Iowa Genealogy Search at a Glance
Iowa genealogy search, look up ancestors, browse IA archived records, history, census information and more online
1Iowa Genealogy
Iowa statewide genealogy links
- State Archives of Iowa Holdingshistory.iowa.govResearch Iowa Historical Archives Holdings
- State of Iowa Historical Society Libraries and Special Collectionshistory.iowa.govHistorical Library Collections
- State Historical Society of Iowa Des Moines Libraryhistory.iowa.govCounty Records on Microfilm
- Iowa State Archives and Libraries Searchiowaculture.govIowa Archives and Libraries Search
- Fire Insurance Maps of Iowa Cities and Townshistory.iowa.govHistorical Fire Insurance Local Maps
- State Historical Society of Iowa Online Catalogwww.iowaculture.govOnline Catalog of Historical Collections
- Iowa State University Archives for Women in Science and Engineeringspecialcollections.lib.iastate.eduArchive Collections from Women in Science and Engineering
- USGenWeb Archives Iowaiagenweb.orgSearch Iowa GenWeb Archives
- National Archives Central Plains Region for Iowawww.archives.govIowa Genealogy Research at the National Archives
2Federal & National Authoritative Sources
These federal and national sources complement Iowa's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Iowa state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
The federal government's primary archive. Holds the U.S. census (1790, 1950), ship passenger lists, naturalization records, military service files, and land entry files.
https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy (archives.gov)
Free online genealogy platform operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Digitized microfilm copies of many county and state records worldwide.
https://www.familysearch.org/ (familysearch.org)
The LoC's research guides, city directories, newspapers, and Civil War records, most accessible free online through loc.gov.
https://guides.loc.gov/genealogy (loc.gov)
Iowa Genealogy Search, FAQ
Is the 1950 census released?
Yes. Under the 72-year rule, the 1950 U.S. Census was released by NARA on April 1, 2022 and is free to search on archives.gov and familysearch.org.
How do I request a military service record?
NARA's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis holds military service records. Requests use SF-180 and are free for the veteran or next of kin.
Do I need a paid subscription to do genealogy?
No. FamilySearch, Archives.gov, the Library of Congress, and most state archives provide substantial free access. Commercial services (Ancestry, MyHeritage) add convenience and private trees but not exclusive records.
Where are vital records for the 1800s kept?
Before state-level vital registration (roughly 1890, 1920 depending on state), most births, deaths, and marriages were recorded only by the county, the church, or the family Bible. State archives and FamilySearch are the primary starting points for that era.