McHenry Public Library District

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Contact Information
Email: mplref@mchenrylibrary.org Website: http://mchenrylibrary.org/ Address:

809 N. Front St,

McHenry, IL 60050 Telephone: 815-385-0036

Hours of Operation:

Mon-Thurs: 9:00 - 9:00

Fri & Sat: 9:00 - 5:00

Sunday: 12:00 - 4:00

  Directions (Google Map)

Description of Onsite Collections
Microform: There is a dedicated Genealogy Room with two microform readers, which are ScanPro 3500. The Northwest Herald, formerly The McHenry Plaindealer, is available on microfilm back to 1875.

The print collection: There are approximately 2,200 items, including half of the McHenry County Genealogical Society collection (approximately 900 items); and approximately 140 items from BigWil (British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois). The library has also acquired the Haines Directory for the Far North Suburbs for the years 1980-2019.

Magazines and Newsletters: include the American Ancestors New England and Beyond, Family Chronicle, Family Tree, Internet Genealogy, Illinois Magazine, MCIGS Connection Newsletter, MCIGS Quarterly, Journal of Illinois History, McHenry Area Historical Society Newsletter, and the McHenry County Historical Society Newsletter.

McHenry Library's Online Collections
McHenry High School Yearbooks

McHenry Telephone Directories

The Pictorial Newsletter

Glass Plate Negatives

McHenry Plaindealer Indexes
The McHenry Plaindealer was the primary newspaper for McHenry and was published from 1875 until 1986.

August of 1875 through April of 1890: This index includes Obituaries from the McHenry Plaindealer starting in August of 1875 through April of 1890. This is an ongoing project and we hope to have more newspapers indexed soon. Please keep in mind that the Plaindealer was a publication for the town of McHenry, it was not county wide news, the relative you are looking for may be memorialized in another newspaper.

1949 through 1984: This index includes Obituaries and Births from the McHenry Plaindealer starting in 1949 through 1984. This index if brought to you by the McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society and was compiled by T. Larry Phalin. Please keep in mind that the Plaindealer was a publication for the town of McHenry, it was not county-wide news.

Local Genealogical Societies
McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society | click on Collection to see detailed title lists of the collection housed in both the McHenry Public Library and the Crystal Lake Public Library. Meetings are held at the Pointe on the second Thursday of select months at 7:00 pm.

McHenry County Historical Society & Museum Local History & Research Library | The McHenry County Historical Society Local History Research Library has as its purpose the acquisition, cataloging and preservation of documentary materials that relate to the history of McHenry County and its people.

Tips for Your Visit
The Genealogy Room is locked, please stop the Questions Desk and we will be happy to let you in.


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