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 / WIU IRAD
Berwick road papers and Swan highway decisions
Search by township, road or land description to investigate the local administrative trail behind a route.
Swan Twp: Highway Commissioners' Record 1902–1911 · Accession 2/0147/03
A focused question to ask
Which papers or entries cover [road and township], and are there maps, indexes or references to separate proceedings?
Evidence limit: These are separate townships and time periods. A road petition or proposal is not proof that the road was opened.
STOP 02 / WIU IRAD
School districts and election papers
District records can help identify the relevant school unit; later election papers offer a separate administrative lead.
School District Record 1865–1948 · Accession 2/0113/01
School Election Papers 1956–1969 · Accession 2/0014/07
A focused question to ask
Which districts are represented, and do the election papers contain notices, returns, ballots or other document types?
Evidence limit: The date spans are separate. School election papers are not necessarily lists of parents or pupils, and the catalog does not establish continuous district coverage.
STOP 03 / WIU IRAD
Monmouth police magistrate and Swan Township justice
Local docket books can preserve a summary trail even when a broader surname search has missed the correct court.
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 Warren County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
Berwick Twp: Road Papers
1854–1863
2/0188/01
Swan Twp: Highway Commissioners' Record
1902–1911
2/0147/03
School District Record
1865–1948
2/0113/01
School Election Papers
1956–1969
2/0014/07
Monmouth: Police Magistrate Dockets
1875–1878
2/0032/45
Swan Twp: Justice of the Peace Dockets
1890–1925
2/0147/04
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.