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
Grayville council minutes: start with the city
A local decision may supply context for a business, street or public service.
City Council Minutes (Grayville) 1878–1959 · Accession 6/0419/01
A focused question to ask
Are there indexes for names, streets or subjects in the relevant volumes?
Evidence limit: The record is municipal, not a census of White County families.
STOP 02 / SIU IRAD
Swamp land record: investigate a particular parcel
An unusual land series can supply a focused next question when a parcel or transaction points toward it.
Swamp Land Record 1853–1857 · Accession 6/0198/01
A focused question to ask
How is the volume arranged, and does it identify purchasers, parcels or transactions?
Evidence limit: The catalog does not establish what every entry contains. Correlate any finding with deeds and land descriptions.
STOP 03 / COMMUNITY COLLECTION
Mary Smith Fay Genealogy Library: titles and surnames before a visit
The White County Historical Society’s site provides two library catalog lists, genealogy columns and a digitized 1972 tri-state architectural survey.
A focused question to ask
Which cataloged file or book supports this surname or building, and may I consult the underlying source?
Evidence limit: Older online lists may not reflect current holdings. Research notes and newspaper columns require source checking.
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 White County
Record series
Catalog dates
Accession
City Council Minutes (Grayville)
1878–1959
6/0419/01
Swamp Land Record
1853–1857
6/0198/01
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.