Skip to content
Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Children and Families of Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Des Moines.

Explore the Archive Institution Website
6Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1888 to 2013Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

7,828Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Des Moines, Iowa.

Discover another side of Des Moines, Iowa through document collections preserved in the Children and Families of Iowa's digital archive. Its six titles include material from 1888 to 2013.

You can open the archive using the link below.
Partner image, not an archive preview
 Explore the Archive

Opens in a new tab.

  • Selected titles

    Explore titles such as “Childrens And Families Of Iowa” as well as “Voices”, shared by Children and Families of Iowa.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • Ways to explore

    A familiar place or family connection in Des Moines can lead to another source and a new question.

A community's history is made up of many lives and perspectives. Historical materials offer a way to explore those connections without reducing the past to a single story. A family story, a classroom project or curiosity about a familiar place can lead to a closer look at the community and the lives of earlier generations. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.

Explore the collection

Titles in this collection

Browse six titles and 7,828 digitized pages, with material from 1888 to 2013. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Children and Families of Iowa shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

Bring a person, place or date you recognize, and browse the titles below for a first clue in the story you want to follow.

Childrens And Families Of Iowa

162 pages from 2001 to 2007

Childrens Home Herald

5,198 pages from 1900 to 1924

History Of The Iowa Childrens Home Society

754 pages from 1888 to 1989

Iowa Cares

1,398 pages from 1956 to 1998

Iowa Childrens Home Society Bulletin

168 pages from 1943 to 1944

Voices

148 pages from 2008 to 2013

Explore the Archive (opens in a new tab)

Opens in a new tab.

Partner Story

Children & Families of Iowa - Historical Publications

Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) was established in 1888 in response to the increasing need for safe, loving homes for abandoned, neglected, and "unwanted" children in Iowa. Since its inception, CFI has positively impacted over a million lives, evolving from a small adoption agency into a statewide organization serving more than 35,000 individuals annually. The organization remains dedicated to its core principle: every child and family deserves to be safe.

Partner Story

Historical Timeline of Children & Families of Iowa:

  • 1888: The Iowa Educational Aid Society is founded in Davenport, Iowa by a small group of ministers and laypeople, eventually evolving into the Iowa Children’s Home Society and later, Children & Families of Iowa.
  • 1894: The organization’s name is changed to Iowa Children’s Home Society.
  • 1895: Headquarters are relocated to Des Moines.
  • 1898: A children’s receiving home is built in Des Moines.
  • 1924: The organization becomes licensed as a child-placing agency.
  • 1941: The Community Chest begins funding work with at-risk children in their homes.
  • 1947: The first child psychiatrist is hired.
  • 1954: Headquarters move to a remodeled residence at 2203 Grand Avenue in Des Moines.
  • 1958: St. Monica’s School merges with the organization.
  • 1965: The organization opens its first branch office in Fort Dodge.
  • 1972: The organization stops accepting applications solely for “healthy, white infants.”
  • 1975: Emergency Homemaker Services begins.
  • 1979: The organization starts operating the Family Violence Center.
  • 1988: Celebrates its 100th anniversary.
  • 1990: A new Family Violence Center and headquarters open.
  • 1991: Name changes to Children & Families of Iowa.
  • 2005: Takes over operation of Teddy Bear Town at Scavo High School.
  • 2008: Receives a Federal grant to fund the Compass Transitional Housing Project.
  • 2012: Celebrates 125 years of service.
  • 2018: Celebrates its 130th anniversary.

Partner Story

Mission and Vision:

Mission: To restore hope, build futures, and change lives for Iowa’s most vulnerable children, families, and communities. Vision: To ensure every child and every family in Iowa is safe and able to thrive. Voices: Touching Lives Across Iowa Since 1888 : This publication highlights CFI's impact and ongoing commitment to serving Iowa's most vulnerable populations. For more detailed information on the history and services of Children & Families of Iowa, please visit Children & Families of Iowa .

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Separate a lead from a conclusion

A family memory, familiar place, or local event can lead to a question about Des Moines. Begin with the details in the collection details shared by the Children and Families of Iowa, then follow a name or date as a lead rather than assuming it answers the story by itself. A matching name or phrase can start research, but it does not establish identity or context. Look for source details that support the connection.

Let a useful detail suggest the next question. Check its title, date, and surrounding context where those details are available, then follow a related person, place, or event in another source. Keep possible connections open until the evidence supports them.

Record which title, date, page, or item supports a useful lead. Mark unanswered questions before connecting it to a family or community story. A similar name can point you toward another source, but it is not proof of identity.

Review collection titles

Children and Families of Iowa photo 1

Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Children and Families of Iowa, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.

Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.

Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.

Learn about partnerships
Children and Families of Iowa photo 2
Children and Families of Iowa photo 3
Children and Families of Iowa photo 4
Read All About It

Stories, research tips, and archive news

Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.

Newest published articles

March 18, 2025

It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?

We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
Read article
Back to top

Help local history reach more people

A link from you could start someone’s next discovery.

Know someone who would value these resources? Share what you found. If you represent a library, school, museum or community organization, add a link to your website, research guide or newsletter so more people can find this freely accessible history.

Get links & website cards
Share this archive profile by link or email
Prepare an email

Copy this public link or add your own note before sending. No sign-in needed.

Free tools. No account required. Share a link, not a paywall.