Our Computers

  • 3 computers available for patron use.
  • Wi-Fi accessible.  You may bring your own laptop to use.
  • Subscription to Ancestry (World Version) available to use.
  • Family Search Affiliate Library – allows access to restricted Family Search Library documents.
  • We have a copier/printer/scanner in our center. We charge $0.25 for each copy, $0.15 for each scanned image.
  • You may download documents/photos/clippings you have found to your personal thumbdrive .

Obituary Card File and Local History Vertical File

The black filing cabinets contain a vertical file organized by surname and another by local history topic. The contents have been collected since the Society was formed in 1979 and range from short notes, to family group sheets, to short family histories. The obituary card file (colored boxes on the west wall) is arranged alphabetically.

Surname file folders

Your family history may already be written!  We have over 2,300 manila file folders at our center.  Many are filled with letters and notes from other folks researching the family names.  Some file folders even hold old family photos.  Click below to see the family file folder surnames we have:

Family History Surname files –

Book Collection  

The book collection includes over 1,000 titles. McDonough County resources form the largest single group, followed by family histories, and resources for Illinois counties surrounding McDonough. The collection also contains how-to books, European and immigration information, and resources for other states, particularly those east of Illinois.  We have many books that are out of print and are not available online.

Card Catalog

Microfilm

The microfilm cabinets contain:

  • Federal census
  • county land records
  • area church records
  • local newspapers.
  • Please take one reel at a time.
  • Ask the volunteer to teach you how to properly use the new microfilm computer.
  • The new microfilm computer will print or download your personal clippings for you.  There is a nominal fee of .25 cents per page printing.
  • If others are waiting, the reader has a 30-minute limit.