ILLINOIS ROOM

Our Illinois Room contains a wealth of historic information on our local history as well as materials to help you with your genealogy. In addition to the Illinois history materials, we have a large number of local history items. We have the Alton newspapers dating back to 1836 up to the present time. Hayner is very fortunate to have an ongoing indexing project for our local newspaper. We have most of the publication years indexed to speed your research.

We have an exceptional Abraham Lincoln collection covering nearly every facet of his life. Our Illinois Room collection includes the Illinois Statutes, Illinois Blue Books, various Illinois county histories, the Alton City Codes, and our extensive genealogy resources.

We hold an extensive collection of area cookbooks that reflect our local culture.

The Hayner Public Library District is working on a joint project with the Alton Area Landmarks Association to provide researchers with local house and property histories. You can find collected histories in the file cabinet in the Illinois Room. If you would like to donate information on the history of your house, property, church, or business for future generations of researchers, please contact the Genealogy Department at 618-462-0677.

Come in and browse our outstanding collection. Donations of materials having to do with Illinois history are appreciated. If you have visited our Illinois Room in the past, you will want to check with us again to see our growing collection. Materials found in the Illinois Room may not leave the room. Just sign in at the Circulation Desk to use the Illinois Room.

Abraham Lincoln

• Multi-volume collection of Abraham Lincoln references

Census Materials

• Madison County Illinois Federal census Indexes for 1820 through 1930
• Madison County Illinois State census indexes for 1845, and 1855
• Illinois Census Returns for 1810, 1818, 1820
• Census materials from other Illinois counties and other states.

City Directories

• City of Alton: oldest is 1858; incomplete set for late 1800’s to present
• Wood River/East Alton: incomplete set for 1926 to present

Databases

• ANCESTRY LIBRARY EDITION
• HERITAGEQUEST ONLINE
• FAMILY TREE MAKER – PLUS CDs
• CIVIL WAR CD-ROM (a compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies)

Local History

• Area family histories
• Multiple volumes regarding local history, particularly Alton
• Madison County history, including “Centennial History of Madison County, Illinois and Its People” 1812-1912
• Many Illinois County histories and local town histories
• Alton Historic Properties file
• Information on local businesses of the past
• Local church histories

Maps

• Many local, state, and territorial maps
• Area atlases

Microfilm

• Alton newspapers 1836-present (index for most years is available)
• Illinois Census for various counties, but primarily Madison County starting 1820 to 1930.
• American State Papers: Land Grants & Claims (index located in Illinois Room)
• Selected Records of the War Department relating to the Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865

Military Records

• Adjutant General of the State of Illinois: Annual Report 1863-1872
• Alton Military Prison records
• Pension records from various eras
• Civil War CD-ROM (a compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies)

Newspapers and Periodicals

(Microfilm readers are located outside the IL Room)

• Alton newspapers from 1836-present
• Alton newspaper index for most years
• American Spirit (Daughters of the American Revolution)
• Ancestry magazine
• Elsah History
• Everton’s Genealogical Helper
• Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society
• Madison County Genealogical Society Newsletter
• SAGA (Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois quarterly)
• Stalker (Madison County Genealogical Society quarterly)

Vital Records

• Alton newspaper listing births, deaths, marriages, probate, etc. with index for most years
• Most Madison County cemetery inventories plus many others
• Marriage records
• Madison County Naturalizations and Intentions 1816-1900

Yearbooks

• Alton High School – Tatler: various years starting 1905
• Marquette High School – Explorer: various years starting 1961
• Monticello Seminary College – Echo: various years starting 1838
• Shurtleff College – Retrospect: various years starting 1911
• Western Military Academy – Recall: various years starting 1924 plus CD