Iowa, Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of an index and images of death records from the State Historical Society of Iowa for the years 1904 to 1942. It is anticipated that records through 1951 will eventually become available. This is a joint project with Ancestry.com.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name of the deceased
 * Date of birth
 * Place of birth
 * Marital status
 * Gender
 * Race
 * Age at death
 * Occupation
 * Date of death
 * Time of death
 * Place of death
 * Address of the deceased
 * Parents’ names
 * Places of birth of the parents
 * Date of burial
 * Place of burial
 * Cause of death
 * Name and address of the informant

Coverage Table and Map
Details on the number of records available by county, and number of records per year are available at Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951 - Coverage.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before using this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person
 * The approximate date of death
 * The place where the death occurred

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for an obituary or cemetery record
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find vital records such as birth, baptism, and marriage
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family
 * Search for church records

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Iowa.
 * Iowa Guided Research
 * Iowa Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.