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Local History & Genealogy
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Photograph Collections
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Muscatine Journal on Microfilm
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History of Buildings and Neighborhoods of Muscatine
Welcome to our Local History & Genealogy page. Here you will find multiple resources to further your research.
Databases
Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com has the largest collection of genealogical data available online to help you find your ancestors. Users of Ancestry.com can access over 2 billion names in more than 3,000 databases to help them extend their family trees. Ancestry.com offers many valuable databases. Ancestry.com is available within Musser Public Library on the public library computers as well as on personal laptops. Click here to access Ancestry inside the library. Please check with the Reference Desk for more information.
Heritage Quest
With HeritageQuest online you can find ancestors and relatives in the complete set of US Federal Census records from 1790-1920. You can also find information on people and places described in over 25,000 family and local history books all online!
To access HeritageQuest please click here and have your library barcode number ready.
Sanborn Maps
Sanborn fire insurance maps are the most frequently consulted maps in both public and academic libraries. Sanborn Maps are valuable historical tools for urban specialists, social historians, architects, geographers, genealogists, local historians, planners, environmentalists and anyone who wants to learn about the history, growth, and development of American cities, towns, and neighborhoods. They are large-scale plans containing data that can be used to estimate the potential risk for urban structures. This includes information such as the outline of each building, the size, shape and construction materials, heights, and function of structures, location of windows and doors. The maps also give street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers. Seven or eight different editions represent some areas.
Digital Archives
Muscatine City Directories Digital Archives of Musser Public Library
Through Newspaperarchive.com, Musser Public Library provides access to select volumes from Muscatine City Directories from 1856-1959. These directories are keyword searchable. Click here to access the archive.
History of Buildings & Neighborhoods of Muscatine
From 2002-2008, the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission completed two major studies identifying and evaluating the historic buildings in Muscatine. The commission donated these surveys and nominations to the library in both print and digital form. They can be accessed here in their entirety.
Indexes
Birth, Marriage, & Death Index
The library provides an online, keyword searchable database that you can use to search for information regarding your research. The Index is not complete, but rather a work in progress. Click here to access the Index.
Grossheim Photographic Index
The Oscar Grossheim Collection, which consists of over 50,000 glass plate negatives taken from approximately the late 1890′s to the early 1940′s and include stunning portraits of local citizens as well as critically important local scenes. Over 3,000 images from the Grossheim Collection have been digitally archived and uploaded to the Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Image Archive, where they can be viewed.
On the Grossheim Photographic Index page you will find a searchable database that lists all known entries in Oscar Grossheim’s logbooks. While we cannot guarantee that all entries will have a corresponding negative (some have been lost or damaged beyond repair over the past 100+ years), we will do our best to locate the requested item.
Muscatine County Probate Records
Since 1839, the County of Muscatine has collected and preserved area probate records. Due to storage and archival issues, the county archived on microfilm, all probate records from 1839-1968. This resulted in 91 total rolls. These 91 rolls are available for viewing at the County Clerk’s Office at the Muscatine County Court House. Copies of rolls 1-17 are available at Musser Public Library. All probate records after 1968 are in paper form and are available at the County Clerk’s Office at the Muscatine County Court House.
County Clerk’s Office
Muscatine County Courthouse
401 East Third Street, Second Floor
Muscatine, IA 52761
(563) 263-6511
Both the County Clerk’s Office and Musser Public Library have a card based index to rolls 1-91 that indicate the name of the individual on the particular record, the probate record number, and the microfilm roll on which that record is located. Furthermore, the Muscatine Genealogy Society has compiled two separate, detailed indexes of rolls 1-17. The first index is alpha-indexed by last name and the second index is in numerical order by roll number.
These indexes are available online at the Muscatine County IAGenWeb Site, in paper form at Musser Public Library, and as downloadable PDFs located below.
For assistance in locating and viewing probate records from rolls 1-17 at Musser Public Library, please contact the Reference Desk at 563-263-3065 or refmus@muscatineiowa.gov.
Websites
MAGIC (Muscatine Area Geographic Information Consortium)
MAGIC is a free resource provided to the citizens of Muscatine that facilitates research into all the properties in the local area. Areas of information include Deed Holder, Lot Area, Property History, Valuation, & Taxation along with other valuable items. Click here to access the service.
Muscatine County, IAGenWeb Site
The Muscatine County, IAGenWeb site contains a wealth of information to assist you in your family history research. From cemetery records to historical photographs, you’ll find a plethora of links and resources to get started on your search. Click on this link to access their site.
Muscatine Co. Iowa Genealogy Website
The Muscatine Co. Iowa Genealogy web page provides information and links to several genealogy resources as well as references to Louisa, Scott, Johnson and Cedar Counties. Click on this link to access the site.
Photo Galleries
Photo Galleries
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