Knox County: Early automobile licenses, city files and school districts
Use Maquon automobile licensing, Galesburg city clerk files and Knox County school administration to form specific searches beyond the usual vital-record indexes.
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
Maquon: a narrow window into early automobile licensing
The two-year automobile license record is an unusual local lead. The village treasurer’s order books provide a separate record of municipal financial activity.
Maquon: Automobile License Record 1917–1918 · Accession 2/0164/10
Maquon: Village Treasurer's Order Books 1912–1954 · Accession 2/0164/11
A focused question to ask
What identifying fields appear in the automobile license record, and can staff check a named person for 1917–1918?
Evidence limit: A license entry does not establish who drove a vehicle or prove a family relationship. The order books are a separate series, not a verified companion index to the licenses.
STOP 02 / WIU IRAD
Galesburg: city clerk files behind the meeting record
The clerk’s miscellaneous files may require a more targeted inquiry than bound minutes. Start with an event, address or subject, then ask about arrangement and indexes.
Galesburg: City Clerk's Miscellaneous Files 1849–1939 · Accession 2/0091/02
Galesburg: City Council Minutes 1841–1984 · Accession 2/0091/01
A focused question to ask
Is there a folder inventory for the miscellaneous files, and can a council date or subject help locate related material?
Evidence limit: “Miscellaneous files” is the catalog title, not evidence of a particular document type. The contents and any matching council entry need to be checked.
STOP 03 / WIU IRAD
Schools: teachers and changing district organization
Teacher directories and district organization records address different questions: who taught, and how the school district was organized. They can help define a later search for school-specific records.
School Teachers' Directories 1904–1946 · Accession 2/0014/03
School District Organization Record 1889–1942 · Accession 2/0068/06
A focused question to ask
Which directory years survive, and can the organization record identify the district serving this location during my target year?
Evidence limit: Teacher directories are not pupil lists. Catalog spans do not guarantee a directory for every year or a complete history of every district.
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 Knox County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
Maquon: Automobile License Record
1917–1918
2/0164/10
Maquon: Village Treasurer's Order Books
1912–1954
2/0164/11
Galesburg: City Clerk's Miscellaneous Files
1849–1939
2/0091/02
Galesburg: City Council Minutes
1841–1984
2/0091/01
School Teachers' Directories
1904–1946
2/0014/03
School District Organization Record
1889–1942
2/0068/06
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.