Iowa City Branch Updates

Status of the Iowa City Branch

The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) Research Center in Iowa City will close to the public at the end of December 2025.  Accessioned collection items at the Iowa City branch will continue to remain available to researchers, students, and the general public either at the Des Moines branch or at another collecting repository elsewhere in the state.  Any collections at the Iowa City branch that are not transferred to another collecting repository before June 30, 2026 will be relocated to the Des Moines branch.  Management responsibility for the Iowa City Centennial building will transfer to the University of Iowa (in fulfillment of the April 12, 1956 agreement) on July 1, 2026.  

Over the next 10 months and beyond, SHSI will update this page with additional details as they are known.  This includes updates on the process, status on any transfers and where researchers can find collections that have been relocated from the Iowa City branch.  

State of Iowa Collections Responsibilities 

The State Historical Society of Iowa is obligated by law under Iowa Code 8A.701 to manage the collections currently held at the Iowa City branch as part of its public trust obligations to Iowans.  Mass collection disposal will not take place.  The collection management and decisions related to what collections are going to the Des Moines branch and which will be transferred to another institution will follow all applicable state rules, policy, current professional standards and ethics.  Including Iowa Administrative Rule 223.13 (6).  Additionally, the State Historical Society, Inc (SHS, Inc.) will be consulted and given opportunity to advise SHSI on any transfer proposals for collections accessioned by the State Historical Society of Iowa at the Iowa City branch, including those before January 1, 1974 in accordance with  the August 4, 1983 agreement between the State Historical Society of Iowa Trustees (State of Iowa) and SHS, Inc.

Collections Management, Relocation and Transfers

The State Historical Society of Iowa will continue to collect new and manage existing history collections from across the State of Iowa, including Johnson County and the Iowa City area.  All collections will be relocated to the Des Moines branch.  However, any collection before or after its relocation that meets one of the following three criteria outlined in administrative rule may be deaccessioned.   Deaccessioning is the official process to remove item(s) from the listed holdings of the state's collection.

  • No longer relevant or appropriate for SHSI’s collections.  Examples may include:

    • Duplicates of existing materials
    • Items that do not fit the SHSI collecting plan
    • Materials without clear Iowa provenance
    • Items with little or no contextual connection to Iowa or to major historical events (regional, national, or international) that affected the state or its citizens
    • Materials converted into another widely available format that has been preserved elsewhere

  • Deteriorated beyond repair or usefulness 

    • In these cases, SHSI will assess the item’s condition and availability elsewhere in Iowa and the U.S. before taking action.

  • Poses a danger to other parts of the collection

    • If an item presents a risk, SHSI will evaluate the level of threat and the item’s availability elsewhere before taking action.

Collections that are determined to be better suited for another educational or collecting institution must first be deaccessioned before a potential physical transfer.

Procedure to Deaccession and Transfer to Another Institution Items Originating from the Iowa City Branch

Step 1: Staff Review

  • Identify collection series or items that may meet deaccession criteria.
  • Review all relevant legal documentation (donation files, accession logs, deeds of gift, etc.).
  • Consider donor or descendant intent in the event of a possible deaccession, if known.
  • Identify and contact potential repositories that might accept a transfer.

Step 2: Initial Discussion

  • Staff discusses the potential deaccession and transfer with the State Archivist.
  • The State Archivist may convene a public meeting of advisors.
    • Advisors would provide input on both the merits of a specific deaccession and the suitability of the proposed transfer institution (if known).
    • Members of the public are welcome to attend and listen to the discussion.

Step 3: Staff Collections Committee

  • The State Archivist may place the proposal on the staff collections committee agenda.
    • Note: Initial proposals are for discussion only.
  • If the committee supports moving forward, the State Archivist will post a Notice of Intent to Deaccession on the SHSI website.
  • At the next meeting, the staff collections committee will vote to either advance or reject the proposal.

Step 4: SHSI Board of Trustees Review

  • The SHSI Board of Trustees Collections Committee considers the deaccession proposal in a public meeting and votes on whether to recommend approval.
  • If approved, the full SHSI Board of Trustees reviews and votes on the deaccession proposal in its public meeting.

Step 5: Implementation

  • If approved by the full Board of Trustees:
    • Staff begin working with the identified organization to arrange the physical transfer.
    • If an alternate or alternative outcome for the deaccessioned collection is approved, staff will proceed with that decision.

Getting Involved Supporting Iowa History

Iowa’s history belongs to all of us across all of Iowa's 99 counties.  Together we can ensure history continues to inspire future generations.  If you’d like to be part of this work—by volunteering, advocating, becoming a member, or supporting in other ways—please visit the volunteer section of our website to learn how you can help keep Iowa History alive for future generations.