UNIVERSITYOF ILLINOIS LIBRARY ATURBANA-CHAMPAIGN BOOKSTACKS & LOCAL FAMILY Regional Archives Illinois Depository System ILLINOIS DEPOSITORY UNIVERSITYOF ILLINOIS ATURBANA-CHAMPAIGN Jesse#White SECRETARY OF STATE I PRESERVI officials to transfer state universities. R ditions of that regio makes the records it physical deterioratio These records are of ment officials. IRAI the past. Jesse White & Secretary ofState IRAD hours Hours at the seven regional depositories vary. Rese and 4 p.m. for more information, especially if the> Saturdays and Sundays, state holidays and other wc OUR PAST Looking back intoourpast is an enriching experi- ence. To ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to explore their heritage, the Illinois Regional Archives Depository system (IRAD) was established. IRAD is a resource-sharing system that works with the Local Records Commission and area iable records to the seven IRAD centers at Illinois rds at each IRAD reflect the unique history and tra- "he relocation of local records to regional facilities accessible to researchers and prevents their loss or :at help to historians, genealogists and local govem- iffcan help you find whatever you need to discover iteArchivist lers are advised to call a depository between 9 a.m. 3 planning a visit. Regional depositories are closed ays the university libraries are closed. IRAD records Local governments that have transferred records to regional depositories include counties, town- ships, municipalities and school districts. Records include: • county board proceedings files and meeting minutes • records ofbirths, deaths and marriages • land deeds, mortgages and tax sale records • assessors’ and collectors’ tax books • poll books and voter registers • naturalization records, including declara- tions ofintent • probate records, including wills and will records, case files, administrators’ and executors’ records, guardianship records, and inventory and appraisement records • court case files (civil and criminal), chancery cases (including divorces), docket books and court proceedings, and insanity proceedings files and records • coroners’ inquest records and inquest files • miscellaneous county records, including almshouse/county home records and jail registers • township meeting minutes • highway commissioners’ minutes • school trustees’ minutes • pupil registers • school land sale records • city council proceedings files and meeting minutes • ordinance records • city election records — City of Chicago Records A special part of IRAD’s holdings is from the City of Chicago and includes nearly 35,000 previously unknown documents that predate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In addition to city council proceedings files from 1833 to 1942, holdings include plats, atlases and Sanborn Maps. OtherChicago records include election registers from 1888 to 1892 and ordinance records span- ning from 1837 to 1916. Making a request Mail and telephone requests concerning geneal- ogy and local history are welcome. Please include the following information when making a request: • full name ofthe person you are researching • approximate year the person is expected to appear in a record • name ofthe county • record title or type to search Pleaselimit inquiries to two names at atime and wait until you have received a response to your first request before submitting additional ones. IRAD resources Several resources are available to assist in your research: Publications • A Summary Guide to Local Governmental Records in the Illinois—RegionalArchives, second edition (1999) Lists all county, township and municipal records, including those from Chicago and Cook County. Cost: $6. • Chicago City Council Proceedings Files: — 1833-1871: An Inventory andan Index A 989-page inventory accompanied by an index containing 93 microfiche. Cost: $35. County listings Computer listings ofIRAD records arranged by county, office and record title are free. Please limit requests to no more than five counties at a time. Please send inquiries or orders for these research aids to: IRAD, Illinois State Archives Norton Building Springfield, IL 62756 217-782-3645 Web site resources Adatabase ofIRAD holdings, indexes to some county records and a guide to IRAD services is available at www.cyberdriveilIinois.com. Winnebago Carroll DeKalb Kane u [Putnam Mason Menard Macon Morgan Sangamon Douglas Christian ¥ Greene Macoupin Montgomery [ r Jersey Fayette Effingham Jasper Crawford RichlandLawrence^ Jefferson Franklin Williamson Gallati IRAD Regions IRAD depositories — IRAD Booth Library Eastern Illinois University 600 LincolnAve. Charleston, IL 61920 217-581-6093 IRAD Illinois State University 2016 Warehouse Rd. Campus Box 1520 Normal, IL 61790-1520 309-452-6027 — IRAD Regional History Center Founders Memorial Library-400 Northern Illinois University Rm. 400 DeKalb, IL60115 815-753-1807 IRAD—LIB-144 University ofIllinois at Springfield 1 University Plaza, MS BRK 140 Springfield, IL 62703-5407 217-206-6520 — IRAD do Special Collections Morris Library-6632 Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL62901 618-453-3040 IRAD—RonaldWilliams Library Northeastern Illinois University 5500 N. St. LouisAve. Chicago, IL 60625-4699 773-442-4506 — IRAD University Library Western Illinois University 1 University Circle Macomb, IL61455-1390 309-298-2716 Printed byauthor—ityof—the State of Illinois. March 2008 5M AR D 119.14