Mapping Your Past

              War, or Spanish-American War? The Ar-chives
has name indexes for Illinois units
serving during these conflicts. Also
available are federal World War I draft
registration records.
Post-war information on veterans
and spouses may be found in the Ar-chives’
resident files of the Illinois Sol-diers’
and Sailors’ Home (1887-1967) and
the Illinois Soldiers’ Widows’ Home
(1896-1960). Some information restric-tions
apply.
Also available are microfilm records
of some pension information from the
Revolutionary War and the War of 1812;
records from the National Home in
Danville (1898-1934); and the publication,
Honor Roll of Veterans Buried in Illinois.
Unexpected sources
Many state institutions have rec-ords
stored in the Archives, such as
the Illinois School for the Deaf — al-though
to be accessed, at least 75 years
must have lapsed since the record was
first established. All mental health
records are permanently closed. Holdings
of state prison records and related parole
files also contain genealogical informa-tion.
Records of the land
Only the first purchaser of land from
the federal or state government is
included in the Archives’ indexed rec-ords;
all subsequent transactions are
kept with the county recorder. The Ar-chives
has the purchaser’s name and
residence, the date the land was pur-chased
and its legal de-scription.
Aspects such as the
buyer’s former residence are
not indicated.
Local and county
resources
S taff can search indexes of specific
county histories and provide copies
of biographical sketches. A wealth of ge-nealogical
information also is available
through the many local records housed
in the Illinois Regional Archives Deposi-tory
system (IRAD). There are seven
such depositories located within state
universities around the state. IRAD staff
will perform a limited amount of re-search
upon request.
Interlibrary loan
S everal state and federal censuses of
Illinois are available through the in-terlibrary
loan system of the Illinois State
Library. Also available are war indexes
and a census records index for 1810-
1855. Your local librarian must direct
this request to the Illinois State Library.
Other aspects
I n addition to the materials detailed
here, genealogy researchers may find
the following information of interest:
• Since 1985, the Illinois State Ar-chives
has worked with the Illinois State
Genealogical Society (ISGS) on projects
of mutual genea-logical
interest such
as the Statewide
Marriage Index. You
may address inquiries
to the Society at its office in
the Norton Building at: ISGS,
P.O. Box 10195, Springfield, IL 62791
(217/789-1968).
• You also may consult the Archives'
less frequently examined records. The
Descriptive Inventory of the Archives of the
State of Illinois lists all available state rec-ord
series. If a copy cannot be found
through your local library, you may pur-chase
it from the Archives for $20.
A Summary Guide to Local Governmen-tal
Records in the Illinois Regional Archives
also is available through your local li-brary,
or it may be purchased from the
State Archives for $6.
More information
Illinois State Archives
Margaret Cross Norton Building
Springfield, Illinois 62756
(217) 782-4682
FAX (217) 524-3930
www.cyberdriveillinois.com
Please note that the Illinois Regional
Archives Depositories (IRAD) is located
at the same address; phone (217) 782-
3645.
Printed by the authority of the State of Illinois
June 2001 – 3M – GA-1249
AR D-120.7
MAPPING
YOUR PAST
Genealogy at the Illinois State Archives
JESSEWHITE
SECRETARY OF STATE
AND STATE ARCHIVIST