Iowa Genealogical Society

10/11/2026

Register today for for a day of exploring genealogy resources that are available around the death of our ancestors. On Saturday, October 17th you may join the IGS Fall Conference on Zoom or in person. See the registration link in the comments for more details and to register.

09/10/2026

Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) started moving into Iowa before its statehood in 1835, establishing 83 meetings for worship before 1900. At his class on September 24th, Glenn York will discuss the early Quaker settlements and spread throughout Iowa. He will also discuss the records they created, their genealogical value, and how to access them. See the comments for a link to registration.

08/24/2026

If you're curious about how the annual Jewelry Sale at IGS comes about, we have an opportunity for you. We've inviting members to a meeting on Wednesday, September 2nd at 1:00 at the Iowa Genealogical Society. We're going to discuss all aspects of the sale - getting donations, promoting the sale, processing the items, staffing the sale and anything else that goes into a successful event. It's a major fundraiser and we want to continue the streak. Come join us. PS The volunteers have a lot of fun which is obvious from the laughter coming from the conference center as they work.

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08/22/2026

Breaking news. we sold the map case to the Dickinson County Historical Museum. They recently received a collection of maps from the author of Prairie Oasis , The Railroads, Steamboats and Resorts of Iowa's Spirit Lake Country. They are delighted to have found a way to store them and we are delighted to have the case go to a good home.

08/15/2026

The card catalog is sold - to a local bookstore in Ames. There were several other people interested. Who knew it was such a hot item.

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08/15/2026

The venerable card catalog has been retired and is available for sale. It has 60 drawers and is 40 3/4" wide, 19" deep and 60" tall. We are asking $500 or best offer (OBO). If you're interested or know someone who might be, you can view it at the library at 628 East Grand Ave., Des Moines during normal library hours. They are 10-9 Tuesday and Thursday, 10-4 Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. You can also call during those hours, 515-276-0287. The catalog has gone fully digital (you can explore it on our website) but we'll miss this hardworking fixture of the library. We want it to go to a good home. We've also posted this on Facebook MarketPlace so it may be claimed soon.

08/09/2026

IGS is offering a free Genealogy Basics class on Zoom Thursday, September 10th at 6:30 pm. Instructor, Kevin Spire, will walk you through the records that matter most, the mistakes researchers make, and simple strategies to help you stay organized. This class is ideal for beginners—and a helpful refresher for anyone ready to sharpen their research skills. Register for the class using the link in the comments.

08/09/2026

Discover how Google's free tools can transform your genealogy research and organization! You'll learn practical ways to use Google Search, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and other Google tools to organize records, collaborate with family members, and preserve your family history. This in-person workshop is Saturday, September 12th. See the comments for a registration link.

07/28/2026

Fall Conference registration is open! Our speaker, Kimberly Alberg, will be in person at the IGS Library & Research Center in Des Moines, Iowa for a day of exploring genealogy resources that are available around the death of our ancestors.

In-person attendees will have the opportunity to shop with multiple vendors, win prizes throughout the day, explore the library, and enjoy snacks and lunch while networking and enjoying the company of like-minded family history enthusiasts.

If you are unable to join us in person, the conference is also available on Zoom. All sessions will be recorded and available to all registrants for a limited time after the conference. See the comments for a link to registration that explains more details.