Research Resources
Vital Records (births, marriages, deaths)
- Can be ordered from the McLean County Clerk's Office
- See their website for more information.
- Search the online birth index.
- Illinois Law did not require birth, death, or marriage records to be recorded until 1916.
McLean County Vital Records Earliest Available Dates
- Birth - 1860
- Marriage - 1831
- Death - 1878
- Deeds - 1831
- Probate - 1831
- Court - 1831
Note that there was a fire on June 19, 1900 that resulted in some records being lost or damaged.
Cities and Towns in McLean County
- Anchor
- Arrowsmith
- Bellflower
- Bloomington
- Carlock
- Chenoa
- Colfax
- Cooksville
- Danvers
- Downs
- Ellsworth
- Gridley
- Heyworth
- Hudson
- LeRoy
- Lexington
- McLean
- Normal
- Saybrook
- Shirley
- Stanford
- Towanda
Databases
- BLM General Land Office Records - Federal land records
- Dawes Rolls - Native American Research
- Illinois Gravestones.org
Genealogical and Historical Societies
- McLean County Genealogical Society
PO Box 488
Normal, Illinois 61761-0488
Email: mcgs.distribution@gmail.com - McLean County Historical Society
200 N Main Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
tel: 309-827-0428 - Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society
PO Box 819
675 State Route 116
Metamora, IL 61548
tel: 309-367-2551
Email: info@imhgs.org - Illinois State Genealogical Society
- Lexington Genealogical and Historical Society (aka The Fort)
318 W Main Street
Lexington, IL 61753
tel: (309) 365-4591
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday, 9:00-3:00 PM - Woodford County Historical Society 112 N Main
Eureka, IL 61530
tel: 309-467-4525
Hours: Wednesdays and Fridays, 1:00-4:00 PM
Illinois Links
- ILGenWeb Page of IL Links
- Table of All IL Counties
- ILGenWeb References Project
- Illinois History - an ILGenWeb Project
- Illinois State Archives
- Illinois Vital Records Information
Libraries
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield
- Bloomington Public Library
- Eureka Public Library
- J.T. and E.J. Crumbaugh Memorial Public Library in LeRoy
- Library of Congress
- Martin Township Public Library in Colfax
- Newberry Library in Chicago
- Normal Public Library
- Stevenson-Ives Genealogy Library in Bloomington
McLean County Links
- Immigration Database
- McLean County Website
- McLean County Clerk Website
- McLean County Political Graveyard
- McLean County Recorder Website
- Probate Index, 1834–1934
- Wills Index, 1838–1940
Other Helpful Links
- Census Record Abstracts - blank forms to print
- Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites - IL
- Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
- Old Occupations and their Meanings
- National Archives Genealogy Page
- US Social Security Death Index Search