Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois.

Contact Information
Illinois Regional Archives Depository Illinois State Archives Springfield, IL 62756

While the system is managed by the Illinois State Archives, inquiries should be directed to the appropriate Regional Depository.


 * Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
 * Illinois State University (ISU)
 * Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)
 * Northern Illinois University (NIU)
 * Southern Illinois University (SIU)
 * University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS)
 * Western Illinois University (WIU)

County Records

 * County board proceedings files and meeting minutes
 * Records of births, deaths and marriages
 * Land deeds, mortgage and tax sale records
 * Assessors' and collectors' tax books
 * Poll books and voter registers
 * Naturalization records, including declarations of intent
 * Probate records, including wills and will records, case files, administrators' and executors' records, guardianship records, and inventory and appraisement records
 * Civil and criminal court case files, chancery court case files (including divorces), docket books and court proceedings, and insanity proceedings and records
 * Coroner's inquest records and inquest files
 * Miscellaneous county records, including almshouse/county home records and jail registers.

Township, municipal, and school records

 * Township meeting minutes
 * Highway commissioners' minutes
 * School trustees' minutes
 * Pupil registers
 * School land sale records
 * City council proceedings files
 * Meeting minutes
 * Ordinance records
 * City election records

Pre-1871 City of Chicago Records

 * City Council proceedings files (1833-1942)
 * Plats, atlases, and Sanborn Maps
 * Election registers (1888, 1890 and 1892)
 * Ordinance records (1837-1916)