Records that survive
These are the record series from Madison 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 Record1813–1903
- Marriage Record Index1813–1908
- Birth Certificate Index1846–1915
- Birth Certificates1846–1900
- Death Certificates1878–1900
- Death Record Index1878–1915
- Poor Farm Death Record1921–1958
- Death Certificates Stubs1922–1943
Deeds and land
- Deed Index1814–1910
- Deed Record1814–1879
- School Land Sale Record1831–1864
- Deed and Entry Book Index, Transcription (Alton)1837–1876
- Entry Books, Transcription (Alton)1837–1876
- School Trustees' Minutes1864–1962
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files1813–1910
- Probate Will Record1818–1963
- Probate Record1821–1970
- Probate Inventory Record1859–1970
Naturalization
- Naturalization Papers, City Court (Alton)1853–1917
- Naturalization Papers, County Court1855–1884
- Naturalization Record, City Court (Alton)1859–1888
- Naturalization Papers of Minors, County Court1883–1903
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, City Court (Alton)1889–1958
- Naturalization Dockets, City Court (Alton)1889–1906
- Naturalization Record, Final, City Court (Alton)1889–1906
- Naturalization Record of Minors, City Court (Alton)1890–1906
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent Files, County Court1892–1909
- Naturalization Certificate Stubs, Circuit Court1907–1925
- Naturalization Certificate Stubs, City Court (Alton)1907–1927
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1907–1956
- Naturalization Petition Record, City Court (Alton)1907–1954
- Naturalization Depositions, County Court1908–1935
- and 8 more series in the full listing
Tax records
- City Court Special Assessment Record (Alton)1921–1925
Court records
- Circuit Court Case Files1812–1925
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes, Wpa Transcription1813–1821
- Circuit Court Case Files, Criminal1813–1932
- Circuit Court Case Files, Chancery1815–1912
- Coroner's Inquest Files1815–1894
- Circuit Court Record1816–1904
- Circuit Court Habeas Corpus Petitions1824–1902
- Circuit Court Record, Chancery1825–1901
- Circuit Court Master's and Sheriff's Levy, Redemption Certif1826–1896
- City Court Fee Books (Alton)1855–1859
- Circuit Court Index1858–1899
- City Court Dockets (Alton)1859–1897
- City Court Execution Dockets (Alton)1859–1864
- City Court Judgment Dockets (Alton)1859–1860
- and 13 more series in the full listing
Schools
- School District Record1860–1958
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1885–1976
- School Teachers' Association Record1889–1930
- School Student Permanent Record1918–1924
- School District Annual Audit Reports1967–1974
- School Election Papers1979
County government
- Circuit Clerk's Oaths, Bonds and Appointments1845–1899
Other records
- Servitude Record, Emancipation From1830–1860
- Poor Farm Inmate Registers1880–1926
- Poor Farm Hospital Registers1897–1958
- Poor Farm Inmate Index1899–1927
- Poor Farm Hospital Reports1920–1935
- Poor Farm Inmate Card File1920–1948
- Poor Farm Incoming Correspondence1923–1936
- Poor Farm Inmate Transfer Registers1925–1944
- Poor Farm Bills1934–1944
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
- Madison 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, Madison" 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: Randolph County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Randolph County
Later formed partly from Madison County: Bond County, Edwards County, Greene County, Macoupin County, Montgomery County, Pike County, Sangamon County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1812, 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.