Ehrlicher Research Center 719 N. Eleventh Street Pekin, Illinois (309) 477-3044 Mailing Address: PO Box 312 Pekin, Illinois 61555-0312

Map to the Ehrlicher Research Center

The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society library is located in the Ehrlicher Research Center at the above address. The library is open Monday 9 am-1 pm, Tuesday 9 am-1 pm & 7-9 pm, Wednesdays 9 am-4:30 pm, Thursday-Friday 9 am-1 pm, and Sundays 2-4:30 pm central standard time (closed on holidays and holiday weekends). The library is usually staffed with two trained volunteer genealogists.

Since we do depend on volunteers, unexpected closings can occur but are very rare.  If you are coming through town and can't stop by during our normal hours, email us and we'll try to make arrangements to meet you at the library.

May Meeting - Tuesday, May 14, 7:00 pm      Life member Dr. Tom Dirksen and his wife Jean will present The North and South of the Lincoln Rocker - a story that “just fell into our laps" about a bit of history and genealogy relating to the refurbishing of Ford's Theater (location of the Lincoln assassination) and a secret that's hidden in its new furniture.      Dr. Dirksen is a native of Pekin, Illinois.  He graduated in PCHS Class of 1949. Tom has lived in Texas and New York and in Augusta, Georgia since 1967. He is a graduate of Bradley University and the University of Illinois College of Dentistry.  Dr. Dirksen received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Rochester and completed a residency in Pediatric Dentistry at the Eastman Dental Center.  Tom retired from the Medical College of Georgia as Associate Dean Emeritus in 2000.  He and Jean are long-term members of the August Genealogical Society - he served as President soon after joining.      Jean Dirksen, a native of Canada, has a degree in Medical Record Administration from the Medical College of George and was employed in several hospitals in the Augusta area. Her hobby is wood working - an interest that led to the story about Lincoln's rocker.      Tom and Jean have traveled throughout the United States to see their six children and thirteen grandchildren. All trips some how seem to go through Salt Lake City for Tom to dig into genealogy. Jean is an expert on finding other activities while Tom is researching and likes to explore antique shops and flea markets.      Tom also serves on the Georgia Archives Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB).  He was instrumental in in the Augusta Genealogical Society securing a grant for the preservation of Richmond County loose papers, a project that won recognition for the Society from the Georgia Archives. It's an interesting story - perhaps we can get Tom to talk about how the project came about - suddenly and without warning.      Tom returns to Pekin every year to continue his research and attend the board meeting of the Dirksen Center (Tom is Senator Everett Dirksen's nephew).      Normal business meeting follows. Columbia Riverboat Cemetery Walk - May 19, 2:00-4:30 pm, Lakeside Cemetery Visit the graves of various passengers on the sinking of the Columbia Riverboat on July 5, 1918 to hear their stories portrayed by costumed interpreters.  Open to the public and free.  Lakeside Cemetery is located on Illinois Route 29 (Eighth Street) just north of the Pekin.  Free.  Open to the Public.  Rain Date is June 2.  Here's a flyer you can share with others! New Book released on The Wreck of the Columbia!      One of the worst disasters in the history of United States inland navigation occurred at midnight, Friday, July 5, 1918 when the excursion steamboat Columbia, returning to Pekin from an excursion in Peoria, struck a sand bar and sank into the Illinois River near Wesley City (present day Creve Coeur) with 496 passengers (mostly from Pekin).  