–1837
Territorial Papers Of Iowa, 1838–1852
Maps
Land Ownership And Plat Maps
County Atlases
Military Records
Revolutionary War, 1775–1783
Early Records Beginning With 1837
Mexican War, 1846–1848
Civil War, 1861–65
Spanish-american War, 1898, And Philippine Insurrection, 1898–1902
World War I, 1917–1918
Military Discharge Records, 1860s–1950s
Militia Records, 1860s–1900s
National Guard Application Forms, 1870–1920
Location Of Original Records
Minorities
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Obituaries
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Schools
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
County Records Of Births And Deaths
State Records Of Births And Deaths
Other Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
VITAL RECORDS
A few counties in Iowa began to register vital statistics during the 1870s, but most county records began in 1880, when a state law took effect requiring counties to register births and deaths. This law was generally complied with by 1924. In the 1940s, many people applied for delayed birth certificates in order to be eligible for Social Security benefits.
Birth records contain much information for family historians. Because births are recorded near the time of the event, they are considered a primary source. In birth records, you generally find the date and place of birth; name and sex of the child; name, residence, race, age, birthplace, and occupation of the father and mother; the mother’s maiden name; number of children born to the mother; number of living children; and physician’s certificate.
Death records are also a valuable source. Often, they give: date, place, and cause of death, name, residence, sex, race, marital status, age, occupation and birth place of the deceased, date and place of burial, name and birth place of father, and maiden name and birth place of mother.
These birth and death records are maintained by the clerk of the district court of the respective county. The Family History Library has some county birth and death records on microfilm to the early 1940s.
The state has copies of birth records beginning in July 1880 and copies of death records beginning in January 1891. Copies are available to immediate family members only. You will need to state your relationship to the individual whose record you want and the reason you want the information. To request copies or information about fees and restrictions, contact:
Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces. 19th ed. Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993. (FHL book 973 V24wv; computer number 185507.) Copies are at the Family History Library and at the Family History Centers.
Coroners investigated deaths that were not attended by a physician and determined the cause of the death. The coroner of each county kept records of his findings. Some of these records began as early as 1855. The County Coroner’s Office was established by the Iowa State Constitution. The coroner’s records may provide the name of the deceased person, his or her age, the cause of death, the parents’ names, and circumstances of the death. Some of these records are available at the Family History Library. One example is:
Clayton County (Iowa). Coroner. Coroner's Reports, 1855–1959. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (On 5 FHL films beginning with 1671795; computer number 576853.)
Iowa county marriage records have been kept since about 1835. These marriage records may provide names, ages, races, residences, occupations, birthplaces, maiden name of wife, marriage date and place, parents’ names, and the name of person who performed the marriage. Some certificates give the number of times the groom has been married.
You may obtain copies of the original records by contacting the clerk of the district court in the county where the license was issued. Many marriage records have been transcribed and published by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) The Family History Library has microfilm copies of marriage records from many counties, such as:
Scott County (Iowa). Clerk of the District Court. Marriage Records, 1830–1956; Index, 1838–1860. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1976, 1986, 1992. (On 57 FHL films beginning with 104414; computer number 296059.)
Two partial indexes list early records of marriages in 39 Iowa counties. These indexes are:
Iowa Marriages, Early to 1850: A Research Tool. Orem, Utah: Liahona Research, Inc., 1990. (FHL book 977.7 V22i; computer number 599839.)
Marriage Records Early-1850. Orem, Utah. Automated Archives, 1992. (FHL compact disc no. 9, pt. 227; computer number 683380.) This disc also contains marriages in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, and Texas.
The following book indexes marriages in 24 counties:
Fretwell, Shela S. Iowa Marriages Before Statehood, 1835–1846. Waterloo, Iowa: n.p., 1985. (FHL book 977.7 V2f; computer number 391698.)
Records of 11 counties are given in the following collection:
Iowa. State Department of History and Archives. Iowa Marriages, ca. 1844–1900. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978. (FHL film 1023609 items 11–21; computer number 190896.) Contains marriage abstracts and newspaper marriage notices for Buena Vista, Chickasaw, Des Moines, Floyd, Freemont, Greene, Mills, Osceola, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, and Story Counties.
The Iowa Department of Public Health (address earlier in this section) has copies of marriage records from July 1880. They have an index to records after 1916.
For divorce records, see the “Divorce Records” section in this outline.
For more information about the history and availability of vital records in Iowa up to 1941, see:
Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Iowa. Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Historical Records Survey, 1941. (FHL book 977.7 V2h; film 908988; computer number 242658.)
Birth, marriage, death, and coroner’s records and indexes for most Iowa counties are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
Other types of records not mentioned in this outline may help you learn more about your ancestors from Iowa. These record types (topics) are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under the name of the place and topic. Some additional topics that might be useful are:
You may wish to consult the following sources for more information about Iowa:
Eichholz, Alice, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992. (FHL book 973 D27rb 1992; computer number 594021.) Contains bibliographies and background information on history and ethnic groups. Also contains maps and tables showing when each county was created.
Petersen, William John. Iowa History Reference Guide. Iowa City, Iowa: State Historical Society of Iowa, 1952. (FHL book 977.7 A3p; computer number 241027.) This bibliography includes sections about American Indians, immigration, land, government, courts, military, schools, churches, businesses, history, and biographies. It is arranged by subject and has an index.
Dawson, Patricia and David Hudson. Iowa History and Culture: A Bibliography of Materials Published Between 1952 and 1986. Ames, Iowa. State Historical Society of Iowa, 1986. (FHL book 977.7 H23d; computer number 523059.) This book supplements the book mentioned above. For a supplement covering 1987–1991, see the Annals of Iowa (1993).
The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve future editions of this outline. Please send your suggestions to:
Paper publication: Third edition August 1999. English approval: 8/99.
©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
County Records of Births and Deaths
Births
Deaths
State Records of Births and Deaths
Iowa Department of Public Health
The current fees for this service are listed in:
Vital Records Bureau
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Telephone: 515-281-4944
Fax: 515-281-4529
Internet address: www.idph.state.ia.us/pa/vr.htm
Coroner's Records
Marriage
and other organizations. See the Bible Records section of this outline for information on the DAR collection.
Divorce Records
Inventory of Vital Records
IOWA - VITAL RECORDSIOWA, [COUNTY] - VITAL RECORDSIOWA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS
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OTHER RECORDS
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FOR FURTHER READING
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Publications Coordination
We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this outline and shared helpful information.
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Version of Data: 6/8/2001]