Donna L. Cooper
3663 Grand Avenue, Unit 607
Des Moines, Iowa 50312-4375
515-279-8125

THIS WEBSITE WILL COME DOWN LATER THIS YEAR.
Please visit my new website at www.iowagenealogyresearch.com!
or send me an email to
dlcooper@dwx.com

SERVICES

Thanks so much for stopping by. I charge an hourly rate for general genealogical research, plus the out-of-pocket costs of photocopies, telephone tolls if required, cemetery photographs if requested, and travel expense outside Polk County, if required and approved. I require a minimum of two hours. No retainer is required.

Please send me an e-mail with your questions or concerns. We can discuss your special needs and situation. For many reasons it is often difficult to estimate the time it might take to research a particular task, but if you can give me specific information as to what you already know, what you may have already researched and, most of all, what you want to learn, a ballpark estimate can often be given. Time needed will depend on how much factual data you can provide as to the approximate year and potential location of a particular event; whether your ancestor has a common surname which may require the elimination of others with the same surname; the availability of records for the particular area and time period in which your ancestor lived, etc. Many factors enter into the amount of time needed, and, until the search has begun, it is nearly impossible to determine the precise amount of time the search will require. As I am sure all of you who have done research know, there can never be guarantees as to the results of a search. I can guarantee, however, that I will do my very best to find the information you need.

EXPERIENCE

During the past 20 years, I have been involved in genealogical pursuits, both as a hobby and as a professional researcher for many years. I am a past member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Genealogical Society; have worked as an assistant librarian at the Iowa Genealogical Society Library; have spent many hours as a volunteer on genealogical projects; belong to numerous genealogical societies in which I have held various and sundry offices, and have spent extensive hours in courthouses, archives, libraries, churches, funeral homes, cemeteries, attics and other sites of potential and often elusive family records. I have over 25 years experience as a legal assistant which has given me a thorough working knowledge of county, state and federal records, document filing requirements, record locations, purposes of certain documents, and the potential content of such documents.

IOWA RECORD AVAILABILITY

Special Iowa 1925 Census:
This census is unique among census! Most importantly, it recorded the names of the parents of all persons enumerated (including maiden names) and, accordingly, if, for instance, grandfather at age 83 was living with his children in 1925, the census will list the names of grandfather's parents. This could potentially extend the line back to persons born as early as 1800. It also lists parents' nativity, place of parents' marriage, religion, etc. It is not indexed (except for a few larger cities). However, if your ancestor was living in Iowa at the time of the 1920 federal census, this information will usually provide a clue as to the place of residence in 1925.

Other Iowa State Census:
In addition to the 1925 census noted above, other Iowa census rolls are available for the following years, and list, in part, the following data: 1836 (Dubuque and Des Moines counties only); 1856 (lists members of household and number of years in Iowa); 1885 (lists members of household and county of birth if born in Iowa); 1895 (lists members of household, Civil War Company, Regiment and State of Service, and county of birth if born in Iowa); 1905 (incomplete and difficult to read); and 1915 (lists name, age, occupation, total earnings, education, birthplace, years in Iowa, marital status).

Birth Records:
The 1880 state legislature required that all births, deaths and marriages be recorded at both the county and state levels. However, many births and deaths were not recorded on the state level until 1921 when stricter laws were passed. No statewide index of births exists. Births from the mid-1880s to 1920s are more likely to be found at the county level.

Death Records:
Beginning in the mid-1880s, reported deaths were recorded at the county level and a county index may be available. Keep in mind, however, that deaths often were not reported and burials may have occurred in family cemeteries or on private lands. Deaths were generally recorded on the state level after 1896. NOTE, HOWEVER, that births and deaths were NOT required by law to be recorded at the county level between mid-1904 and mid-1906. Therefore, few births and deaths for these years are available at the county level, and, sometimes, not at the state level. A statewide index of deaths covering the approximate years of 1906 through 1916 does exist.

Marriage Records:
Marriages were recorded in records at the county level even before Iowa became a territory. By 1880, legislation required that marriages be recorded at both the county and state levels. There is, however, no statewide index to marriages.

Some Additional Miscellaneous Records:
The Iowa State Historical Library has a large collection to newspapers published in Iowa. Microfilm rolls of land records and county vital record files are also held by this library, as well as a collection of books, publications, Iowa census film, all Iowa U.S. census film, etc.

The Iowa Genealogical Society Library also has a collection of records, including, in part, county vital records, the Iowa G.A.R. Post files, WWI draft registrations, Old Age Assistance applications, Iowa pioneer certificates (pre-1856), family history files, obituary files, as well as all U.S. census film for Iowa and special Iowa census, all U.S. census film for other states through 1870 and quite a lot of census film for 1880 and more recent for other states, and on and on.

If you feel I may be able help with your family research
or if you have comments or questions
concerning any aspect of my services
or what records might be available,
please contact me.

Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to working with you.

Contact me at:

dlcooper@dwx.com

Copyright © 1999-2009 All Rights Reserved

Last updated June 1, 2009