The IL State Capitol Bldg. is on 2nd and Capital Sts,
The Norton Bldg. is just south of the Capitol.
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD )
Brookens Library, LIB 144
P. O. Box 19243,
University of Illinois at Springfield
Springfield, IL 62794
(217) 786-6520
Hours open: M-F: 9:00am-5:00pm, with exception of holidays when the University is
closed.
IRAD is Illinois Regional Archives Depository and is
located in Brookens Library, University of IL at Springfield. One
can get there by going South on Interstate 55 south of Springfield, exit
Toronto Road, East and follow the signs to University. It is a few miles
from downtown.
IRAD is a depository for County and City governments who do not have room and who wish to preserve their respective
County records. IRAD is located in seven Universities throughout the State of Illinois. Morgan County records are located
at Brookens Library, University of IL in Springfield, as well as the surrounding Counties of Menard; Cass; Sangamon;
Macoupin, Christian, Montgomery, Macon and others.
Records that are housed in IRAD are Local governments records; county board proceedings; records of
births, deaths, and marriages; land deeds, mortgages and tax sale records; assessors' and collectors'
tax books; pollbooks and vote registers; naturalization records; probate records, including wills, case files,
administrator's and exectors' records guardinaship records, and inventory and apprasiment records;
court case files, chancery cases (including divorce), docket books and court proceedings and insanity
proceedings files and records; coroners' inquest records and inquest files;
miscellanous county records incuding alms house/county home records and jail records.
County holdings in IRAD differ
per County, depending on what the respective County sends to IRAD. For instance, you could find marriages for
one county but not for another. A computer listing of the holdings for each County is available upon request at no charge.
Their is no research fee, but there is a copying fee of a minimum of $1.00 (10 pages), all over 10 are 10 cents each
IRAD Research Policy.
Visiting a Depository
Researchers may visit an IRAD depository and examine the records that are available. The seven IRAD depositories are open
Monday through Friday. Depositories are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, state holidays, and any weekdays the university
libraries are closed. Hours are reduced in June and July. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit to a depository.
Requesting a Search
IRAD welcomes mail and telephone requests from researchers interested in genealogy and local history. The regional
depositories are unable to receive or send requests by e-mail. Please direct inquiries to the depository holding the records you
wish to have searched. Click here for Depository Addresses and click here for a Map of the IRAD Regions.
In order for depository staff to conduct a search of the IRAD holdings, researchers should provide the following information:
The full names of the persons they are researching
The approximate year when these persons are expected to appear in the records
The county which created the records
Record titles/types to search
Include any additional information that may assist in locating the person or information requested (such as township or precinct
for searches of tax and election records).
Researchers also are asked to limit requests to two (2) names at a time and to wait for a response to one request before
submitting another one. Inquiries should be sent directly to the depository holding the records of the county to be searched.
Illinois State Vital Records
Division of Vital Records
605 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, IL 62702-5097
(217) 782-6553 or (800) 547-0466
Fax: 217-523-2648
Illinois State Historical Library
%Newspaper Microfilm
Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield, IL 62756
IN-STATE RESEARCHERS
1. Request no more than two searches per letter.
2. Include a non-refundable payment of $1 to cover related copy costs. We donot recommend sending cash, but rather encourage payment by check or moneyorder payable to Illinois State Historical Society.
3. Do not send another request until we have responded to your first one.
4. Give specific information. Obituary requests must provide full name and exact date and place--month, day, and year as well as city and county--of death. Please type or print legibly.
5. If you do not have the specific information needed for a reasonable search by our staff, you may borrow our newspapers on microfilm via interlibrary loan through your local library to do your own research.
6. If our search is unsuccessful, you will be notified of that fact.
7. Each letter of request must include a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope.
Guidelines for Non-Illinois residents, effective January 1, 1996.
1. Request no more than four searches per letter.
2. Include a non-refundable payment of $10 for each search requested. We do not recommend sending cash, but rather encourage payment by check or moneyorder payable to Illinois State Historical Society.
3. Do not send another letter of request(s) until we have responded to your first one.
4. Give specific information. Obituary requests must provide full name and exact date and place--month, day, and year as well as city and county--of death. Please type or print legibly.
5. If you do not have the specific information needed for a reasonable search by our staff, you may borrow our newspapers on microfilm via interlibrary loan through your local library to do your own research.
6. If our search is unsuccessful, you will be notified of that fact.
7. Each letter of request must include a self-addressed, stamped
business-size envelope.
Library Hours:
8:30 am to 5:00 pm - Monday through Friday
Closed on State holidays and Federal holidays.
The Family History Center
3601 Buckeye Drive
Springfield, IL 62703
Phone: 217-585-1294
Hours: Tuesdays 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Wednesdays 9:00 - 3:00 pm and 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Saturdays 9:00 - 3:00 pm