Records in this record group document the functions and responsibilities of the Office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and date from Iowa's first territorial Governor, Robert Lucas (1838-1841) through Governor Terry Branstad (2011-2017). The only exception being Gov. Harold Hughes (1963-1969) where the majority of records are located at the University of Iowa. Two examples of record series unique to a single governorship are Gov. William L. Harding's Council of Defense records from World War I and Gov. Robert D. Ray's records of Refugee Programs, following the Vietnam War. Prior to 1913, most records from the governor's office are organized by record series and then by date. After 1913, most records are arranged by governor and then by series and date.
There may be related records for some Iowa governors located in the State Historical Society of Iowa's Manuscripts Collections. The following is a partial list of records from the Governor’s Office in our holdings. A complete list of record series is available at the Research Center in Des Moines.
Some or all of these records are available to search in the Iowa History Collections Catalog.
General| General | Date Span |
|---|
| American Revolution Bicentennial | 1971-1978 |
| Council of Defense | 1917-1921 |
| Original Filings of Rules | 1997-2006 |
| Proceedings of the Vicksburg Monument Commission | 1902-1912 |
| Refugee Programs | 1976-1982 |
| Trade and Trade Missions (See also: Departmental and Subject Files) | 1970-1982 |
Appointments| Appointments | Date Span |
|---|
| Appointments - Judicial | 1947-2010 |
| Appointments - Military | 1840-1910 |
| Appointments - Notarial | 1839-1912 |
| Appointments - Special Commissions | 1846-1920 |
| Appointments - State Offices, Boards and Departments | 1847-2010 |
| Executive Journals | 1859-2006 |
Communication/Media| Communication/Media | Date Span |
|---|
| Appearances - Accepted and Declined | 1969-2011 |
| News Summaries/Newspaper Clippings | 1974-1983, 1999-2007 |
| Press Releases (See also: Departmental and Subject Files 1913-1968) | 1969-2010 |
| Speeches (See also: Departmental and Subject Files 1913-1968) | 1969-2011 |
Correspondence| Correspondence | Date Span |
|---|
| Correspondence - Constituent | 1969-2010 |
| Correspondence - Constituent Subject/Issue Files | 1963-2010 |
| Correspondence - Executive and General | 1838-2010 |
| Correspondence - Military | 1839-1910 |
| Correspondence - Reports, State Boards, Departments and Offices | 1917-1921, 1925-1931 |
| Correspondence - State Institutions (See also: Departmental and Subject Files) | 1838-1920 |
| Correspondence - State Offices, Boards and Departments | 1838-1931 |
| Letter Book - Telegram | 1902-1908 |
| Letter Books | 1864-1902 |
| Letter Books - General | 1900-1917 |
| Letter Books - Military Record | 1861-1867 |
Commissions| Commissions | Date Span |
|---|
| Commissions - Military | 1840-1998 |
| Commissions - Notarial Register | 1858-1966 |
| Executive Journals | 1859-2006 |
Criminal Records| Criminal Records | Date Span |
|---|
| Applications for Executive Clemency | 1945-2004 |
| Applications for Restorations of Right to Firearms (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency) | 1978-1998 |
| Commutation Record | 1898-1932 |
| Commutations (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency) | 1913-2001 |
| Consecutive Registers | 1867-1960 |
| Correspondence - Criminal | 1847-1998 |
| Criminal Records (Misc.) | 1847-1850, 1869-1906 |
| Executive Clemency Journals (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency) | 1934-2007 |
| Extraditions - Waivers | 1969-2008 |
| Extraditions and Requisitions (See also: Letter Books - Requisitions) | 1838-2009 |
| Final Discharge Record | 1908-1938 |
| Final Discharges (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency) | 1938-1968 |
| Letter Books - Criminal | 1898-1909 |
| Letter Books - Criminal - Pardon Clerk | 1914-1916 |
| Letter Books - Requisitions | 1900-1909 |
| Life Inmate Files | 1915-2011 |
| Pardon Record | 1876-1934 |
| Pardons (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency) | 1913-2004 |
| Parole Record | 1902-1904 |
| Remission Record | 1906-1932 |
| Remissions of Fines (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency) | 1913-2004 |
| Restorations of Citizenship (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency) | 1933-2004 |
| Restoration of Citizenship Journals | 1951-2009 |
| Suspended Sentences (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency) | 1913-1962 |
| Suspension Record - Suspensions and Pardons (See also: Applications for Executive Clemency, Pardon Record, Pardons, Suspended Sentences) | 1888-1937 |
Departmental and Subject Files| Departmental and Subject Files | Date Span |
|---|
| Departmental and Subject Files | 1932-2010 |
Executive Journals| Executive Journals | Date Span |
|---|
| Executive Journals | 1859-2006 |
| Executive Journals - Indian Affairs | 1838-1846 |
| Executive Journals - Source Material | 1949-1956, 1969-1982 |
| Executive Orders (See: Executive Journals 1859-2006) | |
Organizations and Associations| Organizations and Associations | Date Span |
|---|
| Council of State Governments | 1943-1945, 1968-1982 |
| Education Commission of the States | 1968-1982 |
| Governors Associations (Democratic and Republican) | 1969-1982 |
| Midwestern Governors Association | 1969-1982 |
| National Governors Association | 1969-1982 |
Proclamations| Proclamations | Date Span |
|---|
| Proclamations (See also: Department and Subject Files and Executive Journals) | 1997-2011 |
Reports| Reports | Date Span |
|---|
| Annual/Biennial Reports | 1910-2011 |
| Reports of County Officers | 1838-1910 |
| Reports of Railroads | 1852-1904 |
| Reports of Special Commissions | 1838-1998 |
| Reports of State Institutions (See also: Departmental and Subject Files) | 1840-1962 |
| Reports of State Officers, Boards and Departments | 1838-1916 |
Special Committees, Councils, and Task Forces| Special Committees, Councils, and Task Forces | Date Span |
|---|
| Governors Ad Hoc Committee on Iowa Commission for the Blind | 1972-1978 |
| Governors Committee of Economy | 1969-1982 |
| Governors Conference on the Year 2000 (Iowa 2000) | 1974-1979 |
| Governors Council on Physical Fitness and Sports | 1970-1982 |
| Privacy Task Force | 1978-1979 |
State Land Patents| State Land Patents | Date Span |
|---|
| Executive Journals | 1859-2006 |
| Executive Journals Source Material (See also: Departmental and Subject Files) | 1949-1956, 1969-1982 |
