Genealogical Research:
State and Federal Governmental Records in the Illinois State
Archives
Guidelines
for Research at the Illinois State Archives
Genealogical research inquiries regarding state
and related federal governmental records should be directed to:
The Archives welcomes inquiries. Researchers can
request copies of documents by mail, by fax, by e-mail, by
telephone, or by personal visit. A number of the Archives' record
series holdings are particularly useful to the genealogist and many
have been indexed for rapid access. Archives reference staff will
search these indexed records and provide unofficial and uncertified
photocopies of requested records.
In making requests please follow the guidelines
below.
- Request no more than two specific names or
items per mailing. Wait for a response to one request before
submitting another one.
- For name searches please consult the following
sections to determine what information is required for an
effective search of a particular record.
Censuses
The Archives holdings of Illinois census records,
both federal and state, span 1810–1930. Please provide the
individual's name and date(s) of the census; county and, if known,
township of residence and spouse's and children's names, ages, and
birthplaces. Researchers may wish to use the Archives'
Reference
Request Form to submit a search through the Internet. Copies
of original census entries will be provided.
- 1810–1860
- The Archives has indexes covering decennial
federal censuses (R.S. 951.001
through 951.005) and existing state censuses (R.S.
103.002 through 103.008) for this period. All state censuses
and federal censuses prior to 1850 list only the names of heads
of household with family members indicated by simple tallies.
Beginning with the 1850 federal census, all family members are
listed under the head of household.
- 1865
- This final state census (R.S.
103.010) currently is indexed only partially. County and
township residences are necessary for efficient searches.
Searches of unindexed townships with populations exceeding 2,500
cannot be performed because of limitations on staff research
time. Again only the names of the heads of households are given.
- 1870
- The Archives has a published index to this
census (R.S. 951.006),
providing access to heads of households.
- 1880
- An index to this census (R.S.
951.007), available as a CD edition, has been created by the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Unlike the
old soundex system, this database allows for a wide variety of
searches, including all of the names entered on the census.
- 1890
- This census was destroyed by a fire in 1921 and
consequently is not available for research.
- 1900–1920
- The 1900 (R.S.
951.027), 1910 (R.S.
951.028), and 1920 (R.S.
951.029) censuses can be searched by the names of the heads
of households.
- 1930
- Illinois’ population schedules are available at the Archives
as microfilm. As no index for this census is available, Archives
staff members do not have sufficient time to conduct name
searches. Visiting patrons are invited to consult this census
themselves.
Further information concerning the Archives holdings
of census records and their contents is available by requesting
copies of Federal Census Records: Genealogical Research Series #4
and State Census Records: Genealogical Research Series #5.
There is no charge for these publications.
Military
Service Records
The Archives has service records for Illinois
veterans of the following conflicts:
The following veteran databases can be searched from
the Illinois State Archives web site: War of
1812, Winnebago War,
Black
Hawk War, Mexican War,
Civil
War, U.S. Navy in the Civil War and
Spanish-American
War. Inquiries should provide the complete name of the veteran;
the conflict served in; residence, birthplace or place of
enlistment; regiment and/or company; and rank. Archives staff will
provide photocopies of requested entries found on the military
rolls.
World War I Draft
Registration Records
The Archives has a copy of federal draft
registration records (R.S. 956.001)
for Illinois. These files cover all men who registered for the World
War I draft. A search of this record series can be made by Archives
staff if the registrant's full name is given along with his county
residence. For Chicago registrants, a street address is necessary
for an effective search.
Veterans' Homes,
Pensions, and Burials
The Archives possesses residents' files for:
The resident's name and approximate date of residence
are necessary for a search. For the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors'
Home, an online database can be searched for residents admitted at
its opening through September 1916.
Federal pension records are held for Revolutionary
War Veterans (1800–1900) (R.S.
955.001) as well as an index to War of 1812 pensioners
(1871–1900) (R.S. 955.002).
For a search the veteran's name, war of service, name or number of
unit, and state of residence when making the claim are necessary.
An online database of veterans buried in Illinois
prior to 1929 is available by consulting the 1929 Roll of Honor. The
updated publication, Honor Roll of Veterans Buried
in Illinois, (1774–1955), can only be accessed through microfilm
indexes. The patron must provide the veteran's name, war of service,
and name or number of unit, for an effective search.
