The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) was founded in Iowa City in 1857 with the original goal to have a library of materials illustrative of the state of Iowa, as well as publish materials on Iowa and have a dedicated membership under direction of a Board of Curators.
In 1892, The Historical Department in Des Moines was established as a museum, and would eventually include a library, newspaper and census department, and the State Archives. The Department in Des Moines would reorganize in 1939 as the Department of History and Archives.
In 1974 via HF1491, these two departments were combined into two divisions of the State Historical Department. In 1986 as part of the comprehensive statewide reorganization via SF 2175, the Historical Department was dissolved and both of these divisions merged into the State Historical Society of Iowa under the Department of Cultural Affairs.
In 2023 via SF 514, the Department of Cultural Affairs dissolved and the State Historical Museum and Library and Archives Bureaus of SHSI became a part of the Department of Administrative Services and the State Historic Preservation Office became a part of the Economic Development Authority. Some records after 1986 may be available in RG 109 Cultural Affairs.
Some or all of these records are available to search in the Iowa History Collections Catalog.
General
Series Title | Date Span |
|---|---|
Administrative Files | 1973-2011 |
Annual/Biennial Reports | 1857-1988 |
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Teaching Iowa History | 1988-1989 |
State Historical Board and Board of Trustees Executive Correspondence | 1974-1999 |
State Historical Board, Minutes and Related Material | 1974-1986 |
Board of Trustees, Minutes and Related Material | 1986-2023 |
Department Reorganization Planning Files | 1985-1986 |
Departmental Policies and Procedures | 1980-1998 |
Executive Correspondence | 1926-2005 |
Management Team Meeting Minutes | 1986-2006 |
Program Planning and Project Development Files | 1984-2017 |
Staff Committee Meetings | 1988-1999 |
Standing Committee on Iowa History Education | 1992-1996 |
WPA (Works Progress Administration) Projects | 1939-1951 |
Newsletters | 1974-2004 |
Membership | 1857-2008 |
Audit Reports | 1953-1984 |
News Releases | 1989-2002 |
Historic Preservation
Series Title | Date Span |
|---|---|
Congressional Liaison | 1973-1980 |
Administrative Files | Undated |
Executive Correspondence | 1970-1994 |
Terrace Hill Authority Restoration and Action Plan | 1971-1983 |
National Register Workshops | 1991-1994 |
Library and Archives
Series Title | Date Span |
|---|---|
Administrative Files | 1937-2007 |
County Records Inventory (ISHD-SHSI) | 1977-1979 |
Executive Correspondence | 1906-2000 |
National Historic Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Grants | 1984-1987; Undated |
Publications (Production Files, Editor’s Files) | ca. 1860-2020 |
Program Planning and Project Development Files | 1983-2021 |
Library and Archives Staff Committee Minutes and Related Material | 1987-2002 |
War Records Division
Series Title | Date Span |
|---|---|
World War I, Camp Dodge Headquarters, Bulletins | 1917-1918 |
World War II Casualty Files | 1941-1945 |
World War II, Administrative and Organizational Records | 1941-1948 |
World War II, Armed Services Journals | 1942-1946 |
World War II, Des Moines Ordnance Plant Files | 1941-1946 |
World War II, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, Fort Des Moines (Newsletters and Photographs) | 1942-1945 |
World War II, Waves, U.S. Training School at Cedar Falls | 1942-1945 |
Historic Sites
Series Title | Date Span |
|---|---|
Historic Markers Program | 1960-2003 |
Administrative Files | 1946-2001 |
Executive Correspondence | 1973-1995 |
Western Historical Trails Project Files | 1984-1996 |
State Historical Society of Iowa, 1857-1974
Series Title | Date Span |
|---|---|
Administrative Files | 1857-1974 |
Board of Curators Minutes and Related Material | 1857-1974 |
Executive Correspondence | 1904-1972 |
Programs and Events | 1912-1971 |
Centennial Building Fundraising and Construction | 1951-1962 |
Members Meetings Minutes and Related Material | 1857-1973 |
Visitor Register | 1862-1879 |
Iowa Historical Foundation
Series Title | Date Span |
|---|---|
Administrative Files | 1983-2003 |
New Historical Building Campaign | 1983-1987 |
Fundraising Campaigns and Proposals | 1984-2011 |