The Iowa Century Farms Program recognized and honors those families who have owned the farm land for one hundred years or more. The program began in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial Program, when over 5,000 farms were recognized. Since 1976, over 15,000 families have been recognized.

The collection consists of materials solicited from the owners of Iowa Century Farms, honored by the state of Iowa during the American Revolution Bicentennial observations. It contains correspondence from owners of Iowa Century Farms responding to a request for information, deeds, mortgages, journals, reminiscences, farm records, and photographs. Topics covered include immigration from European countries, breaking prairie sod, the grasshopper invasion, severe winters, drought and disease, and the joys of surviving the rigors of settlement.