Researching Your Iowa

Postal Code: IA Abbreviation: Iowa
State Capital: Des Moines
First permanent settlement: 1833
Acquired as part of the Louisina Purchase in 1803. First part of the Indiana Territory, then the Louisiana Territory.
1812-1821 Part of Missouri Territory
1821-1834 no government
1834-1836 Part of Michigan Territory
1836-1838 Part of Wisconsin Territory
Became a Territory: 1838
Admitted as the 29th state 1846
First mostly extant census: 1840
Statewide birth death and marriage records begin 1880 (more consistently kept after 1921)
Public land state

There is nothing more helpful that a handy reference book with information specific to the area you are researching. I've listed below those that I know about.

(find in a library) will give you a link to help you find the book in the library closest to you. Most will show libraries near Ann Arbor... to change the location, type in your zip code and you can find libraries near you.

All of the three books listed below have a small section covering each state that includes maps, historical information, vital records coverage and a bibliography of resources for that state.

1. Handybook for Genealogists ( 11th edition) (find in a library) (note: some libraries may have earleir editions; those are perfectly usable)
2. Ancestry's Redbook (you'll want the 3rd edition) (find in a library)
3. The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogical Research (find in a library)

Here are some books specific to Iowa research:

Meyer. Discovering Your Iowa Civil War Ancestry. 1993 (out of print) (find in a library)

* FHL Iowa Research Outline
* Iowa Gen Web
* ALHN Iowa page
* Iowa State Library --no genealogy materials
* Iowa State Archives (part of State Historical Society)
* State Historical Society of Iowa
* Iowa University WV and Regional History Collection
* Iowa Genealogy Society
* Iowa Genealogy Society Directory
* Iowa Newspaper Project
* Iowa Vital Records (official)
* Vitalrec Iowa Page
* IowaBlack Sheep Ancestors
More links:
* Rootsweb: U.S. Resources: Iowa
* Genealink's Iowa Page
* Access Genealogy's List of IowaLinks
* Cyndi's List Iowa Page