Illinois Genealogy

Free Illinois Genealogy Data and Links

• Illinois African American Genealogy
  • Database of Servitude and Emancipation Records (1722–1863)
• Illinois Biographies
  • Biographies of Champaign County, Illinois
  • Biographical Sketches, Coles County, Illinois
  • Biographies of Rock Island County, Illinois
  • Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois
• Illinois Cemetery Records
  • DeWitt County
    • Barnes Cemetery, DeWitt, DeWitt County, Illinois
    • Harlemville Cemetery, DeWitt, DeWitt County, Illinois
  • Rock Island County
    • Frieden's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Rock Island County, Illinois
• Illinois Census Records
  • 1818 Illinois State Census
  • Illinois 1910 Census Edition Map
• Illinois Church Records
  • Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records 1729-1956
    Images of parish registers recording the events of baptism, first communion, confirmation (to 1907), marriage (to 1930) or death (to 1956) in the Diocese of Belleville (Illinois), Roman Catholic Church. The index to some volumes may reference pages within a given volume beyond our current publication dates. As such, these images are not currently available. In addition to traditional parish registers, this collection includes a small number of census, church history, family and financial records.
• Illinois Counties
  • Illinois County Map
  • Adams County
    • Adams County Almshouse Register Index (1873–1898)
  • Brown County
    • Brown County Almshouse Registers Index (1882–1963)
  • Carroll County
    • Carroll County Birth Certificates Index (1877–1913)
  • Coles County
    • Biographical Sketches, Coles County, Illinois
    • Mattoon Death Certificate Registers Index (1899–1918)
    • Mattoon Court of Common Pleas Case Files Index (1869–1873)
  • Cook County
    • Chicago City Council Proceedings Files, 1833–1871
    • Cook County Coroner's Inquest Record Index, 1872–1911
    • Chicago Police Department Homicide Record, 1870–1930
  • DeWitt County
    • DeWitt County Coroner's Inquest Files Index (1924–1977)
  • Douglas County
    • Arthur Local Registrar's Birth Certificates Index (1868–1925)
    • Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois
  • Fulton County
    • Fulton County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1825–1876)
  • JoDaviess County
    • JoDaviess County Almshouse Registers Index (1846–1938)
  • Kane County
    • Kane County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1836–1870)
  • Lake County
    • Lake County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1840–1898)
  • Livingston County
    • Livingston County Probate Case Files Index (1837–1958)
  • Logan County
    • Logan County Circuit Court Criminal Case Files Index (1857–1945)
  • Macon County
    • Macon County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1829–1861)
  • Macoupin County
    • Macoupin County Coroner's Inquest Files Index (1835–1928)
  • Madison County
    • Madison County Probate Case Files Index (1813–1903)
  • Mattoon County
  • McLean County
    • Allin Township, McLean County, Illinois
    • Anchor Township, McLean County, Illinois
    • Arrowsmith Township, McLean County, Illinois
    • Belleflower Township, McLean County, Illinois
    • Blue Mound Township, McLean County, Illinois
    • Cropsey Township, McLean County, Illinois
    • Downs Township, McLean County, Illinois
    • Dry Grove Township, McLean County, Illinois
    • McLean County Probate Record Index (1834–1934)
    • McLean County Will Record Index (1838–1940)
  • Mercer County
    • Mercer County Almshouse Register Index (1859–1948)
  • Morgan County
    • Morgan County Poor Farm Records Index (1850–1932)
  • Moultrie County
    • Village of Arthur Local Registrar's Birth Certificates Index, 1868–1925
  • Ogle County
    • Ogle County Almshouse Register Index (1878–1933)
    • Ogle County Naturalization Papers (County Court) Index (1872–1906)
  • Peoria County
    • Peoria County Probate Case Files Index (1825–1887)
  • Rock Island County
    • Rock Island Probate Case Files Index (1834–1899) 
  • Sangamon County
    • Sangamon County Guardian's Case Files Index (1825–1901)
    • Sangamon County Probate Case Files Index (1821–1885)
