Vital Records
Records of vital statistics (births, marriages and deaths) are excellent sources of genealogical information. Prior to 1880, only marriages, which required a license, were recorded in public records, and then only at the county level. In 1880, legislation was passed creating the Iowa Department of Health and requiring all births, deaths, and marriages to be recorded at both the county and state levels.
The State Historical Society of Iowa has available birth, death and marriage records from across the state. These records include an extensive collection of County Records Microfilm of pre-1940 births, deaths and marriages filmed by FamilySearch in the counties; the years vary for in each county. In addition, the State Archives collections include the state’s birth, death, and marriage records from the Department of Public Health. Iowa law requires that all records of vital statistics in the custody of the State Archives must be 75 years or older to be made available to the public. All records of fetal deaths, regardless of age, are closed to the public. For a description of the information contained in these records over the years refer to Researching Iowa Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records.
If you are interested in Iowa birth, death and marriage records you are encouraged to visit the Research Center in Des Moines. You may also submit requests for copies of specific records by filling out the Basic Research Request Form.
FamilySearch and Ancestry are available free online at the Research Centers in Des Moines and Iowa City.
For certified copies of birth, death and marriage records or more recent birth, death, and marriage records contact the Department of Public Health.
The State Historical Society of Iowa is in the process of making more of these records available online. The following is a brief summary of records currently available at the Des Moines Research Center and online.
Birth Records
|
Records Available |
Record Source |
Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
County Birth Records |
County Records Microfilm at Research Center |
1880-Varies |
|
Delayed Birth Records Index* |
State Records Microfiche at Research Center |
1852-1916 |
|
Delayed Birth Records* |
State Records Microfilm at Research Center |
1852-1916 |
|
State Birth Records Index** |
Adair County - Humboldt County |
July 1904-June 1906 |
|
State Delayed Birth Records* |
1850-1939 |
* Delayed Births are births not recorded at the time of birth.
** In 1904 legislation was enacted that required certificates of birth to be filed with the State Department of Health and not in the counties. In 1906, the law was reversed and births were once again also recorded in the county. These indexes contain nearly 70,000 births recorded during this period.
Marriage Records
|
Records Available |
Record Source |
Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
County Marriage Records |
County Records Microfilm at Research Center |
Varies |
|
County Marriages Index |
1838-1934 |
|
|
State Marriage Records |
State Records Microfilm at Research Center |
1880-1937 |
|
State Marriage Records |
Ancestry.com (free use at Research Center) |
1880-1937 |
|
State Divorce Records |
State Records Microfilm at Research Center |
1906-1937 |
|
State Divorce Records |
State Records Volumes at Research Center |
1938-1940 |
Death Records
|
Records Available |
Record Source |
Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
County Death Records |
County Records Microfilm at Research Center |
1880-Varies |
|
State Death Records Index |
State Records Microfiche at Research Center |
1904-1916 |
|
State Death Records |
1921-1940 |
|
|
State Death Records Indexes by County |
Online Indexes Below |
Inclusive dates vary |
State Death Record Indexes
Uncertified copies of death records that appear in these indexes are available from the State Historical Society of Iowa by submitting a Basic Research Request Form.
