Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections and indexes of genealogical value. These collections often contain birth, marriage, and death information, as well as family histories. You may wish to write to these organizations for help in your search. Sometimes their collections must be searched in person.

Nationwide Indexes

You can find information about people of Iowa in important nationwide genealogical indexes listed in the “Introduction,” “Census,” “Genealogy,” and “Periodicals” sections of the United States Research Outline.

Statewide Collections and Indexes

See the “Biography” and “History” sections of this outline for important sources containing biographical and genealogical information. For example, the State Historical Society in Des Moines has over 8,000 family genealogies.

The Family History Library also has excellent statewide collections, including the following:

The Iowa Genealogical Society Surname Index, 5 vols. Des Moines: Iowa Genealogical Society, 1973–90. (FHL book 977.7 D2i; computer number 189225.) These indexes sometimes have names of ancestors back to the 1600s. They list genealogical information for more than 100,000 ancestors of members of the Iowa Genealogical Society.

Iowa Genealogical Society (Des Moines, Iowa). Surname Collection. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987. (On 31 FHL films beginning with 1487493; computer number 537711.) This index of 3" x 5" cards gives information about ancestors of Iowa Genealogical Society members, sometimes back to the 1600s.

Surname Index, 1500–1991. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1991. (On eight FHL films beginning with 1766048; computer number 651881.) The Iowa Genealogical Society has this collection. These cards are similar to the ones in the collection mentioned above.

Iowa Genealogical Society (Des Moines, Iowa). Pioneer Certificates, 1800s–1991. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987. (On 14 FHL films beginning with 1508882; computer number 537709.) This collection includes pedigree charts, family group forms, wills, marriage records, family histories, and land records. The information is arranged alphabetically.

Daughters of the American Revolution (Iowa). Genealogical Collection. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971. For information about this extensive collection, including film numbers and a partial index to it, see the “Bible Records” section of this outline.

Daughters of the American Revolution (Iowa). Iowa Pioneer Families. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971. (FHL films 851218 items 3–5, 7–9 and 851219 items 1–2; computer number 280450.) This publication contains eight volumes prepared in the 1940s and 1950s.

Iowa. State Department of History and Archives. Family Record Collection. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978. (On six FHL films 1023611 item 11, through 1023616; computer number 388668.) This alphabetical collection contains extensive genealogies, pedigrees, and family histories.

Iowa American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. Century Farm Applications. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978. (FHL films 1023895–902; computer number 190888.) This work contains applications from the owners of farms whose property had remained within the family for 100 years or longer. These records are arranged by county and then alphabetically by the name of the applicant. The names of previous owners, their relationship to the present owner, and a history of the family now owning the farm are usually given. The original documents are at the State Historical Society in Des Moines.

Iowa. State Department of History and Archives. Fifty Year Iowa Farm Families. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978. (FHL film 1023893–94; computer number 190885.) This work contains lists of owners of farms whose property had remained within the family for 50 years or longer. These records are arranged by county and list the name of the owner, the city or town where the farm was located and the year of purchase.

State Historical Society (Iowa City, Iowa). Essay Contest, 1923. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1976. (FHL films 986175–82; computer number 388557.) This is a collection of essays by high school students about their grandparents, old settlers, or their community. It includes an index to ancestors and an index by town and county. (FHL film 986175.)

Gilman, Aloys. Unpublished Genealogies in the Iowa Historical Library: Manuscript, Typed or Carbon Copies. N.p., 19--. (FHL book 977.7 A3ga; fiche 6046633; computer number 241523.) This book was prepared in 1968 and is a list of genealogies. It gives the surname of the family, the name of the compiler, the date compiled and the number of pages.

Charts and Genealogies of Pioneer Families of Iowa. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975. (FHL 908960 item 4; computer number 241030.) These records are in alphabetical order and were compiled by Mrs. F. A. Gordon. They contain genealogies from the mid 1700s to 1939.

Genealogy sources are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

IOWA - GENEALOGYIOWA, [COUNTY] - GENEALOGYIOWA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - GENEALOGY