Iowa Family History Societies


This section lists the societies of Iowa, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.

Statewide and Regional Associations

County Associations

Statewide and Regional Societies

Iowa Genealogical Society

The association was established in 1965 and has a Genealogical Research Library where many resources are accessible.  It is possible to view an on-line catalogue of these records on the site. 

Many publications are available for sale, which include archives relating to several counties in the state. These include:

  • Birth Indexes
  • Cemetery Transcripts
  • Census Returns
  • Death Indexes
  • Marriage Records
  • Naturalisations
  • Newspapers
  • Probate Records

Please note that not all records are available for all counties.

Website:
http://www.iowagenealogy.org

Northeast Iowa Genealogical Society

The association was organised in 1970.  Details of resources that will be helpful to you when you are conducting research in the state, such as Cedar Public Library, Waterloo Public Library and Iowa Genealogical Society, are accessible.

They also publish a quarterly newsletter entitled Cedar Tree Branches and it is possible to download issues published from 2009-2012 in PDF Format. 

Information regarding surnames currently being researched by members is also available.

Website:
https://sites.google.com/site/neigsblackhawkcounty/home

Northwest Iowa Genealogical Society

The association sells the 1897 Plymouth Co. Directory, which is a reproduction of 1897 Le Mars Post Annual Directory of Plymouth County.  An index to this Directory can be downloaded from the site in PDF Format. 

A list of surnames researched since 2001 is also available.

Website:
http://northwestiowagenealogy.webstarts.com/index.html


County Societies

Adair County Anquestors Genealogy Society

The society was established in 1973 to provide a forum where people can exchange information about genealogical research.  

A list of resources accessible at Greenfield Public Library is available, which include:

  • 1860-1920 Federal Census Records for Adair Co. (excludes 1890)
  • Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Anniversary Announcements in Adair Co. Newspapers, along with Obituaries and Family Reunion Announcements
  • Birth Records
  • County History Books
  • Marriages 1854-1915
  • Some Births, Deaths and Marriages for Adams and Guthrie Counties.
  • State Census Returns for 1856, 1885, 1895, 1915 and 1925
  • Tombstone inscriptions
  • Wills

Many publications are available for sale, which include:

  • 1880 Federal Census Index
  • Adair County 1885 State Census Index
  • Adair County History 1976 and 2001
  • Adair County Marriages 1854-1900
  • Adair Co. Plat Map 1882
  • Cemetery Index 1799-1976
  • Harrison Township Cemetery Index

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~iaaags/


Appanoose County Genealogy Society

Numerous publications are available for sale, which include:

  • 1856, 1885 and 1895 Appanoose County State Censuses
  • 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1920 Federal Censuses for Appanoose County
  • Appanoose Co. Cemetery Index
  • Brides and Grooms Early Marriage Indexes 1847-1900
  • Cemetery Inscriptions
  • Civil War Index 1861-1865
  • Early Deaths 1880-1903
  • Naturalisations
  • Probate 1852-1988
  • Vital Records Early Births 1880-1901

Please contact the association for further information.

Website:
http://iagenweb.org/appanoose/gensocieties.html


Benton County Genealogical Society

The association, a chapter of Iowa Genealogical Society, was established in 1997.  Their aims are to promote and encourage an interest in genealogy, to preserve genealogical and historical data, to help the public with their genealogical research and to establish and maintain a genealogy library.

The organisation has many resources that are accessible in Blairstown Public Library.

Website: 
http://iagenweb.org/benton/bcgs/index.htm 


Boone County Genealogical Society

Many publications are available for sale, which include:

  • Boone Co. Census Books
  • Cemetery Books
  • Death and Marriage Records
  • Harrison Township 1871-1909
  • Luther School Records 1916-1957
  • Naturalisation Index
  • Newspaper Index 1888-1919
  • Poll Tax 1934-1937
  • Probate Index 1850-1900 and 1900-1925

Church records available for sale include:

  • Church of Christ – Luther 1906-1977
  • Church of Christ Meadow Grove 1880-1937
  • Rev. Millards Baptist Church records 1879-1883
  • Sugar Valley Church Records 1869-1880

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~iabcgs/


Buchanan County Genealogical Society

The society has a Library where many resources are accessible, which include:

  • 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 Federal Censuses
  • 1856, 1885-1895-1905, 1915 and 1925 State Censuses
  • 1881 Buchanan Co. History
  • 1887-1972 Oelwein Daily Register on Microfilm
  • Births 1880-1913
  • Burial Permits 1931-1982
  • Coroner’s Reports 1858-1960
  • Death and Funeral Home Records

Resources available also include:

  • Family Histories
  • Marriage Indexes 1852-1990
  • Marriage Registry 1880-1908
  • Naturalisations 1853-1906
  • Newspapers 1856-present
  • Obituary/Cemetery Card Files
  • Passenger and Immigration Lists
  • Probates 1850-1941

Website: 
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~iabcgs2/


Cedar County Genealogical Society

The society was established on 15 January 1991.  Its aims are to promote and encourage interest in genealogy and family history, to preserve family histories in Cedar County, to preserve genealogical data, to maintain a genealogical collection and to encourage family reunions.

The organisation has an extensive collection of resources that are accessible at Ms Mollys store, 421 Cedar Street, Tipton.  Resources relate to Cedar County and the surrounding area.