  • Shelby County
    • Shelby County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1828–1871)
  • St. Clair County
    • East St. Louis City Court Naturalization Papers Index (1874–1906)
    • St. Clair County Circuit Court Chancery Case Files Index (1815–1870)
    • St. Clair County Farm Board Record Index (1874–1879)
  • Stark County
    • Stark County Almshouse Register Index (1868–1941)
  • Stephenson County
    • Stephenson County, Illinois Genealogy
  • Vermillion County
    • Vermilion County Coroner's Inquest Files Index (1908–1956)
  • Wayne County
    • Wayne County Coroner's Inquest Record Index (1888–1960)
  • Woodford County
    • Woodford County Almshouse Registers Index (1868–1957)
• Illinois Forts
  List of colonial forts, trading posts, named camps, redoubts, reservations, general hospitals, national cemeteries, etc., established or erected in the United States from its earliest settlement to 1902.
• Illinois Genealogy Lookups
• Illinois History
  • Narrative of Richard Lee Mason in the Pioneer West, 1819
    In the late fall and early winter of the year 1819 Dr. Richard Lee Mason made a journey from Philadelphia to Illinois, through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Some of his adventures were remarkable, and these, together with his observations on the country, the towns and the people whom he encountered, were recorded in a diary kept by him, which is now in the possession of his only surviving child, a daughter, who resides in Jacksonville, Ill.
• Illinois Land Records
  • Database of Servitude and Emancipation Records (1722–1863)
  • Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
• Military Records
  • Revolutionary War
  • 1840 Pensioners Database
  • Civil War Records
    • Illinois Civil War Records
    • Civil War Pensions Index Cards
      Each card gives the soldier's name, unit, the application number, the certificate number and the state from which the soldier served. In some cases, the soldier's rank, terms of service, date of death and place of death are given. The index cards refer to pension applications of veterans who served in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917. The majority of the records pertain to Civil War veterans, but they also include veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, Indian wars, and World War I.
  • World War 1 Records
  • World War II Records
    • Illinois World War II Army - Air Corps Casualty List
    • Illinois World War II Navy - Marines Casualty List
  • Korean War Casualty List
  • Vietnam War Casualty List
  • Databases of Illinois Veterans
    • Database of Illinois War of 1812 Veterans
    • Database of Illinois Winnebago War Veterans
    • Database of Illinois Black Hawk War Veterans
    • Database of Illinois Mexican War Veterans
    • Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans
    • Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans Serving in the U.S. Navy
    • Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans of Missouri Units
    • Database of Illinois Spanish–American War Veterans
    • Database of the 1929 Illinois Roll of Honor
    • Database of Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home Residents
• Illinois Native American Records  
  • The Indian Tribes of the Chicago Region
  • Sac and Fox Indians of Illinois
• Illinois Obituaries
• Illinois Vital Records
  Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900
  • Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre–1916
  • Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916–1950
  • Cook County
    • Cook County Birth Certificates 1878-1922
      Indexes and images of certificates of birth as recorded at Cook County, Illinois - including the City of Chicago. Collection currently includes only years 1878-1915.
    • Cook County Birth Registers 1871-1915
      Name index and images of birth registers as recorded at Cook County, Illinois – including the City of Chicago. Collection currently includes years 1871-1879, 1906-June 1907, and July 1908-1915.
    • Cook County Marriages 1871-1920
      Name index and images of marriage licenses and returns recorded at Cook County, Illinois - including the City of Chicago.
• Discover Illinois Genealogy WebRing  

