Indigenous Peoples of Illinois

The most prominent Indian tribes in Illinois were the Illinois, Miami, Winnebago, Fox and Sacs (Sauk), Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie tribes. The Illinois Indians were composed of five subdivisions including Kaskaskias, Cahokias, Tamaroas, Peorias, and Metchigamis. Most of these tribes were eliminated from Illinois by about the mid-nineteenth century either through warfare or resettlement to other territories by the federal government.

See the "Native Races" section of the United States Research Outline for suggestions on how to research American Indian ancestry. If searching for American Indians in Illinois, you may want to see:

Beckwith, Hiram Williams. ''The Illinois and Indiana Indians. 1884.'' Reprint, New York, New York: Arno Press, 1975. (FHL book 970.1 B389i; and fiche 6087719.) This book gives histories of the tribes in Illinois.

Tregillis, Helen Cox. The Indians of Illinois: A History and Genealogy. [Decorah, Iowa: Anundsen Publishing], 1983. (FHL book 970.1 T716i; fiche 6088745.) In addition to histories of the tribes, this source contains biographies of prominent Illinois Indians and a bibliography of sources.

Additional sources on specific tribes can be found in the Family History Library Catalog by using a Subject Search (on the microfiche catalog only) under the name of the tribe, for example:


 * FOX INDIANS
 * MIAMI INDIANS
 * SAUK INDIANS

and under the subject:

INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA- ILLINOIS.

Other sources can be found in the Family History Library Catalog by using a Place Search under:

ILLINOIS- NATIVE RACES