The Historical Society for the Southern District of Iowa announced on Apr. 30 that its annual meeting will take place in person at the Des Moines Courthouse on July 20, 2026, at noon Central Time.
The organization aims to preserve and celebrate the history of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. It operates as a not-for-profit corporation and serves as a branch of the Historical Society for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
One ongoing project is recording and producing oral histories featuring federal and state appellate court judges in Iowa, as well as other legal leaders from this district. More information about these oral history projects can be found here.
The society is also collaborating with several organizations—including the Iowa State Bar Association Federal Practice Committee, the Historical Society for the Northern District of Iowa, and the Supreme Court Historical Society—to bring “The Supreme Court in My Hometown” program to Iowa. This initiative includes a Teacher Professional Development program planned for summer 2027 and back-to-back weeks of programming during summer 2029. The organization encourages those interested in helping plan these events to get involved now.
Membership is open to those who wish to participate more actively in preserving local judicial history. The society is recognized as a tax-exempt entity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, making contributions tax deductible.