Further information concerning the Archives'
holdings and research policy for military records is available by
requesting a copy of the publication Military Records:
Genealogical Research Series #3. There is no charge for this
publication.
Vital Records
- Birth Records
- Most Illinois counties did not begin recording
births until 1877. Birth records prior to 1916 were recorded
only by county clerks. Beginning in 1916 county clerks and the
Department of Public Health jointly maintained birth records.
The Illinois Regional Archives
Depository (IRAD) system does hold birth records for many
counties in Illinois. Search the IRAD
local governmental records database for the term birth
to get a listing of all birth records held by IRAD.
Researchers should contact the county clerk's
office in the county where the birth occurred if IRAD does not
have birth records for that county. For births after 1915,
researchers may also contact the Illinois Department of Public
Health, Division of Vital Records.
- Marriage Records
- In cooperation with the
Illinois
State Genealogical Society, the Archives is developing a database for all Illinois marriages occurring
prior to 1901. The index currently includes marriages from
97 of Illinois'
102 counties of which 79 counties have been completed. See a
list
of counties with corresponding date spans included in the
marriage index. Click
here to search the marriage index online.
The Illinois Regional
Archives Depository (IRAD) system does hold marriage records
for many counties in Illinois. Search the IRAD
local governmental records database for the term marriage
for a listing of all marriage records held by IRAD. Researchers
should contact the county clerk's office in the county where the
marriage occurred if IRAD does not have marriage records for
that county.
- Death
Records
- The Archives has records of deaths recorded in
special census schedules and death records maintained by the
Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records.
The Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system has
death records, including those prior to 1916, for many counties.
- Mortality Schedules
- The Archives houses federal mortality
schedules for 1850, 1860, 1870 (Kendall-Woodford counties
only), and 1880 (R.S.
951.019 through 951.022) . The 1850, 1860 and 1870
schedules have been indexed. These schedules show only those
deaths that occurred during the one year prior to the census
enumeration. In order to conduct efficient searches Archives
staff need a specific name, the approximate death date, and
the county where the death occurred.
- 1877–1915
- Most Illinois counties did not begin
recording deaths until 1877. Death records prior to 1916
were recorded only by county clerks. Beginning in 1916
county clerks and the Department of Public Health jointly
maintained death records. The Illinois
Regional Archives Depository system does hold death
records for many counties in Illinois. Search the IRAD
local governmental records database for the term death
to get a listing of all death records held by IRAD.
Researchers should contact the county clerk's office in the
county where the death occurred if IRAD does not have death
records for that county.
- 1916–1947
- An index to death certificates maintained
by the Illinois Department of Public Health from 1916 to
1950 is available on the Illinois State Archives' Web site.
Click here to search the
Illinois
Statewide Death Index (1916–1950). The Illinois Department of Public Health has
provided the Archives with microfilm copies of Illinois
death certificates for 1916–1947 (R.S.
205.014). Researchers
wishing an unofficial and uncertified copy of a death
certificate may visit the Illinois State Archives Reference
Room. To locate a death certificate in our Reference Room,
the following information from the database will be needed:
decedent’s name; date of death; names of county and, if
provided, township where the death took place; and death
certificate number.
-
- Researchers who are unable to visit the Illinois State
Archives Reference Room should direct requests for death
certificates after 1915 to the
Illinois
Department of Public Health or to the county
clerk’s office of the county where the death
occurred. In compliance with current legislation, the
Illinois Department of Public Health and county clerks shall
furnish for genealogical purposes certified or uncertified
photocopies of death records not less than 20 years old at a
specified fee (410 Illinois Compiled Statutes
535/25).
For further information about death records,
see Death
Records:
Genealogical Research Series #7.
Land Sale Records
The Archives has compiled the Illinois
Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database which is a searchable
database of more than 500,000 first sales of the public domain by
the federal government to individuals (R.G.
952.000). Subsequent sales of land are recorded in deed records.
The Illinois Regional Archives Depository
(IRAD) system does hold deed records for many counties in Illinois.
Search the IRAD local governmental
records database for the term deed to get a listing of
all deed records held by IRAD. Researchers should contact the county
recorder's office in the county where the land was bought or sold if
IRAD does not have deed records for that county.
Further information concerning the Archives'
holdings of land records is available by requesting a copy of the
pamphlet
Land Sales Records: Genealogical Research Series #1.
There is no charge for this publication.
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