If you are doing genealogy research in this area, one of the often over looked resources is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Newspaper Microfilm Collection
According to the state website, www2.illinois.govthere are “more than 5,000 newspaper titles preserved on nearly 100,000 reels. The Library holds newspaper titles from every one of Illinois’ 102 counties. Many date from the early nineteenth century, including the earliest newspaper published in Illinois, the Illinois Herald from Kaskaskia (1814). The Library subscribes to more than 300 current newspaper titles.
Also available from the 100,000 reels in the Newspapers on Microfilm Collection are selected, copied materials from the Library’s Printed Materials Collection, as noted in the online catalog.
Search issues of the Illinois State Journal and its predecessors from 1831 through 1860. The index, online for the first time, covers the first issue of the Sangamon Journal on November 10, 1831 through 1847; the Illinois Journal from 1847 – 1855; and the Illinois State Journal from 1855 – 1860. Topics are largely Illinois-related, but you can search people, places and events, alphabetically and chronologically, making this a valuable resource for all researchers! All newspapers are available on interlibrary loan.”
When you visit this online resource, don’t forget to check out the Obituary Finder tool. To find citations to obituaries that have appeared in Illinois newspapers and have been located by users researching their extensive newspaper microfilm collection simply click on the link for access, no account is necessary.
If you visit Springfield the museum is located at 112 North Sixth Street and, yes, you can even find our own Lebanon Advertiser dating from 1911 there. The Lebanon Herald I and II as well as the McKendree Review are archived there as well.
For closer access to the Lebanon papers on microfilm just drop in at the Belleville Public Library and enjoy using their wonderful genealogy room. The friendly staff will show you how to access the collection. While you are there, check out their new facelift courtesy of the Illinois Public Library, Secretary of State Jesse White and, of course, the tax payers. Director, Lee Spearman, and his staff did an amazing job getting everything organized after the big makeover and their library looks amazing.
Until next week, read another book and dream big.