Iowa, Old Age Tax Assistance Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from 38 counties within Iowa of land-owner taxes compiled by county tax assessors. The records show who paid the tax (not people who received pensions). The records include the years 1934 through 1958. The information can include the tax payer’s name, date the tax was paid, place of birth, parents’ names, and home address. The records can include Iowa settlers who may not appear in other birth records.

In March 1934, Iowa passed the “Old Age Assistance Program” law. Its purpose was to provide financial assistance to citizens over the age of 65 who had no relative to provide for them. The program was funded through a tax collected from citizens of at least 21 years of age (the tax was one dollar for the first year and then two dollars per year thereafter). The tax assessors of the counties within Iowa prepared the tax lists. Persons over the age of 65 could apply for financial aid through applications sent to the Old Age Assistance Board.

Counties included


 * Adair, 1934-36
 * Adams, 1934-36
 * Appanoose, 1934-38
 * Black Hawk, 1934-36
 * Bremer, 1934-37
 * Buchanan, 1934-37
 * Calhoun, 1934-36
 * Cass, 1934-36
 * Cerro Gordo, 1934-36
 * Cherokee, 1934-36
 * Clinton,1841-37
 * Dallas, 1934-37
 * Davis, 1937-37


 * Dickinson, 1935-36
 * Fayette, n. d.
 * Franklin, 1934-36
 * Grundy, 1934-36
 * Hamilton, 1934-35
 * Hancock, 1840-1914
 * Humboldt, 1934-36
 * Ida, 1934-36
 * Keokuk, 1934-36
 * Lucas,1934-37
 * Louisa, 1934-36
 * Marshall, 1934-37
 * Mitchell, 1934-46


 * O'Brien, 1934-36
 * Osceola, 1935-37
 * Palo Alta, 1934-1936
 * Plymouth, 1935-37
 * Ringgold, 1936-56
 * Sac, 1934-36
 * Scott, 1934-42
 * Shelby, 1934-37
 * Union, 1934-37
 * Van Buren, 1934-37
 * Wayne, 1934-36
 * Winneshiek, 1934-36

What Can these Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

Collection Content
There are several types of records that can be found in this collection:
 * Iowa Old Age Assistance Cards
 * Iowa Old Age Assistance Registers
 * Iowa Old Age Assistance List

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Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Iowa.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning United States Civil War Research
 * Locating a Union Civil War Soldier (1861-1865)
 * Iowa Guided Research
 * Iowa Record Finder
 * Iowa Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Iowa Research, 1880-Present

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Iowa, Tama County, Tax Records, 1865-1939

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