Hancock County: School registers, Nauvoo governments and township roads
Look beyond broad county indexes to Hancock County school registers, distinct Nauvoo city and township records, and St. Mary’s Township highway administration.
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 / WIU IRAD
School registers: identify the district before the child
Daily registers can be approached through the school district record when the school name or district number is uncertain.
School Teachers' Daily Registers 1879–1953 · Accession 2/0058/01
School District Record 1862–1934 · Accession 2/0128/02
A focused question to ask
Which districts are represented, and can the district record help identify the correct register for this locality and year?
Evidence limit: The catalog does not establish that every Hancock County school or every year survives. Pupil-level information and any access restrictions require confirmation.
STOP 02 / WIU IRAD
Nauvoo: distinguish the city from the township
These two series document different governments and different periods. Select the jurisdiction that fits the question instead of treating them as one continuous record.
Nauvoo: City Council Minutes 1841–1845 · Accession 2/0165/01
For this event and year, should I consult city council or township meeting minutes, and is a name or subject index available?
Evidence limit: The city series listed here ends in 1845. The township series starts in 1850 and is not its continuation. Neither is a complete resident list.
STOP 03 / WIU IRAD
St. Mary’s Township: roads and township decisions
Pair highway administration with the broader township record during their overlapping years to investigate a road, location or local official.
St. Mary's Twp: Highway Commissioners' Record 1859–1920 · Accession 2/0225/02
St. Mary's Twp: Township Record 1850–1864 · Accession 2/0143/01
A focused question to ask
Which volume and index cover this road or section, and are there related entries in the township record for 1859–1864?
Evidence limit: The overlap is only 1859–1864. A named participant in road business is not automatically an owner of adjoining land or a relative of another participant.
IRAD is an Illinois Secretary of State program administered by the Illinois State Archives. Depository location: Western Illinois University, Macomb. Direct IRAD research requests to the regional depository, not the university’s separate archives or special collections.
Request research by telephone or mail to IRAD-WIU, University Libraries, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455. WIU does not accept IRAD research requests by email. Call before visiting; university closures and seasonal hours affect access. Ask about copying charges before ordering.
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 Hancock County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
School Teachers' Daily Registers
1879–1953
2/0058/01
School District Record
1862–1934
2/0128/02
Nauvoo: City Council Minutes
1841–1845
2/0165/01
Nauvoo Twp: Township Meeting Minutes
1850–1941
2/0060/01
St. Mary's Twp: Highway Commissioners' Record
1859–1920
2/0225/02
St. Mary's Twp: Township Record
1850–1864
2/0143/01
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.