Illinois Periodicals

United States Illinois  Illinois Periodicals



Most family history periodicals publish transcriptions of local sources used in genealogical research. Information published in periodicals may include family histories, genealogies, historical background, maps, information about local records and archives, queries, census indexes, transcripts of family Bibles, church records, court records, cemetery records, land records, military records, obituaries, and wills. Often published by genealogical or historical societies, they typically focus on the records of a particular county, while a few may specialize in records of a particular ethnic group or religion. Among the periodicals at the Family History Library are:

Branching Out From St. Clair County''. ''1973–. Published by the Marissa Historical and Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 47, Marissa, IL 62257-0047. This periodical focuses on St. Clair County, which was created in 1790, the first county formed in the Northwest Territory.

Chicago Genealogist''. ''1968–. Published by the Chicago Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1160, Chicago, IL 60690. . This contains member and ancestor lists and abstracts of cemetery, Bible, census, court, and other records of the Chicago area.

The Circuit Rider''. ''1973–. Published by the Sangamon County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1829, Springfield, IL 62705.;. This covers Springfield and Sangamon County.

The Illiana Genealogist: Quarterly Publication of the Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society. 1965–. P.O. Box 207, Danville, Illinois 61834. (Family History Library book  This includes transcriptions of records for the border area of Illinois and Indiana,and in particular Vermillion County. There is a surname index for each volume.

Illinois Historical Journal. Published by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency for the Illinois State Historical Society. Online Digital Copy 1950–2006 Learn more about the Illinois State Historical SocietyArchives and Libraries wiki page. Previously known as the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, each issue contains articles and reviews pertaining to Illinois history. There are cumulative indexes for volumes 1–25, 26–50, and 51–60.


 * Adams, James N. General index to journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, volumes I to XXV: April 1908 to January 1933. Springfield, Illinois: State of Illinois, 1948–1949.

Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly. 1969–. Published by the Illinois State Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 10195, Springfield, IL 62791-0195. (Family History Library book   Covering the entire state, this periodical provides articles about Illinois records and how to use them, as well as abstracts of records.

Prairie Roots. 1973–. Published by the Peoria Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1489, Peoria, IL 61655. This periodical focuses on Peoria County.

St. Clair County Genealogical Society Quarterly. 1978–. Published by the St. Clair County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 431, Belleville, IL 62222-0431. This periodical focuses on historical St. Clair County. Volume 20, number 4 is devoted entirely to county research and resources.


 * Online Surname Index, 1978–2007
 * Quarterly Table of Contents 1978–1987
 * Schmidt, Martha Mae, comp. Surname Index, 1978–1987, St. Clair County Genealogical Society Quarterlies. Belleville, Illinois: The Society, 1988.

Where the Trails Cross. 1970–. Published by the South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society, P.O. Box 96, South Holland, IL 60473. This periodical contains abstracts of records from South Cook and North Will counties.

Indexes. Some of the periodicals listed above have annual indexes in the final issue for the year. For nationwide indexes to other family history periodicals, see United States Periodicals.

The Periodical Source Index (PERSI)is available online and is especially useful because it refers to countless items published in thousands of English and French-Canadian family history periodicals. PERSI can be searched several different ways:
 * {http://freepages.computers.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~charanne/18-hq-0-04_rld-pub-hq-login.pdf Heritage Quest Online ($)]Search PERSI
 * The compact disc version, which merges all 29 PERSI volumes published through 1997 into one search, is:

Periodical Source Index (PERSI). Ft. Wayne, Indiana: Allen County Public Library Foundation, 1987–. (Family History Library book 973 D25per; fiche 6016863 [set of 40](1847 to 1985); fiche 6016864 [set of 15](1986 to 1990); compact disc no.61). For further details, see the Periodical Source Index Resource Guide. Addtional links to

For more family history periodicals, study the Family History Library Catalog by using the Place Search under:

ILLINOIS- PERIODICALS

ILLINOIS- GENEALOGY - PERIODICALS

ILLINOIS- SOCIETIES - PERIODICALS

ILLINOIS, [COUNTY]- PERIODICALS

ILLINOIS, [COUNTY]- GENEALOGY- PERIODICALS

ILLINOIS, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- PERIODICALS

Web Sites
http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/

NIU Periodical List