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 / EIU IRAD
School registers: narrow the search to a district
Ask for the school and year before requesting a countywide search.
School Teachers' Daily Registers 1926–1968 · Accession 5/0145/01
A focused question to ask
Which schools survive, and are pupil entries open for research or subject to restrictions?
Evidence limit: A series-wide date range does not guarantee the needed class register.
STOP 02 / EIU IRAD
Fairfield improvements: investigate a changing street
The improvement board’s minutes provide a focused municipal starting point.
Local Improvements Board Minutes (Fairfield) 1938–1951 · Accession 5/0074/02
A focused question to ask
Can staff identify the project or street index for my target period?
Evidence limit: A street project does not by itself show that a named family lived on the street.
STOP 03 / COMMUNITY COLLECTION
Early History Museum: one-room schools and community files
Fairfield’s official museum page describes an archive covering families, businesses, civic groups, churches, government, military and one-room schools.
A focused question to ask
Is there a school, church or surname file relevant to my place and dates?
Evidence limit: Artifact displays and archive holdings are different. Ask which original documents, photographs or compiled accounts support the information.
IRAD is an Illinois Secretary of State program administered by the Illinois State Archives. Depository location: Eastern Illinois University, Charleston. 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, Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920. The depository is on Booth Library’s first level near the south entrance. Call before visiting to confirm access, university closures, seasonal hours, copying charges and accessible arrival arrangements. Follow the statewide telephone/mail research policy.
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 Wayne County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
School Teachers' Daily Registers
1926–1968
5/0145/01
Local Improvements Board Minutes (Fairfield)
1938–1951
5/0074/02
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.