Iowa Societies

Genealogical Societies
There are many societies which may help family historians. Genealogical, historical, lineage, veterans, and ethnic societies are especially helpful because of the records and resources they collect, transcribe, and publish. Often their records contain birth, marriage, death, and biographical information. See "Societies

Genealogical and historical societies often maintain a genealogical file for families in the area and may sponsor publications, some of which are cited in the "Genealogy" section of this outline. Many counties have their own Genealogical Societies.

American/Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society
P.O. Box 506 Walcott, IA 52773 Internet: American/Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society

Decorah Genealogy Association
202 Winnebago (Lower Level) Decorah, IA 52101 Internet: Decorah Genealogy Association

Des Moines County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 493 Burlington, IA 52601 Internet: Des Moines County Genealogical Society

Dubuque County
Key City Genealogical Society P.O. Box 13 Dubuque, IA 52004-0013 Internet: Dubuque County-Key City Genealogical Society

Iowa City Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 822 Iowa City, IA 52244-0822 Internet: Iowa City Genealogical Society

Iowa Genealogical Society
628 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: (515)276-0287 Internet: Iowa Genealogical Society

Pocahontas County Genealogical Society
Laurens Public Library 273 N. Third St. Laurens, IA 50554 Internet: Laurens Genealogical Society

Linn County Heritage Society
P.O. Box 175 Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 Internet: Linn County Heritage Society

Northeast Iowa Genealogical Society
Grant Museum 503 South St. Waterloo, IA 50701 Internet: Northeast Iowa Genealogical Society

Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 3132 Davenport, IA 52808-3132 Internet: Scott County Genealogical Society

Iowa State Historical Department
402 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, IA 52240-1806 Phone: (319) 335-3916 Fax: (319) 335-3924 Internet: Iowa City SHSI Location

State Historical Society of Iowa
600 E. Locust Des Moines, IA 50319 Phone: (515)281-8837 Fax: (515)282-0502 Internet: Iowa History Archives State Historical Department

Lineage Societies
Lineage societies, such as the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Colonial Dames, General Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the American Revolution, and many others, require members to prove they are descended from certain people, such as colonists or soldiers. The applications for membership in these societies are preserved, and many are on microfilm at the Family History Library. See the Register of U. S. Lineage Societies (mentioned in the "Societies" for addresses, lists of microfilmed records, and publications.

One important society in Iowa is the Iowa Genealogical Society (see the "Archives and Libraries" section of this outline). The Iowa Genealogical Society has a number of chapters throughout the state. Many chapters actively extract and index original records, which the society publishes. For a list of the society chapters, see:

Mary Keysor Meyer’s Meyer’s Directory of Genealogical Societies in the U.S.A. and Canada. (Cited fully in the "Societies" section.) The directory lists ethnic genealogical groups and societies.

See the "Author/Title Search" of the Family History Library Catalog for many sources published by the Iowa Genealogical Society. There are, for example, birth, marriage, death and cemetery records; censuses (state and federal); newspaper obituaries; probates; city directories; adoption records; county assessors’ books; indexes to scrapbooks; and church records.

Old Settlers’ Associations existed in many Iowa counties. Some of these records, with obituaries, are available on microfilm, such as:

''Old Settlers’ Association (Cedar County, Iowa). Annual Meeting Minutes and Obituaries of Settlers, 1917–1934.'' Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1976. (Family History Library film 987411 or 281275)

See also the "Archives and Libraries" section of this outline for other organizations with family history sources.

Society records are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

IOWA - SOCIETIES

IOWA - [COUNTY] - SOCIETIES