Massac County: Pupil examinations, livestock marks and a river-town genealogy room
Ask focused questions of school examination records and livestock-registration books, then investigate the Metropolis Public Library’s local-history and newspaper resources.
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 / SIU IRAD
School examinations: a short, specific window
The pupil examination series has a narrow date span; daily registers offer a separate, broader school-record route.
School Pupil Examination Record 1939–1941 · Accession 6/0475/03
School Teachers' Daily Registers 1903–1955 · Accession 6/0442/02
A focused question to ask
Which schools or districts occur in the examination record and daily registers? Can I request a specific pupil and school year?
Evidence limit: Confirm actual district coverage and access rules. Neither series title guarantees an entry for a particular pupil.
STOP 02 / SIU IRAD
Marks, brands and stray animals: a rural identity trail
Livestock-registration and estray records can support a question about a rural household or locality.
Marks and Brands Record 1860–1911 · Accession 6/0279/04
Estray Record 1843–1895 · Accession 6/0279/03
A focused question to ask
Are owners or claimants indexed, and does an entry identify a location or animal description?
Evidence limit: Do not infer a person’s residence or ownership without reading the entry and corroborating the identification.
STOP 03 / COMMUNITY COLLECTION
Metropolis Public Library: local newspapers and regional genealogy
The library describes newspaper access on microfilm or online, with some material dating to 1862, alongside local-history, cemetery and military resources. This is a useful route for a river-town family with connections across county or state lines.
A focused question to ask
Which title and issues cover my event, and can you provide a copy or arrange use of the microfilm?
Evidence limit: The 1862 starting point applies to some newspaper material, not every title or a continuous run. Some books do not circulate; confirm availability, fees and research assistance.
IRAD is an Illinois Secretary of State program administered by the Illinois State Archives. Depository location: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Direct IRAD research requests to the regional depository, not the university’s separate archives or special collections.
Call before visiting the IRAD facility in the Library Storage Building, 1835 University Press Drive, Carbondale. It is separate from the main library. Follow the statewide telephone/mail request policy; reduced summer hours and university closures can affect access.
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 Massac County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
School Pupil Examination Record
1939–1941
6/0475/03
School Teachers' Daily Registers
1903–1955
6/0442/02
Marks and Brands Record
1860–1911
6/0279/04
Estray Record
1843–1895
6/0279/03
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.