Records that survive
These are the record series from Alexander County held by the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system, with the earliest and latest years. A span can include gaps. They include county, township and city records. This county's are held at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1819–1944
- Birth and Death Record, Proof of1850–1878
- Birth Record1878–1917
- Birth Record Index1878–1915
- Death Record1878–1915
- Birth and Death Record (Cairo)1893–1901
Deeds and land
- Entry Books1816–1857
- Deed Index1818–1943
- Deed Record1818–1944
- School Land Sale Record1835–1845
- Plat Record1853–1939
- Mortgage Release Record1864–1870
- Mortgage Record1865–1904
- Mortgage Index1900–1944
- Chattel Mortgage Record1915–1963
- Village Trustees' Minutes (Tamms)1924–1988
Wills and estates
- Probate Minutes1819–1942
- Probate Case Files1829–1870
- Probate Guardian's Record1842–1943
- Probate Will Record1850–1942
- Probate Record1857–1889
- Probate Administrator's Record1865–1938
- Probate Publication Record1866–1944
- Probate Administrator's and Executor's Record1872–1944
- Probate Inventory Record1873–1944
- Probate Sale Record, Personal Property1873–1928
- Probate Appraisement Record1879–1940
- Probate Fee Books1911–1917
- Probate Dockets1913–1916
Naturalization
- Naturalization Record Index, Circuit Court1857–1941
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers and Minors, Circuit Court1864–1892
- Naturalization Record, Final, Circuit Court1864–1893
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1865–1941
- Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court1907–1940
- Naturalization Order Books, Circuit Court1929–1940
Military and pensions
- Militia Roll Record1861–1862
- Military Discharge Record1918–1944
Tax records
- Tax Judgment Record1842–1851
- Tax Sale Record1847–1859
- Collector's Books1860–1933
- Assessor's Books1867–1873
- Tax Judgment, Sale, Redemption and Forfeiture Record1904–1918
- Tax Abatement Record1929
Court records
- County Commissioners' Minutes1819–1929
- County Commissioners' Minutes Index1819–1929
- Circuit Court Record1842–1873
- County Order Record1847–1858
- County Court Case Files1873–1930
- Probate Conservator's Record1887–1940
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1895–1949
Schools
- School District Organization Record1855–1857
Census
- Census Record1855
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Cairo)1857–1944
- Steamboat Registers (Cairo)1864–1866
County government
- County Commissioners' Proceedings Files1819–1942
- Railroad Bond Record1872–1915
Other records
- Incorporation Record, Corporations1872–1903
- Drainage District Files1916–1927
- Stallion Registration Record1916–1917
- Blind Relief Warrant Registers1931–1935
Search the IRAD database for this county
Source: Illinois State Archives, Local Government Records Database (choose the county to see every series and its accession number). Contact the depository before you visit. Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916.
Where to find the records
- Alexander County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court, and any online record search the county offers.
- The county clerk
Births, deaths and marriages registered in the county.
- The recorder of deeds
Deeds, mortgages and other land records (in some counties the county clerk is also the recorder).
- The clerk of the circuit court
Probate (wills and estates), divorces and civil and criminal cases.
- The Illinois State Archives
In Springfield, with older county records at its regional depositories (IRAD) on university campuses.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) systemfree
The State Archives' regional depositories, which hold older county, township and city records; search its Local Government Records Database by county.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Illinois, Alexander" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Land not yet in any county
Later formed partly from Alexander County: Pulaski County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1819, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916; counties kept registers earlier, often from 1877 or 1878. The Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, from the State Archives, covers many marriages from 1763 to 1900.