Records that survive
These are the record series from DeKalb 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 Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Cemetery Record (Kingston Twp.)1877–1936
- Birth and Death Reporting Accounts1902–1903
Deeds and land
- Deed Record1838–1930
- School Land Sale Record1838–1865
- School Land Sale Petitions1840–1864
- School Trustees' Appointment and Election Certificates1840–1875
- Plats, Schools1841–1866
- School Land Purchase Certificates1842–1865
- School Land Patents1844–1865
- School Notes and Mortgages Record1846–1912
- School Trustees' Minutes1846–1954
- Entry Books1847–1950
- Mortgage Record1847–1946
- School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1849–1956
- Chattel Mortgage Record1857–1945
- Lien Dockets1867–1938
- and 2 more series in the full listing
Military and pensions
- School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund Files1894–1899
- School Teachers' Pension Fund Contribution Lists1927
Tax records
- Assessor's Books1860–1957
- Railroad Tax Books1872–1936
- Railroad, Telephone and Telegraph Tax Schedules1872–1954
- Tax Assessment Abstracts1892–1936
- Telephone and Telegraph Tax Books1903–1931
- Corporation Tax Statements1907–1933
- Bank Stock Assessments1917–1933
- School Tax Papers1941–1953
Court records
- Circuit Court Case Files Index1849
- Circuit Court Filing Receipt Books1858–1911
- Jury Registers1858–1886
- Jail Registers1869–1951
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1869–1950
- School Order Stubs1874–1914
- County Officials' Appointments, Deputy Sheriffs1878–1962
- Justice of the Peace Dockets (Kingston Twp.)1879–1900
- Highway Commissioners' Minutes (Kingston Twp.)1882–1897
- Township Board of Auditors' Minutes (Kingston Twp.)1888–1923
- Sheriff's Process Dockets1890–1903
- Circuit Court Witness Ledgers1900–1913
- Police Magistrate Dockets (Sycamore)1900–1941
- Circuit Court Order Books1905–1924
- and 7 more series in the full listing
Schools
- School Election Papers1839–1947
- School Treasurer's Bonds1839–1958
- School Pupil Registers1841–1857
- School Schedules1841–1897
- School Teachers' Certificates1841–1874
- School Fund Loan Record1846–1888
- School Law Correspondence1846–1915
- School Superintendent's Annual Reports1852–1861
- School Fund Distribution Files1854–1910
- School Litigation Files1855–1856
- School District Record1859–1888
- School Teachers' Institute Record1864–1868
- School Building Construction Files1865
- School Cash Accounts1865–1934
- and 27 more series in the full listing
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1873–1976
- Voter Registers1873–1940
- Election Nomination Petitions1944–1972
- Voter Registration Files1968
- Voter Registers, Absentee1976
Town and city records
- Township Treasurer's Receipt Files1842–1955
- Township Supervisor's Record (South Grove Twp.)1849–1975
- Township Record (Kingston Twp.)1850–1945
- Tax Levy Ordinance Files1885–1954
- Township Supervisor's Account Books (Kingston Twp.)1892–1946
- Highway Commission Account Record (South Grove Twp.)1914–1955
- Township Treasurers' Salary and Expense Reports1951–1953
- Planning Commission Petitions (Dekalb)1955–1975
- Planning Commission Proceedings Files (Dekalb)1970–1972
County government
- County Officials' Appointment and Oaths, Deputies1846–1933
Other records
- Road Petitions1837–1839
- Treasurer's Bank Account Books1886–1900
- Animal Bounty Certificates, English Sparrows1900
- License Applications, Hunting1903–1920
- Blind Relief Application Files1906–1943
- Animal Bounty Certificates, Crows1907–1910
- Animal Bounty Certificates, Ground Hogs1907–1925
- County Yearbooks1910–1989
- Stallion Registration Record1910–1918
- Bank Condition Statements1918–1965
- Dog Licenses1918–1973
- Animal Bounty Certificates, Wolves1919–1924
- License Applications, Liquor1933–1954
- Animal Bounty Certificates, Foxes1934–1970
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
- DeKalb 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, DeKalb" 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: Kane County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Kane County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1837, 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.