Burlington
Public Library210 Court Street · Burlington, IA 52601 · 319-753-1647
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Tracing Your Des Moines County Ancestors
at the Burlington
Public Library
CENSUS RECORDSFilms located in microfilm cabinets in the Genealogy and Local History
Room (GLH). CENSUS INDEXESBooks located on the shelves to the left of the microfilm cabinets.Federal: All years on ALE and some on HQO. 1840 (Des Moines County), 1850, 1860, and 1870 in books. 1880 (online), 1900 (Soundex), and 1920 (Soundex). State: 1836, 1852, 1925 in books. All indexed on ALE. Mortality: 1850 index and 1870 abstract. BIRTH RECORDSJuly 1880 – Dec 1883 (1 volume). Abstracts.Jan 1884 – Dec 1889 (6 volumes). Abstracts. Aug 1880 – 1910 (3 rolls). Earliest record books list parents’ birth place/nationality. Delayed Births, books 1-9. Iowa law did not require birth records be maintained by civil authorities until 1880. For records of these early births, try delayed births, church records, and death records. MARRIAGE RECORDSMarriage Index, 1835-1899 (18 volumes). DEATH RECORDSBook 1 July 1880 – August 1889 (4 volumes). Iowa law did not require death records be maintained by civil authorities until 1880. Prior to 1880, use the coroner’s inquests listed above, cemetery records, obituaries, and church records. Order civil records of births, marriages, and deaths from the Des Moines County Recorder of Deeds Office, 513 North Main Street, Burlington, IA 52601-5221. Cost is $1. Call (319) 753-8262 for other questions. From 1921-1941, birth and death records where only maintained at the state level. OBITUARY INDEXES1973-1975, clipped obits in binders, indexed. FUNERAL HOME RECORDSBurnett Walker Burial Record Book, 1913-1952 (11 volumes).
PROBATE RECORDSWill Record Books, 1874-1908 (3 rolls). CEMETERIESCemetery Finder: Provides the township location of each cemetery in Des Moines County. Burlington’s original cemetery (n.e. corner of
Central and Market). Burials without markers, 1900-1949 (5 volumes) and 1950-1999 (5 volumes).Jewish Cemetery (Vineyard and Hayes) Cemeteries, City of Burlington, (1 volume). North Sixth Street Catholic Cemetery (1200 N. 6th St.) Cemeteries, City of Burlington, (1 volume). Sacred Heart (Crapo Park) Cemeteries, Concordia Township (1 volume). Des Moines County, outside of Burlington
PHOTOGRAPHSDaily
Life Along the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
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TERRITORIAL PAPERSIowa (102 rolls).Wisconsin (121 rolls). DIRECTORIESCity Directories: 1856 (Business only), 1859, 1862, 1866, 1868-1995 (Microfiche), 1996-present (Ask at the Help Desk).Street numbering changed in 1938. Reverse Directories(by address) began in 1889 as part of city directory. Phone Directories: 1934 – present. (384.6 BUR / Ask at the Help Desk). CHURCHESSearch by Subject using “Burlington (Iowa) – Churches” for church histories. The Burlington Family History Center (FHC) has the early records of many churches on film on indefinite loan (see FHC binder in the GLH).MAPSFor more maps, search by subject using “Burlington (Iowa) – Maps”Illustrated Historical Atlas of Des Moines County. 1873. (912.777 AND reproducible maps in a box in the GLH room). Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. 1886, 1892, 1900, 1931(on microfiche in GLH). Bound copy on GLH table has additions to 1950. Plat Books of Des Moines County (Ask at the Help Desk). NATURALIZATION RECORDSRecorder of Deeds has naturalization records and index.Declaration of Intent, 1880-1896. (1 roll). Index at front of each volume. Final Papers, 1866-1868, 1882-1906. (2 rolls). Naturalization Records (7 volumes). Indexes declarations of intent for 1855-1929 and final papers for 1849-1912. LAND RECORDSRecorder of Deeds office has land records.Real Estate Register, 1859-1904 (2 volumes). Index and Abstracts. Land Records, 1852-1887. (7 rolls). Grantor followed by grantee indexes. TAX LISTSInternal Revenue Assessment Lists for Iowa, 1862-1866(INT 001 / GLH). (16 rolls). VOTER REGISTRATIONSVoter Registrations, 1868 (1 volume).Register of Elections, Oct. 1877 (1 volume). MILITARY RECORDSRoster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion,
together with historical sketches of volunteer organizations, 1861-1866
(977.7 ROS / GLH). Civil War Units Raised in Des Moines County NEWSPAPERSAsk at the Help Desk about clipping files. Papers are on microfilm
in the GLH room. SCHOOLSBurlington High School Graduates (1 volume). 1868 – 1900.The Blackhawk. Burlington Junior College yearbook, 1922-1962 (378.777 BLA / STO Ask at Help Desk). Geode. Southeastern Community College yearbook, 1968-1971 (378.777 GEO / STO Ask at Help Desk). eNDview. Notre Dame High School yearbook, 1968, 1976-78, 1981 (373.77 END / STO Ask at Help Desk). Pathfinder. Burlington High School yearbook, 1911-present (not published 1933) (373.777 PAT / STO Ask at Help Desk). Purple and Gray. Burlington High School newspaper. Incomplete run; ask at the Help Desk. OTHER COURT RECORDSOriginals at the Des Moines County Courthouse.Inventory Guide to Court Records Des Moines County. Published 1979. Summary of court records and where to find them. Indentured Children Index, 1833 – 1920. FHL filmed records. Index to District Court Records, 1835-1850 (1 volume). FHL filmed records. Pension Record Index, c1870-1920. Lists pensioner, spouse, and children. FHL filmed records. SURNAMESSurname cards. Information submitted from various sources. 3 rolls of microfilm.Search the Catalog using “family histories” as the subject for a list of all family histories in the library. For a specific family, search by “[surname] family” as the subject. (For example, “Miller family”). MORE INFORMATIONContact a paid researcher at the |
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