Illinois State Genealogical Society
Prairie Pioneer Certificates

The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) Issues "Prairie Pioneer Certificates" to applying direct descendants of pioneers who settled in Illinois prior to 1881. The three categories of commemorative certificates are: 1) 1818 and earlier, 2) 1819–1850, and 3) 1851–1880. To date the Society has published two volumes which provide information from certificate applications approved through 1987 in this ongoing project.

Record Contents

"Prairie Pioneer Certificate" applications include a straight line lineage chart of six generations which summarizes the direct line of the applicant to the pioneer. The birth, marriage, and death dates and places and spouse’s name are shown for each ancestor in the line. The applicant’s name, address and telephone number are provided as well. Supporting documentation for the certificate may be accessed from a collateral file. Included in this file are copies of Bible, church, birth, death, marriage, probate, deed, census, and military records as well as copies of newspaper obituaries and tombstone inscriptions.

Finding Your Ancestor
Researching On Your Own
The first two volumes of the ISGS publication Prairie Pioneers of Illinois allow the researcher to review the basic information submitted by applicants for the first 2,000 certificates. These indexed volumes can be consulted at the Archives in the reference room. On request the collateral files containing applications and supporting documentation are available for examination and photocopying.

Mail, Telephone and Internet Requests
Archives reference staff will search the indexes to "Prairie Pioneer Certificates." The genealogist should provide the complete name, approximate time period, and county of residence, if known, for each pioneer sought. If found, the researcher will receive photocopies from the published volumes or certificate applications. If photocopies of supporting documentation are requested, the genealogist must submit Archives vouchers for payment. Patrons may obtain vouchers, valid for two years from the time of purchase, by sending a $5.00 check or money order for each voucher to the Archives. Photocopies of the supporting file are available at the rate of fifty cents per page. Due to limitations on staff research time the Archives can do no more than two name searches per request. Send inquiries to:

Illinois State Archives Reference Unit Margaret Cross Norton Building Capitol Complex Springfield, Illinois 62756
Telephone: (217) 782-3556 Fax: (217) 524-3930 For inquiries other than requests for photocopies, please feel free to contact us by e-mail: Illinois State Archives Contact Form (Choose Illinois State Archives Reference Services as the subject)