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State Archives

Several different Capitol Commissions were created between 1839 and 1902. Their functions and duties, composition, and manner of appointment varied, but the primary responsibility of the first two commissions was to locate and establish a seat of government and/or build a new State Capitol. Later commissions were established to make improvements to the Capitol and its grounds. This record group is divided into four sections by time periods, with a separate subgroups: Capitol Commission (1839-1859), Capitol Commission I (1855-1903), Capitol Grounds Improvements (1890-1892), and Capitol Commission II (1902-1907). 

Related materials can also be found in records of other state agencies: Office of the Governor (RG 43), Secretary of State (RG 81), Auditor (RG 9), Treasurer of State (RG 89), and Executive Council (RG 36). Related material may also be found in manuscript collections in the State Historical Society of Iowa.

Some or all of these records are available to search in the Iowa History Collections Catalog.

Capitol Commission
Capitol CommissionDate Span
Records of the Board of Commissioners1839-1843
Capitol Commission I
Capitol Commission IDate Span
Competition1869
Contracts1870-1886
Correspondence1870-1898
Drawings and Plans1883
Financial Records1870-1893
Reports1870-1886
Specifications, Bids, and Proposals1876-1885
Stone Record1870-1892
Time Books and Memoranda1871-1903
Capitol Grounds Improvement
Capitol Grounds ImprovementDate Span
Competition1884
Contracts and Bonds1890-1891
Correspondence1902-1906
Drawings and Plans1903-1904
Reports1902-1905, 1907
Specifications, Bids and Proposals1890-1892
Capitol Commission II
Capitol Commission IIDate Span
Contracts and Bonds1903-1905
Correspondence1902-1906
Drawings and Plans1903-1904
Reports1902-1905, 1907
Specifications, Bids and Proposals1902-1905