Sources checked October 28, 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 / NIU IRAD
Hartland Township road papers
Begin with a road, nearby land description and short date range. Ask whether the papers contain a petition, survey or associated decision for that location.
Can staff identify a file for this road or section, and what reference should I use to request all its pages?
Evidence limit: A proposed route is not proof that a road was built. Look for the final order or later map.
STOP 03 / NIU IRAD
School finances: follow the institution
Financial records can help study a district, its spending and administration. Ask whether supporting schedules identify employees or vendors; do not assume they contain student lists.
School District Annual Audit and Financial Reports 1968–1972 · Accession 1/0213/01
School District Annual Audit Reports 1962–1975 · Accession 1/0110/01
A focused question to ask
Which districts are represented, and do the reports include payroll or vendor schedules?
Evidence limit: These are financial reports, not attendance registers. District coverage and named-person detail still need confirmation.
IRAD is an Illinois Secretary of State program administered by the Illinois State Archives. Depository location: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Direct IRAD research requests to the regional depository, not the university’s separate archives or special collections.
Call to ask a question or schedule an appointment. The IRAD office is in Founders Memorial Library, Room 265, on the second floor. For a remote request, follow the statewide telephone/mail policy and confirm the current mailing address with staff.
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 McHenry County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
Road Papers (Hartland Twp)
1842–1920
1/0333/01
Road Papers (Marengo Twp)
1837–1878
1/0340/01
School District Annual Audit and Financial Reports
1968–1972
1/0213/01
School District Annual Audit Reports
1962–1975
1/0110/01
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.