Illinois Family History Societies - Family Tree Resources

This section lists the societies of Illinois, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.

Statewide and Regional Societies

County Societies

Statewide Societies

Illinois State Genealogical Society

The association was established in 1968.

Free databases which include Certified Prairie Pioneers, Family Bible Records Surname Index and Cemetery Locations are accessible on the site.

Members’ Ancestor Charts and books relating to Prairie Pioneers are accessible. They also have a list of links to resources that will be helpful to you when you are conducting research.

Many publications are available for sale, including a 25 Year Index to ISGS Quarterly, their newsletter that is published quarterly, Family Bible Records Volumes 1 and 2, ISGS Surname Index and Montgomery County Cemeteries.

A list of surnames currently being researched by members is also on the site.

Website:
http://www.ilgensoc.org

North Central Illinois Genealogical Society

The association was chartered in 1979. Some publications are available for sale, which include Abstracts from Rockford Newspapers and Early Days in Rockford by John M Thurston.

These also include Cemetery Compilations, which incorporate:

Burritt Township Cemeteries
Cherry Valley Township Cemeteries
Durand Township Cemeteries
Laona Township Cemeteries

Website:
Website link broken at present. Will update this page when the new link is known

Southern Illinois Genealogy Society

The organisation was founded in 1973. It is possible to download back issues of GSSI newsletters covering Feb-March 2012 to January 2013 in PDF Format.

Many publications are available for sale, which incorporate:

Alexander Co. Census Returns Volumes I and II
Ancestor Charts
Cairo Newspapers 1848-1905
Censuses for many counties
Marriages 1868-1896 in Perry County
Pulaski Co. Newspapers 1905-1918
Revolutionary War Pioneers
Transcriptions of Obituaries and Death Notices in the Jonesboro Gazette 1858-1939
Union Co. Marriages 1818-1900

Website:
https://ilgssi.org/

Tri-State Genealogical Society

This association is listed under Indiana.

County and other Societies

Chicago Genealogical Society

The association was founded in 1967. Their aims are to collect and preserve our ancestors records, and to promote and encourage interest in people who contributed to the establishment of Chicago.

The society has created on-line indexes to Vital Records from Chicago Newspapers 1833-1871.

Numerous publications are also available, including:

Back Issues of the Chicago Genealogist
Bohemian National Cemetery Burials 1877-1902
Chicago Cemetery Records 1847-1863 including sexton’s reports and deeds
Tombstone Readings of Altenheim and Union Ridge Cemeteries

Website:
https://www.chicagogenealogy.org/

Decatur Genealogical Society

The organisation has an extensive collection of resources that are accessible in their Library.

Numerous publications are available for sale, which include:

Births in Sangamon Co. 1860-1887
Census Returns and Cemetery Records for other Counties
Index of Journal Obituaries 1861-1896
Marriages in Sangamon Co. 1821-1907
Naturalisations
Sangamon Co. Census, Cemetery, Church and Death Records

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ildecgs/

DuPage County Genealogical Society

The organisation was established in 1974. They provide details of many of their projects which include:

Funeral Home Project
Genealogical Information extracted from the Hinsdale Doings 1896-1901
Index to DuPage Co. Naturalisations
Marriage Licence Indexes 1839-1861
World War I Honour Roll

They also have cemetery indexes for Addison Township, Downers Grove and Lisle Township and York Township.

Numerous publications are sold by the society, which incorporate:

County Churches 1833-1920
DuPage Co. Landowners 1835-1904
Index to DuPage Co. Naturalisations and 1840-1870 Censuses
Necrology Records for selected townships

A list of surnames currently being researched by members is also available.

Website:
http://www.dcgs.org

Elgin Genealogical Society

The association was founded in 1972. They have compiled indexes to:

Baptisms, Marriages and Burials at Faith United Methodist Church
Baptisms, Marriages and Burials at St Johns Church
Conn-Schmidt and Stout Funeral Home Records 1929-1953
Elgin Civil Court Divorces
Elgin Probate
Minna Bohner Obituary Collection
Reber Mortuary Registers
Servicemen buried in the Elgin Area before 29 May 1914
Soldiers from Elgin, III that died during the Civil War
Walter Haertel’s Monument Registers 1903-1923

Website:
http://www.elginroots.com

Fox Valley Genealogical Society

The association was founded in 1981. There is an on-line index, compiled by Mike Fichtel, on their site, which is an index of journals and newsletters held by them. Online indexes to 17 cemeteries in DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties are also accessible.

