The State Historical Society of Iowa builds its book, periodical, photograph, manuscript, audio-visual and other collections through public donations and with limited purchases of new material. The collection committee uses selection criteria guided by a collection management policy and collecting plan.
All offers will be carefully evaluated and considered, however not everything offered will be added to the collection. The society does not accept materials under permanent loan agreements.
For more information please contact us.
How to Make a Donation
Effective immediately, the State Historical Society of Iowa has temporarily paused accepting new donations of historical material and will not execute any new incoming or outgoing loans from the collection. This includes Library, Museum and Special Collections collecting units. This moratorium is expected to last approximately two years, ending June 30, 2027.
The moratorium will allow staff to renovate collection storage at the State Historical Building in Des Moines and also relocate historical collections in Iowa City to Des Moines. The massive nature of these two projects will require the reprioritization of staff time towards the care, management and preservation of our existing collections during their relocation.
If you are considering a donation of historical materials to the State Historical Society of Iowa, please contact us at the conclusion of the moratorium period.
About the Projects
A significant portion of the high density compact shelving that houses archival collections at the State Historical Building in Des Moines is non-functional or functions to a limited extent. This failure in infrastructure causes staff to spend excessive time managing work-arounds in order to retrieve collections for public access. In 2025 the Iowa Legislature funded the high density compact storage replacement project HF 1039. The planned new shelving will allow staff to more easily access collection material and will significantly increase storage capacity.
The State of Iowa made the difficult decision to vacate the Iowa City location at the Centennial Building effective June 30, 2026. Through the end of June 2026 State Historical Society of Iowa staff will evaluate all collections then relocate each collections to Des Moines. Then where appropriate transferring selected historical collections to other collecting institutions through June 30, 2027.
Item Care
If you have questions about caring for your items, Collections Care Resources provides advice and recommendations for preserving your treasures.
If you would like to learn more about our library, archives and special collections, please search our online catalog.
Authentications & Appraisals
The State Historical Society of Iowa does not provide authentications or monetary appraisals of documents, photographs or other historical resources.
For assistance in these areas, please visit the Society of American Archivists or American Society of Appraisers.