Monroe County: School work samples, teachers’ library loans and road districts
Explore a 1904 school work sample collection, records of teachers’ library borrowing and a long road-district series. Start with a school, district or road location and a specific year.
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 work samples: a different view of the classroom
The catalog lists school work sample books for 1904 alongside pupil examination records. These offer a route beyond attendance totals, subject to what the actual volumes preserve.
School Work Sample Books 1904 · Accession 6/0269/29
School Pupil Examination Record 1903–1949 · Accession 6/0269/21
A focused question to ask
Which schools or districts are represented in the 1904 work sample books, are pupils identified, and how are the examination volumes arranged?
Evidence limit: The catalog title does not establish that a particular child’s work survives. Confirm names, school coverage and any copying restrictions before planning a visit.
STOP 02 / SIU IRAD
Teachers’ library loans: follow the educator’s record
A teachers’ library loan record offers an unusual question to ask about a teacher’s professional context. Compare its date range with the separately cataloged permanent teacher record.
School Teachers' Library Loan Record 1899–1913 · Accession 6/0269/30
School Teachers' Permanent Record 1914–1940 · Accession 6/0269/22
A focused question to ask
Does the library loan record identify borrowers and titles, and is the teacher I am researching covered by either series?
Evidence limit: These are separate series with different dates. A catalog listing does not prove the loan book names every teacher or that the permanent record is a complete personnel file.
STOP 03 / SIU IRAD
Road districts: locate the local government behind the road
The county superintendent of highways’ road district record spans 1888–1984. Use a known road or district to ask how local infrastructure was recorded.
Road District Record 1888–1984 · Accession 6/0413/01
A focused question to ask
Which road districts are included, and can staff identify the volume covering my road location and year? Is there a district map or index?
Evidence limit: The broad catalog span is not proof of uninterrupted coverage. The title alone does not establish that residents, workers or landowners are named.
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 Monroe County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
School Work Sample Books
1904
6/0269/29
School Pupil Examination Record
1903–1949
6/0269/21
School Teachers' Library Loan Record
1899–1913
6/0269/30
School Teachers' Permanent Record
1914–1940
6/0269/22
Road District Record
1888–1984
6/0413/01
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.