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
Western Township: follow road and bridge spending
A township-specific account series is a useful alternative when the research question starts with a road, bridge or local public project.
Western Twp: Road and Bridge Account Books 1915–1967 · Accession 2/0017/01
A focused question to ask
Which years and volumes survive, how are accounts arranged, and can they be approached by road, project or payee?
Evidence limit: The title does not guarantee named workers or contractors. An expenditure is not proof of land ownership, residence or a family relationship.
STOP 02 / WIU IRAD
Railroad crossings: a small inspection record with a precise window
The county clerk’s 1870–1873 inspection record is a narrow but unusual place to investigate a crossing and its local context.
Railroad Crossing Inspection Record 1870–1873 · Accession 2/0067/04
A focused question to ask
Which railroads and crossings are covered, and is the record arranged by location or inspection date?
Evidence limit: This is an inspection record, not a railroad employee register. The catalog does not establish whether neighboring landowners or residents are named.
STOP 03 / WIU IRAD
School districts: read the finances before assuming a pupil list
Annual district financial reports can support a question about a school’s operation, rather than a direct search for a child.
School District Annual Financial Reports 1963–1972 · Accession 2/0043/01
A focused question to ask
Which school districts are included, are individual years missing, and what identifiers should I supply to request the correct report?
Evidence limit: Financial reporting does not establish enrollment or attendance. The catalog does not claim complete countywide district coverage.
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 Henry County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
Western Twp: Road and Bridge Account Books
1915–1967
2/0017/01
Railroad Crossing Inspection Record
1870–1873
2/0067/04
School District Annual Financial Reports
1963–1972
2/0043/01
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.