Free RootsWeb Databases

• Alumni Lists
  • Champaign Co: Seniors in Champaign IL High School Yearbook, 1923-1927
  • Chicago: Harrison Technical HS, Class of 1927
  • Christian Co: 1928-29 Christian Co., IL Eighth to Ninth Year Graduates of the Rural Schools
  • Christian Co: 8th grade Graduates; rural school department; June 1, 1934
  • Cook Co: 1940 Graduates; Lyons Township High School; La Grange, IL
  • Cook Co: 1942 JayCee Tower (yearbook); Lyons Township Junior College, La Grange, Illinois
  • Cook Co: 1950 Our Lady of Peace Grade School, Chicago
  • Cook Co: Blue Island Community Jr High School 1934
  • Cook Co: James H. Bowen High School Class of Feb 1940, Chicago, Cook County, IL
  • Cook Co: James H. Bowen High School Class of June 1940; Chicago, Cook County, IL
  • Cook Co: Leo High School Chicago Class 1954
  • Cook Co: Mercy High School Class of 1931, Chicago, Illinois
  • Cook Co: Mercy High School, All Students in 1930, Chicago, IL
  • Cook Co: Oak Avenue School Class of 1936, La Grange, Illinois
  • Cook Co: St. Benedict Class of 1963, Chicago, Illinois
  • Cook Co: St. Mel's Catholic School 8th Grade Graduates, Class of 14 June 1933, Chicago, Illinois
  • Cook Co: University of Chicago, Class of 1920, Chicago, IL,
  • Cook Co: Visitation Grade School Class of 1962 (8th Grade), Chicago, Illinois
  • Cook Co: Visitation High School Class of 1964, Chicago, Illinois
  • Cook Co: Visitation High School Class of 1965, Chicago Illinois
  • Cook Co: Visitation High School Class of 1966, Chicago, Illinois
  • DeWitt Co: Alumni of Moore Township High School, 1917 - 1920, Farmer City, IL
  • DeWitt Co: Alumni of Moore Township High School, 1929-1932, Farmer City, IL
  • Edwards Co: Graduates of Albion High School 1888-1948
  • Fayette Co: Fayette County Schools, Eighth Grade Graduates, 1945, Fayette County, Illinoisois
  • Kankakee Co: Olivet Nazarene College Class of 1978, Bourbonnais, Illinois
  • McLean Co: Empire Township High School, 1878 - 1903 (except 1885 & 1894), Leroy, IL
  • McLean Co: Empire Township High School, 1926 - 1929, Leroy, IL
  • Rock Island Co: Moline High School Graduates, 1876-1899, Moline, Illinois
  • Rock Island Co: Moline Public Schools Employees, 1898-1900, Moline, Illinois
  • Rock Island Co: Moline Public Schools, Roll of Honor Students 1898-1899, Moline, Illinois
  • Rock Island Co: Moline Public Schools, Superintendents (1878-1898) and Board Members (1899-1900), Moline, Illinois
  • Sangamon Co: Cathedral Boys High School Class of 1957, Springfield, Illinois
  • Sangamon Co: Springfield Junior College - Class of 1960
  • Sangamon Co: Springfield Junior College - Class of 1960
  • Sangamon Co: Springfield Junior College - Class of 1962
  • Sangamon Co: Ursuline Academy, Class of 1960, Sangamon, IL
  • Shelby Co: Stewardson High School Graduates 1900-1950, Stewardson, Illinois
  • Shelby Co: Stewardson-Strasburg High School Graduates 1951-1990, Strasburg, Illinois
  • Shelby Co: Strasburg High School Graduates 1913-1950, Strasburg, Illinois
  • Will Co: Graduates of 1954 Joliet Township High School, Joliet, Illinois
  • WILL Co: Wilmington High School, Wilmington, IL - 1945 Graduates
• Atlas and Gazetteers
  • Knox Co: 1870 Atlas Map Index
• Birth Records
  • Cook Co: EBER** surname Birth Records, 1871-1916
  • LaSalle Co: Delayed Birth Index 1858-1890 - 'A' surnames
• Book Indexes
  • Index to Portrait and Biography Album (1886), Knox Co, IL
• Cemetery Records
  • Boone Co: St James Catholic Cemetery
  •  Christian Co: Kettelkamp Cemetery, Christian Co., Illinois
  • Cook Co: Montrose Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois (partial)
  • Cook County: Chicago: Mt Olivet Burials, CROTTY Surname
  • DuPage Co: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near Wheaton, Illinois
  • DuPage Co: St. Stephen's Cemetery, Caretaker's Transcription, Gretna, Illinois
  • DuPage Co: St. Stephen's Cemetery, Weiser Transcription, Gretna, Illinois
  • Effingham Co: Little Prairie Cemetery, Jackson Township, Effingham, Illinois
  • Grundy Co: White-Holderman Cemetery
  • Hamilton Co: Liberty Cemetery
  • Kendall Co: Oswego Prairie Evergreen Cemetery,
  • Livingston Co: Meister Burial Records; St Patrick's Cemetery; Chatsworth, Livingston County, IL
  • MARION Co: CALVARY CEMETERY BURIALS 1900-2009
  • Marion Co: Bell Cemetery, Haines Township, Marion County, Illinois
  • McLean Co: Blue Mound Cemetary, Blue Mound Township, Cooksville, IL
  • McLean Co: Evergreen Cemetery, Anchor/Colfax
  • Monroe Co: Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg
  • Perry Co: GREENBRIAR CEMETERY, PERRY COUNTY, IL
  • Perry Co: KEENE CEMETERY, PERRY COUNTY, IL
  • Shelby Co: St. Patrick Cemetery
  • Will Co: Rose Hill Cemetery, Will County, Illinois
• Census Records
  • Cook Co: 1870 Census Index "R" surnames
  • Franklin Co: 1865 Illinois Census -- Selected Records for Lewis Surname
  • Macon Co: 1880 Census - Decatur, IL
  • Madison Co: 1850 Federal Census, Madison County, Upper Alton, Pages 1-10
  • Vermilion Co: Rossville: 1892 Town Census
  • Woodford Co: 1850 Illinois census - Rice surname
• City Directories
  • Cook Co: 1905 Chicago City Directory, Zakrzewski through Zander
  • Cook Co: 1906 Chicago City Directory, Zalen through Zanzow
  • St. Clair Co: Assorted City Directories 1905-1930, McAteer Surname, East St. Louis, Illinois
• Death Records
  • Cook Co: Ackerman listings from Cook County, IL Death index 1871-1916
  • Cook Co: Cook County, IL Death Index 1871-1916 TA surnames
  • Cook Co: Death Certificate of Charles B. Younger, Chicago, Illinois (January 11, 1935)
  • Cook Co: Death Records for Phelps Surname, and Variant Spellings, 1871 to 1916
  • Cook Co: Partial Death Index 1871-1916
  • Cook Co: Walter H. Rogers Death Record, 1946, Chicago, Illinois
  • Cook Co: USA: Certificate of Death - Edward Scholz
  • St. Clair Co: Death Records, Phelps surname and variants, January 1916 thru December 1938
  • Will Co: Death Records from Will County, Illinois 1900s
• Marriage Records
  • Clark Co: Clapp Family Bible, Marriage Records 1864
  • Cook Co: Marriage licenses issued March 28, 1940, Cook, County, IL
  • MOUNT surname Marriages
  • Vermilion Co: Vermilion County IL Marriages to 1850
• Military Records
  • American Civil War: The Swedish Company in the 43rd Regiment
  • Cook Co: Jacob ECKROATE - ECKRODE Civil War Union enlisted, Company E, 44 Illinois Infantry
  • Madison Co: Glenwood Cemetery Veteran Markers, Collinsville, Illinois
  • Mercer Co: Military Roster for William Henry Reed, 1864, Keithsburg, IL
  • Union Co: Union County Blackhawk War and Mexican War Veterans
• Newspaper Indexes
  • McLean Co: Index of Saybrook Gazette, October 1901 - October 1903, Saybrook, Illinois
  • McLean Co: Saybrook Gazette, McLean County, Illinois index (1898, 1899)
  • Ogle Co: Ogle County:Byron:Byron Express
  • Ogle Co: Ogle:Byron:Byron Express
  • Ogle Co: Ogle:Byron:Byron Express
  • Ogle Co: Ogle:Byron:Byron Express
  • Ogle Co: Ogle:Byron:Byron Express
  • Ogle Co: Ogle:Byron:Byron Express
  • St. Clair Co.: Lebanon Advertiser Newspaper Index
• Obituaries
  • Lake Co: Erickson Obituaries
• Plat Index
  • Clark Co: 1892 Platbook of Clark County, IL (partial M & N surnames)
• Professional, Society, Religious Groups
  • Peoria Co: Distilling and Cattle Feeding Company, Committee Stockholders, April 1895, Peoria, Illinois
  • Stephenson Co: Ladies Union Aid Society, 1889 Quilt Transcription, Stephenson County, IL
• Tax and Voter Lists
  •  Clark Co: 1900 Tax List, Melrose Township, Clark County, IL
  •  Clark Co: Delinquent Tax List, 13 May 1869
  • Clark Co: Land and Lot Tax Assessment, 1919, Melrose Township, Clark Co, Illinois
  • Clark Co: Personal Property Tax List, 1900, Marshall Township, Clark County, IL
  • Clark Co: Personal Property Tax List, 1913, York Township, Clark Co, Illinois
  • Clark Co: Personal Property Tax Records, 1901, Wabash Township, Clark County, IL

