Webster County Genealogical Society

01/29/2026

Dedicated to preserving, sharing and educating about Iowa's unique and diverse heritage. Learn about classes, resources, and events to discover your ancestors.

08/19/2025

Preserve Iowa history. Don't let our past disappear.

- *We Have a Problem* - **PLEASE READ TO THE END.** This is one we should all be able to get behind—liberal and conservative; Democrat and Republican. Anyone who feels history is important.

*ISSUE: The State Historical Society has been shifted over to the Department of Administration, and the results are proving damaging for Iowa history.

*WHAT'S HAPPENING

The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) is closing its Centennial Building research center in Iowa City. The cuts don’t stop there. They are:

**Ending the state’s 163-year partnership with the Annals of Iowa journal.
**Shutting down the mobile museum that brought history directly to Iowans.

Fact: The Centennial Building, opened in 1956, has housed over 200 million records, photographs, books, and artifacts of Iowa and national history.

WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS:

**In June, officials announced the Historical Library in Iowa City would be permanently closed.
**40% of the collections will go to Des Moines, into a much smaller historical library.
**60% will be dispersed across Iowa—or SOLD, GIVEN AWAY, or simply THROWN OUT.
**The cost to keep the Library open? 0.00008% of the state’s budget. (and just 13 months ago, the Governor told Iowans the state had a $1.83 billion surplus.)

THE DANGERS:

**Removal of collections begins next month—September—with no real plan. It’s haphazard and rushed.
**When 40% of collections are moved to Des Moines, they’ll spend at least 3 years in an unsuitable basement.
**That basement is plagued by temperature fluctuations, poor airflow and outside exhaust, overhead pipes that could leak, dusty HVAC conduits, inadequate fire suppression, and inaccessibility.
**These aren’t minor inconveniences. They’re serious risks that could damage or destroy priceless history.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO:
**We HAVE to act. This isn’t just “stuff.” This is Iowa’s story—our story. Once gone, it’s erased forever.
**There are 22,000 of you following this page. If you care about Iowa’s past and future, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE:

Send an email to Adam Steen at Adam.Steen@iowa.gov.
Send an email to Governor Kim Reynolds’ office.

Tell them to please 1) Save the Iowa City Centennial Research Museum, 2) Continue partnering with the Annals of Iowa to share history, and 3) continue the mobile Iowa History Museum, which brings history directly to Iowans.

Be polite, but be clear: closing the Iowa City building, ending the mobile museum, and separating from the Annals of Iowa is devastating.

Remember: state museums aren’t businesses. They preserve history. Breaking even is one thing, but they should never be expected to turn a profit.

06/22/2025

04/22/2025

03/21/2025

Open house. Monday, 21 April 2025 at 1pm at the Fort Dodge Public Library. Cemeteries of Webster County.

08/18/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/swcWY4rpSLHBDzzy/

This page offers quick access to a range of historical indexes available at the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania archives, which are valuable for genealogical research. These resources include indexes for wills, deeds, probate records, Orphans’ Court records, estate files, and more. Researchers can ...

08/13/2024

The August 19th meeting has changed to August 26. The library is closed on the 19th. We will be discussing Irish research.

08/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wkQxfoB8kUFft4pq/

Next week's genealogy discussion group topic is very local. Join us as we learn about the Scandinavian settlement in Algona. You will hear lots of names like Larson, Sjogren, Ostrum, Hagg, Nelson, Anderson and many, many more!

08/08/2024

See you on Monday!!

07/02/2024

Monday, July 22, 2024 at 1:00. Czech research. Monday, Aug 19, 2024 at 1:00 Irish research.