Hunter
10/02/25
A group of historians, University of Iowa professors, authors and donors are suing the state over its handling of the State Historical Society’s closing of the Iowa City facility.
The Gazette reports the suit was filed last week in Johnson County District Court, and claims Iowa Code explicitly requires the State of Iowa to maintain history research centers in both Des Moines and Iowa City. The suit goes on to say state officials have begun dismantling the Iowa City archive, laying off staff, and removing collections, many of which donated under the condition that they remain in Iowa City.
The State is accused of violating professional archival standards, specifically by not reappraising the collection, preparing a plan to execute the move, engaging all relevant stakeholders, and documenting all decisions and actions.
Without notice, the state issued a press release in June announcing the closure of the Iowa City facility in 2026, citing deferred maintenance costs. The suit claims the $878,000 in costs is significantly less than the $72 million in deferred maintenance projects yet to be completed at the Des Moines facility, which the group says lacks sufficient climate-controlled space to house the Iowa City collections. Later, the state said that only about 40 percent of the Iowa City collection would be moved to Des Moines, with the remainder would be dispersed, returned to donors, or simply disposed of.
The group is seeking both immediate and permanent court intervention, which includes stopping the removal of items from the Iowa City facility and the return of items that have already been transported to Des Moines.