Obtaining Records from the
Illinois Regional Archives Depository

The Illinois State Archives administers a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) to manage the archival records of local governments.   Located on seven state university campuses, regional depositories house and service those local government records that have been transferred to the Archives' custody.   While one depository is devoted solely to Cook County, the other six include regions made up of from fourteen to twenty-three contiguous counties

The depository covering Tazewell County is located at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.  IRAD contains microfilm copies of Tazewell County birth and death records from 1878 through 1916 and marriage records from 1827 through 1922.

Address:	Hours:
Illinois Regional Archives Depository Williams Hall Illinois State University Campus Box 5500 Normal, IL 61790-5500 (309) 452-6027	Monday-Friday, except State Holidays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Besides Tazewell County, this depository also contains records for Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Logan, Marshall, McLean, Piatt, Vermilion, and Woodford counties.

IRAD is staffed by graduate student interns. Because of class scheduling conflicts, hours may vary somewhat from the above schedule. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit.

Restrictions:

None

Requests:

In order for depository staff to conduct a search of the IRAD holdings, researchers should provide the following information:

• Full names of the persons being researched
• Approximate year when these persons are expected to appear in the records
• Record titles/types to search
• County to be searched - in this case, Tazewell

Include any additional information that may assist in locating the person or information requested.

Researchers are asked to limit requests to two names at a time and to wait for a response to one request before submitting another one. If photocopies are necessary, charges are ten cents per page with a minimum charge of $1.   All research and postage is provided free of charge courtesy of the Illinois Secretary of State.

Please note all photocopies from IRAD are considered unofficial and uncertified.

The average response time for a research request is about two weeks.  During light periods, the ISU IRAD can respond within a week, during heavy periods it may be a little longer than two weeks.  Requests are answered in the same order they are received.

Requests are taken by mail and by telephone.  Email requests are not currently supported.

Onsite Research:

Researchers may visit the ISU IRAD depository and examine any of the records that are available.  The depository is open Monday through Friday - closed on Saturdays and Sundays, state holidays, and any weekdays the university libraries are closed. Hours are reduced in June and July.  Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit.

Pencils are the only accepted writing instrument.

Williams Hall is located about 2 blocks east of U.S. Route 51 (Main Street) on School Street between Beaufort and North Streets - across from Stevenson Hall. Visitor parking is available about one block to the north - behind the Bone Student Center, off of Locust Street. The charge is $.60/hour (September 1, 2000).

From the parking lot, proceed south, walk up the staircase between Milner Library and the Bone Student Center/Braden Auditorium.  Continuing south, cross the pedestrian bridge over College Avenue onto the campus quadrangle.   Williams Hall is on the left side of the quadrangle, about half way down.  The ISU IRAD is located in the basement level in Room 7.

Here's a campus map highlighting the location of the ISU IRAD.

The Bone Student Center has dining facilities including a deli, cafeteria, McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.

Additional Information:

For additional information, visit the Illinois Regional Archives Depository website.

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