Illinois Regional Archives Depository
The Illinois Regional Archives Depository contains county, township and municipal records for virtually all of the counties in the State of Illinois. The IRAD system encourages the use of its collection by researchers interested in family and local history, and its research services are provided at no charge through the Illinois Secretary of State. However, there may be a photocopy fee, for which you will be billed.
Since holdings by county vary, the first step in using the IRAD system is to request a detailed listing for each county of interest from:
Information Services/IRAD
Requests for county listings should be limited to 5 counties at a time. Please remember to include your NAME and mailing ADDRESS. The information received from the Springfield office will provide a detailed list sorted by office and record title within each county.
Illinois State Archives
Archives Building
Springfield, IL 62756
Telephone: 217-785-1266
The IRAD offices will accept requests by mail and telephone. In order to request a search of the IRAD holdings, provide the following information:
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, should also be included.
- The full names of the person(s) for which the search is requested
- The approximate year when these persons are expected to appear in the records
- The county which created the records
- Record titles/types to search
Researchers are asked to limit requests to 2 names at a time and to wait for a response to one request before submitting additional requests. Inquiries should be sent directly to the depository holding the records of the county to be searched.
The types of records held by IRAD vary from county to county, but may include:
- Almshouse/Poor Farm Records
- Assessors' & Collectors' Books
- Birth Certificates beginning 1877
- Birth Registers beginning 1877
- Cemetery Records
- Chancery Law Cases & Records
- Chattel Mortgage Records
- Civil Law Cases & Records
- Common School Schedules
- Coroner's Inquest Records
- County Board Minutes & Proceedings
- County Home Hospital & Cemetery Records
- Death Certificates beginning 1877
- Death Registers beginning 1877
- Declarations of Intention
- Delayed Birth Certificates
- Deed Records
- Election Records
- Estate Appraisement & Inventory Records
- Estate Sale Records
- Guardianship Records
- Marriage Applications beginning 1877
- Marriage Certificates
- Marriage Licenses
- Marriage Records
- Miners' Examining Board Records beginning 1908
- Mortgage Records
- Naturalization Papers
- Naturalization Petitions & Affidavits
- Officials Oaths & Bonds
- Plaintiff & Defendant Indexes
- Probate Records and Files
- Professional Registers (most beginning 1877 - Physicians, Midwives, Nurses, Dentists, Optometrists, Veterinarians, Architects)
- School Pupil Registers
- Soldiers' & Minors' Naturalization Records
- Tavern, Grocery, Ferry, Dramshop Licenses
- Tax Sale Records
- Teachers' Records
- Voters' Registration Records & Poll Books
- Widow's Relinquishment & Selection Records
- Wills
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