RG 043 Governor

Records in this record group document the functions and responsibilities of the Office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and date from Iowas first territorial Governor, Robert Lucas (1838-1841) through Governor Chet Culver (2007-2011). The only exception is Harold E. Hughes (1963_1969). Our records for Gov. Hughes include only two series, Executive Journals and Consecutive Registers, the remainder of his gubernatorial papers are at the State University of Iowa. Two examples of records series unique to a single governorship are Gov. William L. Hardings Council of Defense records from World War I and Gov. Robert D. Rays records of Refugee Programs, following the Viet Nam War. Prior to 1911, most records from the governors office are organized by record series and then by date. Beginning with Gov. Beryl F. Carroll in 1911, nearly all record series are arranged by governor, and then by record series and date. There are related records for some Iowa governors located in the State Historical Society of Iowas Manuscripts and Audio-Visual Collections. The following is partial list of holdings in the State Archives. Contact the Research Center, in Des Moines, for more detailed information on Governors records.