Records that survive
These are the record series from Douglas 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 Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1859–1911
- Marriage Record Index1859–1980
- Birth Certificates, Delayed1860–1899
- Birth Record Index1860–1917
- Birth Certificates (Arthur)1868–1964
- Birth Record1877–1901
- Death Record1877–1900
- Death Record Index1877–1917
- Death Record, Stillbirths1877–1899
- Death Certificate Registers (Tuscola)1902–1903
- Burial and Removal Permits (Arthur)1918–1964
- Death Certificates (Arthur)1918–1972
Military and pensions
- Military Discharge Record1865–1949
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1868–1906
- Jail Registers1872–1970
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes Index1891–1913
- Local Improvements Board Minutes (Tuscola)1929–1930
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1930–1972
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Tuscola)1862–1951
- Wpa Work Schedules and Time Cards (Arcola)1933
- Wpa Weekly Time Sheets (Arcola)1934
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
- Douglas 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, Douglas" 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: Coles County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Coles County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1859, 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.