26 January 2000 (Wednesday) and 16 March 2000 (Thursday) - Microfilm: All federal population censuses, some military/pension/bounty land records, some passenger arrival records, partial regional naturalization index, etc. Paper: vast array of original records (by appt.)
Call to reserve a reader for the morning session and mention DCGS: 773-581-7816, x 138.
Depart 7:30am from Sengstock home, 923 Sunset Road, Wheaton. If readers are open for the afternoon session, we stay until about 3:00pm, leaving before traffic becomes too congested. Please call so you aren't left behind - or to co-ordinate another pick-up point.
Bring a lunch. Microwave and beverage/snack machines are available. A supply of quarters may prove convenient for using the coin-operated reader/printer.
Hotel: Mansion View Inn, 217-544-7411, mention DCGS reservation (confirmation #s 70848-70855). Std room: $79, mini suite $89, king suite $99. Breakfast included.
Illinois State Archives - Archival records of all three state government branches represented in 2,443 record series; some federal and local records. Descriptive Inventory of the Archives… can be viewed or downloaded at: http://www.sos.state.il.us/depts/archives/collect.html
The Archives has census, military service records, WWI draft registration, veteran's homes, death records 1915-1947 and early Illinois land sales. Several on-line databases are available to aid in trip preparation.
Illinois State Historical Library - 171,700 books & pamphlets, 3,000 maps and 1,200 periodicals. Collections relate to individuals, cities/towns, agriculture, industry, religion and transportation. There are many family genealogies, and material on the Civil War, Northwest Territory, overland journeys & Midwest settlement.
The library is the mandated newspaper depository in IL and has 73,000 microfilm reels with titles from all 102 counties.
Over 5,000 manuscript collections (business ledgers, diaries, and organizational records) may be viewed by appointment: 217-785-7942.
An audiovisual collection includes 350,000 photographs, 4,000 broadsides, 2,500 films/videos, and 3,800 tapes, which may be viewed by appointment: 217-785-7955.
Illinois State Library - a regional federal depository with an extensive collection of federal documents and is the mandated depository for all Illinois agencies. They have an extensive collection of geographical books and journals, gazetteers, atlases, 150,000 maps, Illinois Sanborn fire insurance atlases, 19th/20th century county atlases, aerial maps, and USGS topographic maps (for all of the US).