Nov. 25, 2025
DES MOINES –
The State Historical Society of Iowa today announced the status of a project in partnership with Ancestry.com that expands public access to millions of archival documents at no cost to taxpayers.
The agreement allowed the State Historical Society of Iowa and Ancestry to complete a two-year project to digitally image materials and integrate more than one million additional records from the State Archives in Ancestry’s searchable database.
The new available documents include vital records; state level military files including Iowa National Guard Enlistment Records and World War I & II Casualty Files; and FM convict registers, Bertillon cards and mug shots, offering researchers and genealogists unprecedented insight into the state's past.
Jaren Akenheads, Ancestry.com’s Senior Manager of Content Acquisition, stated: “Ancestry is excited to partner with the State Historical Society of Iowa to digitize these important collections at no cost to the taxpayers of Iowa. These records are of significant genealogical value not only to residents of Iowa but also to people worldwide who can trace their family history back to this state. Digitizing this context will help preserve their rich history and increase their accessibility beyond the wall of the Archive.”
Iowans can research these records by using the State Historical Society of Iowa's complimentary institutional account at the Research Center or through a paid subscription to Ancestry.com. Newly digitized material will become available to Ancestry users on a rolling basis after scanning and metadata processing is completed.
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The State Historical Society of Iowa has been a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy since 1857. With a dual mission of preservation and education, it maintains a museum, two research centers, and seven historic sites. The society preserves and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources through a variety of statewide programs, exhibitions and projects while serving as an advocate for Iowa’s past and connector to the future. The society is part of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Follow the State Historical Society of Iowa on Facebook and Instagram.