Welcome to the Illinois State Genealogical Society

The Illinois State Archives Reference Room in the Margaret Cross Norton Building, is open by appointment only. Please call (217) 782-4866 to schedule your appointment.

Illinois State Archives

Welcome to the Illinois State Genealogical Society! As part of our mission, we aim to make archives, libraries, and other repositories easier to access and use throughout the state. Please enjoy the self-paced slide show on the Illinois State Archives to learn more about this facility and see a brief sample of what we do. Thank you for visiting the ISGS website.

Click HERE to view the slide show.

Registration for the "2024 ISGS Conference" is open!

A "genealogy track" and a "transportation track"

will focus on various ways our ancestors arrived in, or passed through, Illinois.

Visit our 2024 Conference page for details & to register!

Update to the ISGS Lineage Certificate Programs

ISGS is proud to announce Prairie Patriot Certificates have been issued for:

Lawrence A. Conzett is proud to have his ancestor, Edward Kafka, certificated as a Prairie Patriot.

• Certificate #418 – Civil War, Lincoln Rifles, 24th & 82nd IL Infantry

ISGS Lineage Certificate Programs

ISGS is proud to announce Prairie Pioneer Certificates have been issued for:

• EWING, Elijah – Cert.#4041 – 1814 – Franklin County

• BRUBAKER, Henry L. – Cert.#4042 – 1867 – Macoupin County

• EDWARDS, Samuel – Cert.#4043 – 1864 – DeWitt County

• LUBBERS, Otto – Cert.#4044 – 1868 – Logan County

• MEYER, Herman G. – Cert.#4045 – 1867 – Peoria County

Visiting the ALPLM

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library – research is by appointment only.
Operating days/hours: Monday thru Friday, 9am - 4:30pm.
Appointments can be made by contacting the Reference Desk at: (217) 524-6358 or via email at alplm.reference@illinois.gov
Additional information can be found on their website – click HERE.