Many publications are also available, which include indexes of Cemetery Inscriptions from DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties.

Other publications include Records of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Aurora and back issues of Fox Tales.

Website:
http://www.ilfvgs.org

Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society

The association was established in 1967. A large collection of their resources is available at the Parlin-Ingersoll Library, 205 West Chestnut Street, Canton.

Many publications are sold by the society, including Fulton Co. Wills, Fulton Co. Marriages 1861-1874 and 1874-1885 and Greenwood Cemetery Volume 14 Record of Burials

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ilfchgs/

Henry County Genealogical Society

The association was established in 1983.

An alphabetical listing of Certified Pioneers who lived in Henry County prior to 1837 up to 1885 is available on the site.

Many resources are held by the society, these being held in Kewanee Public Libary.

This includes some resources relating to other states in America and further afield, such as England and Wales.

A list of publications is also available, which include:

Births before 1916
Cemetery Isscriptions
Deaths before 1916
Henry Co. History Book
Marriage Records 1821-1939
Probate Records

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ilhcgs/index.html

Kane County Genealogical Society

The association was established in 1977. They have a Master Every Name Index, which includes indexes to:

Bible Records
Cemetery Inscriptions
Census Returns
Funeral Home Books
Guardianship Records
Marriages
Naturalisations
Probate Records
School Registers

Many publications are available, which incorporate:

Kane Co. Chronicles Every Name Index
Marriage Books
Naturalisations
Surname Guide to Kane Co. Cemeteries

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ilkcgs/

Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society

A Master Cemetery Burial List is available on the site, which is an index of burials in the area prior to 1920. Please note this is a work in progress.

They also have the following indexes:

Births 1878-1916
Deaths 1877-1916
Kanakee Co. 1860 Census
Surname indexes to Township Historical and Centennial Publications

Website:
http://www.kvgs.org

Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society

Members of the society are able to search resources at their centre, located at 113 S. Hennepin Ave. Dixon, IL 61021.

These resources include:

Amboy High School Annuals
Cemetery Records
Dixon City Directories
Dixon High School Annuals
Family Histories and Family Information
Genealogical Society Newsletters
Illinois County Histories
Lee County Histories Index

Records also include:

Newspapers
Plat Books
Reference Books
State Census for Lee County
US Federal Census for Lee County

Website:
https://leecountyhgs.org/

McDonogh County Genealogical Society

The association has a Research Centre which is located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, Macomb within the Western Illinois Museum.

Many resources are accessible, including over 1000 books and microfilms of Census Returns, Land Records, Church Registers, Newspapers and a list of cemeteries in the area. The association also offers a research service.

Numerous publications are available for sale, which include:

Cemetery Records
Federal Census Returns
Macomb Journal 1880-1900
Marriages 1830-1900
McDonough Co. Wills 1834-1857
MCGS News Quarterly Publication 1980-2004

A list of surnames currently being researched by members is also available.

Website:
http://www.mcdcgs.com

McHenry County Genealogical Society

The Society is made up of family history researchers from the United States, Canada and Germany.

The association has many volumes relating to genealogy on the shelves of Crystal Lake Public Library and the McHenry Public Library.

An Every Name Index to Ancestor Charts submitted to the group between 1981-1999 is available on their site.

A transcription of early records of St John the Baptist Catholic Church covering the years 1852-1868 is also available.

There are also indexes to:

Death Notices 1880-1979 and Marriages 1880-1979 from the Herald Newspaper
Death Notices appearing in Woodstock Sentinel 1856-1894
Death Notices in Marengo Republican Newspaper 1872-1874, 1881-1954, 1955-1969 and 1970-1989
Death Notices in McHenry Plaindealer 1875-1880
McHenry Co. 1880 and 1930 Federal Censuses

Numerous publications are available for sale, which incorporate:

Cemetery Books for the Northeast and Southeast Townships
Early Records of St John the Baptist Catholic Church 1883-1909
Marriage Books 1886-1899
McHenry Co. Surname Index
MCIGS Connection Quarterly

Website:
http://www.mcigs.org/index.html

Montgomery County Genealogical Society

Many books, resources and indexes are accessible in their Research Centre, located at Litchfield Museum, which include:

1861 Militia Men
Births 1862-1877
Deaths 1877-1950
List of Cemeteries
Marriages 1821-1915
Montgomery Co. 1825 and 1855 Illinois State Censuses
Naturalisations
Wills and Probate

Many publications are also available, including Marriage Records 1821-1885, Census Transcriptions for the 1830-1910 Censuses and indexes of some Montgomery Co. Cemeteries.