Eighty-seven passengers, mostly women and children, drowned in the submerged wreckage.  The rest lived to tell their stories of horror, bravery, and survival.       After extensive research using the society's collection and other sources, TCGHS member Ken Zurski has written a gripping account entitled The Wreck of the Columbia - A Broken Boat, a Town’s Sorrow & the End of the Steamboat Era on the Illinois River - documenting the true story of the worst maritime accident in the history of the Illinois River.      You can purchase a copy of this definitive book directly from the publisher or from Amazon.  Read an excerpt. We're now on Facebook!     You can now go to our Facebook page any time by simply clicking on the link above (immediately below the library photo).  Enjoy!  Thanks to Charlotte Jibben for creating and maintaining our new Facebook page! 2012 Edition of Cemetery Volume 1 - Dillon & Delavan Townships just published!! After many hours of hard work visiting cemeteries and consulting the actual cemetery & death records, we've updated and released a new version of our listings for Dillon & Delavan Township cemeteries.     There's now 252 pages - up from 140 pages in the previous edition.   Listings are now current through December 2012.  In addition to the index of the interred, we've also added an “every name” index which includes every name mentioned on a stone as well as including other available genealogical data such as parental information, place of birth and death, and marriage information.      Many thanks to those who added and proofed all the new genealogical data—the late Elaine Ogden, Jerry Bietz, Linda Stegall and chair Margaret Bush.   Pick up your copy at the library or order online and we'll mail to you asap! New Book Released—Everett McKinley Dirksen…a Boy from Pekin      Several months ago our society became aware students at Dirksen Primary School in Pekin had no idea who Senator Everett Dirksen (the school's namesake) was or what he had done during his public service.  Since there were no books documenting the Senator's life available at an elementary reading level, a committee was created to research and write a biography for elementary students.  On March 27, copies of the books were presented to the Dirksen Primary students.      Although written for a third through seventh grade reading level, the book presents many facts and photos of the Senator's life that adults would also find interesting.  Here's more information on the creation of the book and how to get a copy. The Monthly now available electronically! The Monthly is now available for home delivery in pdf format via e-mail. Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society members have always received a monthly print newsletter called The Monthly as one of the benefits of their membership. The Monthly is filled with Tazewell County historical and genealogical articles, documents, and pictures as well as information on Society special events, monthly meetings, and projects.   Members may now elect to receive their newsletter either through the postal mail service or electronically via e-mail. Supporting the long-term goals of the Society Similar to a great university's endowment fund, the TCGHS Foundation Endowment Fund helps create a margin of excellence by supporting acquisitions, innovations, and special projects beyond the capacity of the Society's normal operating budget.   Commemorate your support by sponsoring a leaf for your family on our surname tree or a tile for your company on our Tazewell County Business Plaque!

