Professional Researchers

Ann Wells 
PO Box 672, Crystal Lake, IL 60039-0672

Research in the following counties: McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, Kane, DeKalb, IL
and Rock, Walworth and Kenosha Counties, WI.

Craig Pfannkuche  will do research in McHenry County.
     Contact Craig at: cphist@mc.net
Or write to him at: Craig Pfannkuche    8612 Memory Trail      Wonder Lake, Illinois     60097.
 
 

Libraries
Library reference staff are often, but not always, willing to look up obits and other newspaper items if you have the date of the event! You would need to call or mail them to find out. ALWAYS reimburse them for time and copies!

Algonquin Area Library
   Branch library:  115 Eastgate Dr., Algonquin, IL 60102-3097 Phone:  (847) 658-4343
and  Main Library:  2600 Harnish Road, Algonquin  Phone:  (847) 458-6060
Randall Vlcek, Administrative Librarian.
    (847) 658-4343 Fax: (847) 658-0179

Cary Area Public Library District
    1606 Three Oaks Road, Cary, IL 60013-1637
    Diane R. McNulty, Library Director.
    (847) 639-4210 Fax: (847) 639-8890

Crystal Lake Public Library
    Monday-Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday 9:00
    a.m. to 5 p.m. and September through May it is open on Sundays, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
    Phone:(815) 459-1687.

Fox River Grove Public Library
    306 Lincoln Avenue
    Fox River Grove, IL 60021-1016
    Telephone:(847)639-2274  FAX:(847)639-0300

Johnsburg Public Library
    3000 W. Johnsburg Rd.
    Johnsburg, IL 60050
    (815) 344-0077

Huntley Area Public Library District
    11000 Ruth Road, PO Box 898, Huntley, IL 60142-0898
    Virginia Maravilla, Director.
    (847) 669-5386 Fax: (847) 669-5439

Marengo Public Library
    200 S. State St.
    Marengo, IL 60152
    Telephone: (815) 568-8236  Fax: (815) 568-5209

McHenry Public Library District
    809 N. Front St., McHenry, IL 60050-5528
    Arlene Kaspik, Executive Director.
    (815) 385-0036 Fax: (815) 385-7085

Nippersink Public Library District (Richmond)
    5418 Hill Rd.
    Richmond, IL 60071-9750
    Voice: 815-678-4014
    Fax: 815-678-4484

Woodstock Public Library
     414 W. Judd St.
     Woodstock, IL 60098
     Phone (815) 338-0542 Fax (815) 334-2296
     Night Owl Reference Service (815) 338-0542 until Midnight (for Woodstock Library Patrons)

Societies

The McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society
The Society has many publications available, and much information to help researchers. Please direct any requests for info through  their website.

The McHenry County Historical Society

The Crystal Lake Historical Society

Kishwaukee Trail Chapter ~DAR

McHenry County Civil War Round Table

McHenry County Historical Barn Preservation Association

County  Offices

County Clerk  
Early Vital Record Indexes may be searched by the general public at the office of the County
Clerk.  The current charge is $10.00 for a certified copy of each vital record (i.e. marriage,
birth, death). If a search of the index is performed by the office staff per a mail request, the $10.00 search  fee is not returned if the record is not found.

    Marriage Record Indices:   Vol. I, 1837-1893 and Vol. II 1893-1908;
    MCIGS index  is more complete than original, and is available for searching. Also see the
    online Marriage records at the   Illinois Statewide Marriage Index , you may find the marriage
    data you need, and be able to simply send for it.

    Death Record Index:   Vol. I- 1878-1905; Vol. II -1905-1916;  indexed by surname.  These
    records are not complete, as not all deaths were reported.
    ** After 1915, you must know the death date in order to obtain the record.***
Many Illinois death records are searchable online at: Illinois Online Death Index

    Birth Record Index: Vol. 1, 1877-1905; Vol. II 1905-1916.   indexed by
    surname.  These records not complete, as not all births were reported.

    Final Naturalization Records are available in the County Clerk's Office.
    October 1859 to September 1906.  Declarations of Intent have been published by the MCIGS
    and are available at the Crystal Lake Library.

Circuit Court Clerk's Office

    Probate Index: 1836 to the present. Look in indexes to the probate records and the
    wills filed. Use the  file number from  the index and place a request for the file. It will be
    ordered  for you from another location, and will be available to you after noon the next day.

    Copying cost is $2.00 for one page; $.50 for each additional page of the same document.

County Recorder

    Indexes for the Deed Record Books, by Grantor or by Grantee; must have specific year.
    Find the book number/letter, and the page number, then request the
    microfiches from the deputy recorder.
    Cost of copying is $2.00 for the first two pages and  $ .50 for each additional page of the
    same document.
    Illinois Land records are searchable at the Illinois State Archives Database

Misc.

 Illinois Archives searchable databases

Family History Center Search page
Located at 5209 Walkup Rd., Crystal Lake, IL, within the church building.  Present hours are Tuesday-Thursday 7:00p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.  to 12 noon and 1:30 to 5:00, plus the above evening hours; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Call ahead to confirm the times they are open.  It is also necessary to call for an appointment to use the computer.  Their phone number is: (815) 459-7475.

McHenry County Historical Society Museum
6422 Main St. in the village of Union.
The mailing address: P.O. Box 434, Union IL 60180.
Phone: (815) 923-2267.

    Museum hours are: week days 9:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    May through October. Admission to the museum for non-members is $3.00 for adults, $2.00
    for Senior Citizens and students. Family rate is $8.00. Society members are admitted free.
    Individual membership is $12.50 per year.

    Library Research facilities are open year around, weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by
    appointment only. Appointments should be made at least 24 hours in advance. It may be
    used free by members. Cost for non-members, non-profit, is $10.00 per hour, $5.00 for each
    additional hour. Photocopies are 25 cents each; 11 x 17 are 50 cents each.

    Some items that are unique to the museum library are files containing newspaper articles
    pertaining to McHenry County towns; a biographical file of some of the county's past and
    present citizens; some published family histories; an obituary file; property owner maps;
    scrapbooks, diaries, Bible records, and many more items of general interest to anyone
    doing research in McHenry County.