Iowa Societies

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The moderator for Iowa is familyjournals

United States

U.S. Societies

Iowa

Societies

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 the United States Societies page.

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 page. Many counties have their own Society.

• 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
  

• Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America
  1670 So Robert St, #333
  West St Paul, MN 55118
  Internet: Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America
  Other Ostfriesen Societies are listed on this site for Iowa and surrounding states. Sites in Iowa include the Ostfriesen Genealogical Society and the Ostfriesian Heritage Society
  

• Pocahontas County Genealogical Societybr>Laurens Public Library
  273 N. Third St.
  Laurens, IA 50554
  Internet: [ Laurens Genealogical Society]

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

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

• Woodbury County Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 624
  3412 Old Lakesport Road
  Sioux City, Iowa 51102
  Internet: Woodbury County Genealogical Society

Historical Societies

• 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" page). 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 directory lists ethnic genealogical groups and societies.

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.

See also the "Archives and Libraries" page for other organizations with family history sources.

References

Family History Library Helps

• Society records are listed in the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under: IOWA - SOCIETIES
• See the "Author/Title Search" of the FamilySearch 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.

IOWA - [COUNTY] - SOCIETIES

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