Website: 
http://iagenweb.org/cedar/ccgs/ccgs.htm


Clarke County Genealogical Society

The Society has numerous resources which can be accessed in the Genealogy and Local History Room at Osceola Public Library.

Website:
http://iagenweb.org/clarke/ccgs.html


Clayton County Genealogical Society

The association was organised in 1982.  Many publications are available for sale, which include the first 160 Years – Millville History, Clayton Co. History and books relating to schools in the area.

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~iaccgs/


Dubuque County – Key City Genealogical Society

The association was founded on 17 February 1976 as Key City Genealogical Society, being accepted as a chapter of the Iowa Genealogical Society on 7 August 1976.  Its name was changed to its current name on 6 March 1985.  

The association donated their resources to Dubuque Family History Centre in 2009 and they are currently being digitised.

Numerous publications are available for sale, which incorporate:

  • Books relating to Julien Townships covering Saint John’s Lutheran Cemetery and the City Cemetery 1854-1875
  • Dubuque Co. Probate Records 1830’s – 1937
  • Dubuque Co. Townships
  • Cemeteries in Dubuque
  • Guide to resources on microfilm at Carnegie-Stout Public Library in Dubuque

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~iadckcgs/


Greene County Genealogical Society

The association has indexed the biographies of persons that appeared in A Directory of Greene Co. Farmers published by The Jefferson Bee Newspaper in 1900. 

In addition, they have also created an index to Biographical Sketches of Greene Co., Iowa which itself was reprinted from Biographical and Historical Record of Greene and Carroll Counties, Iowa which contained information about over 400 Greene County pioneers. 

They are currently creating an all name index to the Families of Rippey which is a 1990 reprint of the 1956 book History of Rippey.  An alphabetical schedule of names in the 1890 Assessor’s List is also accessible, along with a list of Old Settlers. 

Many publications are also available, which incorporate:

  • Births 1880-1917
  • Deaths 1880-1904 and 1909-1941
  • Marriages 1854-June 1908 and July 1909-1917
  • Obituaries and Deaths mentioned in Jefferson Newspapers 1867-1915

Indexes to obituaries in Jefferson newspapers also include:

  • Bagley Gazette 1906-2010
  • Baynard Gazette 1909-2010
  • Churdan Reporter 1891 and 1900-1952
  • Grand Junction 1870 and 1898-1994
  • Jefferson Bee 1916-1925 and Jefferson Herald 1918-1925
  • Jefferson Bee and Herald 1926-1945
  • Scranton Journal 1884-2008

A list of surnames currently being researched by members is also on the site.

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~iagcgs/


Linn County Genealogical Society

The association was organised in 1965.  A comprehensive collection of resources are accessible in their library, which incorporate:

  • 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 Linn Co. Federal State Censuses
  • Birth Indexes 1880-1924
  • Births 1880-1932
  • Death Indexes 1880-1924
  • Deaths 1880-1924
  • Land Records
  • Marriages 1840-1928
  • Marriage Indexes 1840-1933
  • Naturalisations
  • Newspapers
  • Probate Records

Many publications are available for sale, which include Historic Maps, Linn Co. Cemetery Transcripts and Cedar Rapids Obituaries 1950-1985.

Website:
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ia/county/linn/gen_soc.htm


Louisa County Genealogical Society

Louisa County Genealogical Society is a committee within Louisa County Historical Society.

An on-line database of Interments in Louisa Co. Cemeteries is available, along with over 874,000 Gravestone Photographs.  In addition, there is a database of Obituaries mentioned in Louisa Co. Newspapers in 1935, which is indexed by deceased and by others mentioned in the Obituary. 

There are also genealogies for the Holmes, Kongable and Spalding Families.

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ialcgs/


Old Fort Genealogical Society

The association was organised in 1982.  A surname only database of Burials is available, along with a note of the Township where the burial can be located. 

Numerous publications are available for sale, which include:

  • Births 1880-1896
  • Births Index 1880-1889
  • Cemetery Indexes
  • Deaths 1880-1907
  • Marriages 1838-1897
  • Mortality Schedules 1860, 1870, 1870

Website:
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~oldfort/genealogy/


Pottawattamie County Genealogical Society

An on-line index of Deaths for persons who died in Pottawattamie Co. 1880-1919 is available, along with an index of men killed in action who were mentioned in The Price Of Our Heritage – In memory of the Heroic Dead of the 168th Infantry. 

In addition an Index to the 1866 Council Bluffs City Directory is also accessible, as well as an index to Probate Records, Cemetery Transcripts, Marriages and Wills.

The association is able to check certain resources for a mention of your ancestor.  These include:

  • 1852, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1915 and 1925 Pottawattamie Co. Census Returns
  • City Directories 1866-1994
  • Divorce Records
  • Obituaries from 1896
  • Pottawattamie Co. US Federal Census Returns from 1850
  • Surname File

A list of Pottawattamie Co. Churches can also be found on the site.

Many publications are available for sale, which include:

  • City Directories
  • Historic Maps
  • Marriage Register 1869-1874
  • Marriage Records Indexes 1902-1940
  • Past issues of Frontier Chronicle 1997-2006

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~iapcgs/

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