Genealogy and Historical Collections

Marshall Public Library offers a variety of local history and genealogical resources, ranging from census records to interviews with local residents.

The Clark County Genealogy Society was founded in 1971, under the charter of the Clark County Historical Society by a group of community members dedicated to collecting and preserving genealogical data.  In 1974, the collection was housed on Maple St., in a block building behind the Clark County Historical Museum (now our Visitor's Center). 

In 1975, the Clark County Genealogical Society Library was dedicated by the Bicentennial Committee and held the distinction of being the first bicentennial project completed in Central Illinois. In 1979 the Clark County Genealogical Society secured it's own charter from the State of Illinois. 

The Genealogical Society's Library was moved in 1996 to 521 Locust Street, on the south side of the Courthouse Square.  In the summer of 2023, the collection from the Clark County Genealogical Library was transferred to Marshall Public Library and became the foundation of the Genealogy and Historical Collections Department. This robust collection includes hundreds of family histories, local records, as well as resources for locations across the United States.

 This robust collection includes hundreds of family histories, local records, as well as resources for locations across the United States.

For more information, to request assistance (obituary searches, etc.), or to discuss possible donations to the collection, please email jpoorman@marshallplib.com

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Marshall Public Library offers access to a variety of genealogy resources including FamilySearch, Ancestry Library Edition, and our own Digital Archive. 

Click the links below to access these sites. (Note: Some FamilySearch resources as well as Ancestry Library Edition are only available in the library.)