Sources checked October 29, 2026. Holdings checked against official catalogs and repository descriptions. Staff-confirmed details are identified below; other holdings are based on published sources. No name-level search; dates do not guarantee complete coverage or online images.
STOP 01 / UIS IRAD
Roodhouse city council: decisions in a railroad town
City council minutes can place a named street, public service or business question in municipal context.
City Council Minutes (Roodhouse) 1872–1984 · Accession 4/0255/01
A focused question to ask
Is there an index for the street, business or named petitioner, and which meeting dates should I request?
Evidence limit: Roodhouse minutes do not cover every Greene County community. A council mention needs corroboration before identifying a person.
STOP 02 / UIS IRAD
Road petitions: start with a route
A road petition can provide a focused local-government search when the location of a farm or settlement is known. Supervisors’ proceedings files offer a separate route into county decisions.
Road Petitions 1848–1866 · Accession 4/0046/02
Board of Supervisors’ Proceedings Files 1829–1972 · Accession 4/0186/03
A focused question to ask
What route or land description identifies the road petition, and is there a corresponding supervisors’ proceeding or decision?
Evidence limit: A petitioner need not own land along the entire route. The series are separately cataloged; a matching proceeding is not guaranteed.
STOP 03 / COMMUNITY COLLECTION
Greene County family and business stories
The society’s Greene County Illinois: History & Families book includes accounts of families, businesses, churches and organizations. Use a story to formulate an evidence question, then ask about supporting material in the library.
A focused question to ask
Is my surname or business included in the history book, and does the library hold a file or source supporting that account?
Evidence limit: Published family stories can repeat errors. The society’s indexed website description was available during checking, but direct page retrieval timed out; reconfirm access by telephone.
IRAD is an Illinois Secretary of State program administered by the Illinois State Archives. Depository location: University of Illinois Springfield. Direct IRAD research requests to the regional depository, not the university’s separate archives or special collections.
Call first. UIS official pages differ about appointment availability and whether email research requests are accepted. Mail is a listed request route; confirm current staffing, the mailing address, appointments and copying arrangements directly before visiting.
Start with no more than two names, approximate dates, the county and the record type. Include the township or school where known and the accession number above. Ask whether an index exists, which volumes survive and what copying will cost. For an unindexed series, agree on a manageable search before requesting a long period. The statewide policy directs research requests to telephone or mail rather than email; wait for a response before sending another request. See the statewide research policy ↗.
Request template: I am researching [person or place] in [locality] around [years]. Your catalog lists [title], accession [number]. Which volume covers that period, is it indexed, and how can I consult or obtain the relevant pages? Please let me know any gaps, restrictions and copying charges.
Collection dates at a glance
The table lists IRAD series with verified date spans. Community collections above may have different or unspecified coverage and separate access rules. Catalog spans are starting points, not guarantees of every year, locality or individual. Use the Research Planner to compare your years with these cataloged series.
Selected cataloged series for Greene County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
City Council Minutes (Roodhouse)
1872–1984
4/0255/01
Road Petitions
1848–1866
4/0046/02
Board of Supervisors’ Proceedings Files
1829–1972
4/0186/03
Keep the record and your interpretation separate.
Save the depository, collection, accession number, volume, page, dates and any copy correspondence. Record uncertain names as uncertain. A shared road, school or signature can suggest an association; it does not establish a family relationship.
Suggest a correction, an overlooked collection or an updated access detail. An official link or source helps us check it before making a change. Please leave out private family documents and sensitive personal information.