Local History & Genealogy Resources
The Champaign County Historical Archives has a diverse array of resources to aid in research on genealogy and local history. They range from databases which provide access to genealogical resources worldwide, to unique collections that document local life from the 1850s to the present day.
Books and Journals
Over 25,000 books and journals are available and are searchable through the library’s online catalog. These include an extensive collection of books on Champaign County and other Illinois counties, as well as publications about the 17 eastern states which served as nineteenth century migration routes to Champaign County. We also collect family genealogies and subscribe to over 100 genealogical and local history journals.
Online Databases
The Ancestry Library Edition online database has on-site access only. Other online databases including World Vital Records, Heritage Quest, and Footnote are available on-site or through remote access. To access online databases, visit Online Articles & More.
Resources Searchable Through Local History Online
Champaign County Records
Birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as naturalization records, county court, and circuit court records, among others.
City of Urbana Municipal Records
Microfilmed and indexed records of local government bodies and agencies spanning the years 1855 to 2001.
Newspapers
A comprehensive collection of titles from Champaign County, spanning the years 1852 to the present. Most are available on microfilm.
Directories
An extensive collection of directories for Champaign County, including city directories; phone books; and criss-cross directories.
School Yearbooks
Nearly complete sets of Champaign County high school yearbooks, and selective issues from area middle and elementary schools.
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Images
Over 50,000 photographs of local people and locations, as well as postcard collections with images documenting the County and the University of Illinois. Many of the images have been digitized and made available via Local History Online.
Maps
Several hundred historical and current local maps, plat books, and atlases are available for research.
Oral Histories
Nearly 250 oral histories with topics that cover the length and breadth of the history of Champaign County and its communities. Richly represented within the collection is the rural life and experience of the African-American community. Additionally, many of the cassettes and their corresponding transcripts (when available) have been digitized and made available via Local History Online.
Local Organization Newsletter Collection
A growing collection of over 400 newsletters distributed by local community organizations, including schools, churches, and a variety of non-profit organizations.
Special Collections
Holdings include records from community institutions, such as Chanute Air Force Base, Burnham Hospital and Nursing School, local schools, civil rights organizations, such as the Urban League, and Sinai Temple of Champaign-Urbana, whose records date back to its formation in 1904.
Our holdings also document the development of local businesses, such as records from Joseph Kuhn and Company’s clothing store, records of the Commercial Bank of Champaign from 1920 to 1973, and Illinois Central Railroad completion reports for many towns in Champaign County.
The Archives also holds records from local chapters of social organizations like the Order of Odd Fellows, the Champaign County Homemakers Association, and the Grand Army of the Republic. Personal collections offer glimpses of local life dating back to the mid-19th century through diaries, correspondence, and other personal papers.
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