State Historical Society of Iowa
From ArchivesWiki
The State Historical Society of Iowa is a state agency founded in 1857 and has a dual mission of preservation and education. As a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy, SHSI identifies, records, collects, preserves, manages, and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources. As an advocate of understanding Iowa’s past, SHSI educates Iowans of all ages, conducts and stimulates research, disseminates information, and encourages and supports historical preservation and education efforts of others throughout the state. Its programs include library and archival collections, a museum, a historic preservation office, a preservation center, public education, technical assistance to local organizations, publications, and eight historic sites across the state.
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[edit] Address and Contact Info
Des Moines Office: 600 E. Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50319-0290
Phone: (515) 281-5111
Fax: (515) 242-6498
E-mail: cyndi.pederson@iowa.gov
Web page: http://www.iowahistory.org
Iowa City Office:
402 Iowa Ave., Iowa City, IA 52240-1806
Phone:(319) 335-3916
Fax: (319) 335-3935
Online Finding Aid:
Archivists (principal contacts for advice on the collection):
[edit] Hours and usage restrictions
The libraries are open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and both provide telephone and mail reference services. With advance notice, most collections can be made available at either site.
[edit] Collection Summary
The society maintains research collections of published and unpublished materials in both Iowa City and Des Moines. All collections focus on the history of Iowa and the Midwest, with special emphases on agriculture, transportation, and labor. Local history resources include extensive collections of Iowa newspapers, census records, business directories, and fire insurance maps. The state archives, which is a component of the state historical society, houses state government records. Visual image collections include photographs, film, videotape, posters and broadsides, and an extensive collection of historic maps. The society also maintains a collection of more than 200 Iowa battle flags from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War II in its Battle Flag Preservation Project. The Battle Flag Preservation Laboratory is open for public tours the third Saturday of each month.
[edit] Usage Discussion
Suggestions for approaching the material:
Housing and getting by for less in the area:
