The Library holds histories, city directories, and miscellaneous publications about many Illinois cities and towns. The Library has family genealogies and histories, publications of patriotic and veterans' organizations, journals, quarterlies, and newsletters of many local, state, and national genealogical and historical societies and other organizations. The Library has genealogical research handbooks, Illinois and national DAR lineage books, and records of other patriotic and hereditary organizations. The Library has an extensive collection of Illinois newspapers at least one title for every county in the state. Some issues date to the early nineteenth century.
Newspapers are especially useful for locating information about local events.
U.S. Titles of the newspapers are included on OCLC, an on line catalog of library holdings worldwide, and on Virtual Illinois Catalog. Researchers may borrow newspapers on microfilm through interlibrary loan. Please also see the main page of the Illinois State Historical Library . Since our newspapers are not indexed, all search requests must include specific information for a search to be performed. If such information is unavailable and you live in the continental United States, you may borrow newspaper microfilm on interlibrary loan through your local library to do your own research.