Website:
http://mcgsil.com

Peoria County Genealogical Society

Indexes of the 1888 Census of Peoria Township and Bible Records are accessible on their site.

Numerous publications are available, which incorporate:

All Surname Index of Prairie Roots Volumes 1-127
Back issues of Prairie Roots Magazine Vols. 1-36
Death Notices from Peoria Star 1950-1959
Obituaries from Peoria Newpapers covering 1903-1907
Peoria Co. Cemetery Books
Weddings

Website:
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/il/county/peoria1

Randolph County Genealogical Society

Many resources are accessible in their Library, which include:

1920-1930 Census
Births
Cemetery Listings
Court Documents
Deaths
Marriages
Naturalisations
Tax Lists

There are also on-line indexes to some Library Resources, including Randolph Co. Death Records 1839-1955, St Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church Vols. I and II and Randolph Co. Early Settlers.

A list of surnames currently being researched by members is accessible.

Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ilrcgs/

Rock Island Genealogical Society

The association was established in 1972. They have indexed obituaries found in the Rock Island Argus and/or Quad City Times Newspapers from 2005-2011. An index to Rock Island Co. Cemeteries is also on the site.

Many publications are available, including:

Maps showing the location of Cemeteries
Marriages Parts 1-3 covering 1833-1899
Mercer Co. 1860, 1870 and 1900 Federal Census Returns
Rock Island Co. 1850 and 1860 Federal Census Returns
Will Abstracts Books A and B 1837-1887
Will Abstracts Book C 1867-1883
Will Abstracts Book D 1883-1891

A list of surnames currently being researched by members is available.

Website:
https://ricigs.org/

St Clair County Genealogical Society

The association was founded in 1977. Numerous Church Records are accessible on the site, including:

Baptisms covering 1869-1986 for St John United Church of Christ Smithton
Bethel Baptist Church Minutes 1809-1909
Catholic Parish Registers 1722-1930
St Liborius Catholic Registers including baptisms 1839-1906, Marriages 1839-1931 and Deaths 1835-1956

An alphabetical list of cemeteries, transcriptions of cemetery lot cards for St Clair Memorial Park and an index to those buried at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Belville are available.

Indexes include Obituary Indexes from Belleville News Democrat 1994-2007 and Freeburg Tribune 1904-1939. Details of surnames currently being researched by members is accessible.

Website:
http://www.stclair-ilgs.org/stchome.htm

South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society

The association was established in February 1968 as South Cook and North Will Counties Historical and Genealogical Society.

Information regarding towns covered by them is available on their site.

Their genealogical and historical research library is located at 3000 W. 170th Place, Hazel Crest which is in the same building as the Municipal Centre and Police Department.

Many resources are accessible, including:

CD-ROMs
Census Returns
City Directories
Family History Books
Maps
Microfiche/Film
Newspapers
Obituaries

You are also able to peruse their on-line catalogue. Numerous on-line databases are available including Burial-Transit Permits from Calumet City and a Cemetery Master Index by Township.

Numerous publications are sold by the association, which include:

Able-Bodied Men Military Census 1861-1862
Cook Co. Marriages prior to the fire, 24 July 1871
Newspaper Extracts from Greater Roseland Area of Chicago 1882-1894
Newspaper Extracts from Harvey, Illinois
Surname index from the Society’s quarterly publication Where the Trails Cross 1970-2001

Website:
http://www.ssghs.org

Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society

Many resources are accessible in their library, which include:

Births and Deaths before 1916
Cemetery Books
Family Histories
Funeral Home Books
Historical Tazewell Co. Maps
Indexes to the TCGHS Obituary Collection
Marriages 1827-1916
Naturalisations
Newspapers
Tazewell Co. Cemeteries
Tazewell Co. Education Records
Tazewell Co. Township Maps

The society sells many publications, which incorporate:

1850 and 1860 Census Returns
Cemeteries Volumes 1 to 11
Land Records 1827-1838
Marriages Indexes 1827-1897
Naturalisations 1839-1909
Surname index to the TCGHS Monthly Newsletter covering 1978-2000

Website:
http://www.tcghs.org

White County Genealogy Society

The society sells numerous publications, which include:

Archer Funeral Home Books 1918-1935
Extracts of Obituary and Death Notices from White Co
Illinois Area Newspapers Volume 1 1819-1927 and Volume 2 1928-1940