Menard County: Chautauqua books, school records and Petersburg licenses
Explore the Petersburg library’s digital local-history collection, then use school and municipal records for a more focused inquiry. Menard uses precincts rather than township government.
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 / COMMUNITY COLLECTION
Petersburg Public Library: local gatherings and school communities online
The digital archive links three Old Salem Chautauqua books covering 1898–1942, Petersburg Harris and PORTA yearbooks, and Thompson & Harms Funeral Home records labeled 1910–1962.
A focused question to ask
Which page and original source support the person or event, and can the library clarify an unclear caption or entry?
Evidence limit: Yearbook coverage has gaps. The library’s labels identify available resources, not proof that every event or person is included. Inspect each document’s provenance.
STOP 02 / UIS IRAD
School geography and a one-year census report
School-and-road plats can help frame a location question; the school census report supplies a separate snapshot.
Plat Record, Schools and Roads 1874–1928 · Accession 4/0210/08
School Census Reports 1866 · Accession 4/0364/27
A focused question to ask
Are the census reports nominal or statistical, and which plat covers the school or locality?
Evidence limit: The census and plat dates differ. Do not assume named children or use a later boundary as proof of an earlier district.
STOP 03 / UIS IRAD
Petersburg licenses and council decisions
A municipal license book can offer a focused route into a trade or business, while council minutes provide the city’s decision trail.
Petersburg: License Record 1891–1972 · Accession 4/0230/01
Petersburg: City Council Minutes 1873–1983 · Accession 4/0230/03
A focused question to ask
Which kinds of licenses are recorded, and is there an index by applicant, business or date?
Evidence limit: A series title does not establish the kind of license or prove continuous business operation. Menard’s precinct system should not be confused with municipal jurisdiction.
IRAD is an Illinois Secretary of State program administered by the Illinois State Archives. Depository location: University of Illinois Springfield. Direct IRAD research requests to the regional depository, not the university’s separate archives or special collections.
Call first. UIS official pages differ about appointment availability and whether email research requests are accepted. Mail is a listed request route; confirm current staffing, the mailing address, appointments and copying arrangements directly before visiting.
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 Menard County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
Plat Record, Schools and Roads
1874–1928
4/0210/08
School Census Reports
1866
4/0364/27
Petersburg: License Record
1891–1972
4/0230/01
Petersburg: City Council Minutes
1873–1983
4/0230/03
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.