Polk County Resources


Genealogical Societies and Libraries


Iowa Genealogical Society Library 
Iowa Genealogical Society 
PO Box 7735, 6000 Douglas Ave. 
Des Moines, IA 50322 -7735 
515-276-0287 

Website address:

http://www.iowagenealogy.org
igs@iowagenealogy.org


 State Library of Iowa
1112 East Grand Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone 515-281-4105


 State Historical Society of Iowa Library
600 East Locust Des Moines, IA 50319-0290
(515)-281-6200 (phone)

(515) 282-0502 (fax)

 

Collections & Resources:

Local histories, County histories of all Iowa counties, County atlases of all Iowa counties, Plat maps of all Iowa counties, City directories of most Iowa towns, Telephone books of most Iowa towns

 

Federal census for State: (1850-1920)

State census for State: (1856, 1885-1925)

Indexes to out-of-state censuses, 1850,1860,1870,1880 Mortality, Agricultural and Industrial schedules of the Federal census

Some county censuses for Iowa.

 

Newspapers

Newspapers from all counties in Iowa.  There are indexes to papers from the following towns: Des Moines, Sioux City, Boone, Afton, Panora, Waterloo, Knoxville, Decorah

 

Vital Statistics

Probate records for state, Birth records for state, Death records for state, Marriage records for state, Cemetery records for state.

 

Special Resources:

Photograph collections, Family histories,  Postcard collections, Vertical file on Iowa, Sanborn fire insurance maps, WPA cemetery transcripts, Legislative files.

 


 

 

State Archives of Iowa

600 East Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

(515) 281-8875 (phone)

(515) 282-0502 (fax)

 

Collections & Resources:

Original government records such as court cases, legislative material, adjutant general records, land survey records, maps, private manuscripts.  Collections cover entire state

 

Federal census for county: All available federal census records for Iowa

State census for county: All available state census records for Iowa

 

Vital Statistics

State Archives is the repository for all vital records in Iowa.  Microfilm is available.  State level records are available when 75 years old and not otherwise restricted.

 

Special Resources:

Photograph collections, Family histories, Oral history collections, Postcard collections.

 

The State Archives preserves all permanently valuable state government records.  It also holds photographs, maps, ephemera and private manuscripts related to Iowa history.  Finding aids are available.

 

 

 


 

Iowa Historical & Genealogical Library
Iowa Department of History & Archives East 12th Street & Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319


Charter-Pierce Memorial Internet
Genealogical Society and Library

(515) 264-9149
3221 Villa Vista Dr.

Des Moines, IA 50316-1338


Polk County, Ankeny Genealogical Society
1110 NW 2nd St
Ankeny, IA 50021-2320


Polk County Pioneer Sons & Daughters
P.O. Box 13133

 Des Moines, IA 50310-0133


African - American Interest Group
Judy McClain
PO Box 7735
Des Moines, IA 50322-7735


 

 Resource Index