Illinois Genealogy Databases - Subscription Required

Ancestry Free Trial 

Cemetery Records
East Lynn & Rankin Union Cemeteries: Vermillion County, IL
Wunders Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois

Census - 1820 Federal Census
Illinois Census, 1820

Census - Other Federal Census
Illinois Census, 1810-90

Church Records
Illinois Quaker Records

Directories - City Directories
Adams County, Illinois Directory, 1892
Alton, Illinois Directory, 1890
Danville, Illinois Directory, 1889
East St. Louis, Illinois Directory, 1889-90
Evanston, Illinois Directories, 1890-93
Joliet, Illinois Directories, 1884-92
Kankakee City, Illinois Directory, 1876
Peoria, Illinois Directory, 1890
Prairie Farmer's Reliable Directory: Will and Southern Cook County, Illinois, 1918
Quincy, Illinois Directories, 1887-90
Rock Island and Moline, Illinois Directories, 1882-92
Sangamon, Illinois Directory, 1889
Springfield, Illinois City Directory, 1855

Directories - Farm Directories
Fulton County, Illinois Farmers Directory, 1917
Livingston County, Illinois, Farmers Directory, 1917
Stephenson County, Illinois Farmer Directory, 1917

History
Cook County, Illinois History
Cook County, Illinois History and Biography
De Witt County, Illinois History
Edgar County, Illinois History
Edwards County, Illinois History of the English Settlement
Edwards, Lawrence, and Wabash Counties, Illinois History
Grundy County, Illinois History
Kane County, Illinois History
Will County, Illinois History

Immigrant Records
Chicago Irish Families, 1875-1925
Illinois Servitude and Emancipation Records, 1720-1865

Land - Public Domain
Illinois Public Land Purchase Records

Land - Taxes
Nauvoo, Illinois Tax Index, 1842

Military - Revolutionary War Records
Illinois Revolutionary War Veteran Burials
Illinois Society of the S.A.R. Yearbook, 1896

Miscellaneous
Chicago and Cook County, A Guide to Research
Piatt County, Illinois Marriage and Cemetery Records, 1841-53

Newspaper Records
Alton Daily Telegraph (Alton, Illinois)
Alton Telegraph (Alton, Illinois)
Alton Telegraph And Democratic Review (Alton, Illinois)
Alton Telegraph, The (Alton, Illinois)
Alton Weekly Courier, The (Alton, Illinois)
Alton Weekly Telegraph (Alton, Illinois)
Blue Island Sun Standard (Blue Island, Illinois)
Broad Ax (Chicago, Illinois)
Bulletin Sentinel (Decatur, Illinois)
Champaign, Illinois Newspaper Index, 1892
Daily Alton Telegraph, The (Alton, Illinois)
Daily Independent (Murphysboro, Illinois)
Daily Journal (East Saint Louis, Illinois)
Daily Republican (Decatur, Illinois)
Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Daily Dispatch (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Daily Republican (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Evening Herald (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Herald (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Labor World (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Local Review (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Morning News (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Morning Review (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Republican (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Review (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Weekly Gazette (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Weekly News (Decatur, Illinois)
Decatur Weekly Republican (Decatur, Illinois)
Dixon Evening Telegraph (Dixon, Illinois)
Dixon Telegraph (Dixon, Illinois)
East Saint Louis Journal (East Saint Louis, Illinois)
Edwardsville Intelligencer (Edwardsville, Illinois)
Evening Bulletin (Decatur, Illinois)
Evening Courier (Decatur, Illinois)
Herald Despatch (Decatur, Illinois)
Herrin Daily Journal (Herrin, Illinois)
Madison County Courier (Edwardsville, Illinois)
Olney Times (Olney, Illinois)
Saturday Herald (Decatur, Illinois)
State Sentinel (Decatur, Illinois)
Weekly Decatur Magnet (Decatur, Illinois)
Weekly Herald Despatch (Decatur, Illinois)

Newspaper - Obituaries
Chicago Sun-Times Obituaries, 1988-95
Chicago Tribune, Obituary Index, 1988-1997
Elmhurst Press (Elmhurst, Illinois) Obituaries, 1988-98
Lombard, Illinois Newspaper Obituaries, 1929-53
Woodford County, Illinois, Prairie District Library, Obituaries, 1887 to Present

Surnames - Biographies
Bureau County, Illinois Historical and Biographical Sketches
Chicago, Illinois and Iowa Biographical Dictionary
Christian County, Illinois Biographical Record
Coles County, Illinois Biographical Dictionary
DeKalb County, Illinois Biographical Dictionary
Jo Daviess County, Illinois Biographical Dictionary
Livingston County, Illinois Biographical Record
Peoria County, Illinois Biographical Dictionary
Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois Biographical Dictionary
Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois Biographical Dictionary
Will County, Illinois Biographical Dictionary

Vitals - Marriage Records
Illinois Marriage Records, 1851-1900
Illinois Marriages to 1850
Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860
Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900

Voter List
Bureau County, Illinois Voters and Tax-Payers Directory, 1877
Chicago Voter Registration, 1888
Chicago Voter Registration, 1890
Chicago Voter Registration, 1892
Kendall County, Illinois Voters and Tax-Payers Directory, 1876

Additional Free Illinois Genealogy

United States Genealogy

• Illinois Genealogy

  • Rock Island County Genealogy and History

United States GenWeb Project

• Illinois USGenWeb

Adams, Alexander, Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Cook, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, DeWitt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, JoDaviess, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox , Lake, LaSalle, Lawrence, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Massac, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, St. Clair, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, Winnebago, Woodford

American History and Genealogy Project

• Illinois AHGP

Clinton, Edgar, Gallatin, Hardin, Henderson, Warren, White, Williamson