~~ About Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society ~~

Mission & Purpose Here's what the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society stands for. Our Library We moved into our new facility in 1997.  See more photos of our library and check out some of our holdings. Do you know of a group, no matter what age, who would like a tour of our library - whether it be a grade school class, church group, or civic organization?  If so, give us a call or send us an email to schedule a convenient time for a tour. Our Board & Committee Chairs The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society board consists of the elected officers, four elected at-large board members, and the immediate past president.  Here's our current officers and committee chairs. Society Membership Become one of the almost 400 members of the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society.  Or renew your current membership! Pioneer Certificates Do you have a direct ancestor who was an early (prior to 1875) Tazewell County settler?   If so, apply for our Pioneer Certificate.  It will become a proud addition to your home! (see sample).   So far, we've issued certificates for these Tazewell County Pioneers. Updated February 2013. Tazewell County Shelf Sitters    The TCGHS Foundation has created a series of four different collectable shelf sitters representing historic Tazewell County buildings regulary visited by Abraham Lincoln in the late 1840's through 1860.    Collect all four - the Tazewell County Courthouse, the Jones-Menard "Red Brick" House, the Lilly Inn, and the Tazewell House!   Here's more info including photos!

~~ Tazewell County Research Tips ~~

Tazewell County Surname Registry - Free! Here's a list of folks who are researching various Tazewell County surnames and who would like to correspond via email with other researchers.  Register the surnames you're researching now -- all we ask is you limit your entries to surnames which have a connection to Tazewell County. Introduction to Tazewell County Vital Records - Free! My ancestor was born in 1825 - can I get his birth certificate?  Where can I get a copy of a death certificate?  These questions and more are answered in our overview of Tazewell County Vital Records. Tazewell County Cemeteries - Free! Here's a list of all known cemeteries in Tazewell County, including the township and section they are located in.  Some cemeteries have links to additional information such as cemetery history, location maps, driving instructions, and photos. Tazewell County Township Map - Free! Here's a map of Tazewell County showing the township names and locations. Historical Tazewell County Maps - Free!     Here are historical maps of Tazewell County covering 1833, 1857, 1873, 1896, 1920, and 1929. Ortssippenbücher (OSB) Collection - Free! Many of the early settlers of Tazewell County emigrated from a region of northeast Germany known as Ostfriesland (East Friesland or East Fresia).  Ortssippenbücher (OSB) books contain important information for Ostfriesen researchers such as names, occupations, family relationships, and dates of births, marriages, and deaths for families from a specific Ostfriesen town or village. The information (usually extracted from local church records) is presented alphabetically by family group surname.  Our collection of OSB books is thought to be the largest in the State of Illinois. List last updated January 2012. Tazewell County Education Records - Free!  Joy Wojtas, Certification Specialist - Tazewell County Regional Office of Education, discusses school records dating from 1911 through 1962 which may be of assistance for research purposes.  During the past one hundred years, many changes have taken place in education.  The maintaining of various records gives future generations some insight into what was happening during a particular period of time. Newspapers on Microfilm - Free! Here's a list of the Tazewell County Newspapers prior to 1953 we currently have in our microfilm collection. Links - Free! Here's some other websites, family histories, and mailing lists you might find helpful doing your Tazewell County research.  Last updated May 2013.

Tazewell County Research Services Our society can provide research services to those unable to visit our library such as surname searches of the TCGHS library holdings, obituary searches at Pekin Public Library, searches of Tazewell County courthouse records (birth, death, marriage, & probate), and photographs of your ancestor's grave. Tazewell County Notable Men Photographs now available! Our archivists were recently given access to over 1500 5"x7" photos taken by 19th century photographer H.H. Cole.  These photos have been stored in the basement of the Tazewell County Courthouse for decades.  Most of these photographs are of early Tazewell County settlers.  We have scanned the collection and the images are now available to researchers.  Check our list for your ancestors. Tazewell County WWI Soldier Photographs now available! Included in the society's L. Sidney Eslinger Glass Negative Collection are over 100 glass plate negatives of identified area soldiers in uniform, probably from around the time of World War I. There are many, many more unnamed ones. These photographs were taken by H. H. Cole, the well-known Tazewell County photographer.  Our archivists have scanned the collection and the images are now available to researchers.  Check our list for your ancestors. TCGHS Publications Tazewell County records transcribed, indexed, and published by the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society.  Classic research materials such as searchable county histories and atlases (CD-ROM) cemetery listings, marriage records, land records, naturalization records, census records, atlases, and directories.  We've recently added several items including previews of our historical postcards.  And, we now have an online shopping cart for your convenience! Tazewell County Veterans of World War II Remembrances!      The Society collected oral & written histories, documents, and photos from over 450 Tazewell County WWII veterans in order to preserve their stories for future generations.  These memories have been published in an approximately 500 page 8.5" x 11" book entitled Tazewell County Veterans of World War II Remembrances.  As you can see, the book has a high quality, long-lasting library binding.      Pictures of most of the veterans have been included with their stories.  This is a unique opportunity to relive how these “ordinary” men and women made amazing sacrifices during those extraordinary times, forging the values that made our people and nation great! This book would make a gift that will be cherished for generations to come! Follow this link for more details and to get your copy today!  The Berry Gang One of our members, Jim Conover, has co-authored the definitive book on the history of "the Berry Gang", which terrorized the people of Tazewell County for years in the late 1860's, despite the efforts of Pekin’s tough City Marshal Alfred Stone, Tazewell County Sheriff Edward Pratt, and his deputies - including the gang's eventual downfall.  A classic piece of western frontier history right here in central Illinois!  Here's a brief overview of the book, including surnames mentioned, and directions on obtaining your own copy.