About Local History & Genealogy
The Vespasian Warner Public Library's Archive has a large collection of documents, newspapers, photographs, postcards, and artifacts that covers the history of DeWitt County. The library also houses the collections of the DeWitt County Genealogical Society and the DeWitt Clinton Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
For information about the Vespasian Warner Public Library Archive, please call the library at 217-935-5174 or email library@vwarner.org
Below are listings of our holdings. Not all images are available online at this time, however, if you would like a scanned copy of any image, please contact Bobbi at perryman@vwarner.org.
We have begun adding images to Archive.org, History Pin and the Illinois Digital Archive. We are continuing to add images each week, so be sure to check back.
A list of documents, photographs, and artifacts related to DeWitt County history that are contained in the library's archives. Items can be viewed in the library upon request. Many images are also available in the library's Archive.org and HistoryPin.com accounts.
C.H. Moore Collection
The original collection from the library's opening in 1908. Includes numerous works on Illinois history and biography. Items can be viewed in the library upon request. For information on C.H. Moore, please visit the C.H. Moore Homestead Website.
Civil War Collection
Diaries, photographs, artifacts
Digitization of these items was made possible by a grant from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.
Clinton Area Yearbooks
Includes Clinton, Heyworth, LeRoy, Kenney, Maroa-Forsyth, and Wapella. Yearbooks can be viewed in the library by visiting the Local History Section on the main floor.
Digitized versions of Clinton yearbooks are also available.
Clinton Newpapers
On microfilm. 1854-present. Microfilm can be accessed on Thursdays in the DeWitt County Genealogical Society room on the lower level.
Letters, service records, and photographs. Available in the Illinois Digital Archive World War I Collection.
Helen Hume Thorp Collection
Wapella and Rucker Chapel History. Items can be viewed in the library upon request.
Postcard Collections
Letters, newspaper articles, and photographs. Items can be viewed in the library upon request.
Donated by Dr. Harold Weinberg, the Library of Comparative Religion Collection can be found on the main floor in the non-fiction section. Items in the Weinberg Collection are available for checkout.
Archives & Special Collections
Newspaper.com: Only available in the library building. This website will allow you to view digitized local papers from 1854-1963.
Advantage Preservation: Only available in the library building. This website will allow you to view digitized local papers from 1964 forward. Years will be added as the budget allows for more lobal papers to be digitized.
African American Gateway - A growing resource for African American research compiled by Allen County Public Library of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Clinton Cemetery Viewer - Explore City of Clinton cemetery records using this interactive GIS map. Search by Burial Names or Owner Names.
DAR Genealogical Research System - Online genealogical portal including their Ancestor Database, Member Database, Descendants Database, DAR Library Catalog, and DAR Genealogical Records Committee database.
Digital Public Library of America
FamilySearch -An international, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping all people discover their family story.
Find a Grave - Free resource for finding the graves of famous folks, friends and family members
Illinois State Archives - Illinois birth, death, marriage, and veterans records
Illinois State Genealogical Society - Indices and databases provided free to the public by the ISGS
PERSI (Periodical Source Index) - PERSI indexes journal articles published by thousands of local, state, national and international genealogy and local history organizations. It is free to search PERSI, but online access to articles is through subscription only.
Cyndi's List - A free jumping-off point for online genealogical research
Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter - Daily online genealogy newsletter
Family Search Wiki - Genealogical research advice and information on where to find record collections.
First Search - Contact the Library for login.
Illinois Online Genealogy Records - Find genealogy records: vital records (birth, marriage, and death), census, cemeteries, probate, land, libraries, societies, churches, newspapers, etc. for Illinois
National Archives: Genealogy Ethnic Heritage - Selection of links to websites that are useful for ethnic genealogical research compiled by NARA
National Archives: Resources for Genealogists - Selection of links for beginning genealogical research, searchable databases, and preservation tutorials
American History Teachers' Collaborative - lesson plans, local primary documents, and examples of best practices from a central Illinois collaborative led by the Urbana School District.
DocsTeach - ready to use tools for teaching with documents prepared by the National Archives.
National History Day and Archives Toolkit - a wiki for getting the most out of National History Day.
Databases & Research Tools
The DeWitt County Genealogical Society was formed in 1974 to help collect and preserve genealogical history and other resources about the people of DeWitt County.
310 N. Quincy St.
Clinton, IL 61727
Email: dewittcgs@gmail.com
You can also fill out the form below.
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Census 1840 - 1930
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Death Index 1878 - 1980
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Marriage Index 1839 - 1979
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Birth Index 1878 - 1915
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Obituaries
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Funeral home records
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DeWitt County histories and atlases
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Land Records
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Family files
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Bible Records
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Ancestor charts
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Cemetery records
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Quarterlies
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Family histories
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Clinton city directories (earlist-1915)
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Circuit Clerk's records index
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Military Records
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Probate Records
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Materials about other counties and states
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DeWitt County Early Marriage Licences, 1839-
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Additional Local Records
DeWitt County Genealogical Society
History Blog
While the Library Blog will focus on various Library topics, a History blog post will be published monthly & will focus on the history of DeWitt County & Clinton, Illinois.
Coming Soon!!!