Records that survive
These are the record series from Marion 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
- Birth Certificates, Delayed1815–1944
- Marriage Record1821–1931
- Marriage Record Index1821–1910
- Birth Certificates1854–1915
- Birth Record1877–1915
- Birth Record Index1877–1904
- Death Record1877–1915
- Death Record Index1877–1909
- Death Certificates1878–1914
- Marriage License Applications1887–1891
Deeds and land
- School Trustees' Minutes1839–1875
- Village Trustees' Minutes (Sandoval)1859–1983
- Chattel Mortgage Record1866–1948
- Chattel Mortgage Index1885–1944
- School Trustees' Annual Reports1923–1939
- Chattel Mortgage Dockets1924–1926
- Chattel Mortgage Abstracts1945–1949
- School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1957–1959
Wills and estates
- Probate Record1823–1909
- Probate Sale Record, Personal Property1846–1860
- Probate Record Index1850–1973
- Probate Will Record1854–1917
- Probate Executor's Record1866–1890
- Probate Guardian's Record1866–1909
- Probate Inventory Record1866–1898
- Probate Guardian's Dockets1868–1911
- Probate Widow's Relinquishment and Selection Record1870–1886
- Probate Appraisement Record1888–1906
Naturalization
- Naturalization Papers, County Court1860–1906
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers and Minors, Circuit Court1865–1900
- Naturalization Record, Circuit Court1865–1906
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers and Minors, County Court1866–1900
- Naturalization Record, County Court1866–1906
- Naturalization Record of Minors, County Court1904–1906
- Naturalization Record, Final, County Court1904–1906
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1907–1952
- Naturalization Certificate Stubs, Circuit Court1908–1923
- Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court1908–1953
- Naturalization Order Books, Circuit Court1929–1956
Tax records
- Assessor's Books1849–1951
- Collector's Books1853–1929
- Collector's Accounts1875–1938
- Tax Lists, Delinquent1876–1943
- Tax Forfeiture Record1879
- Tax Judgment, Sale, Redemption and Forfeiture Record1881–1883
- Tax Collection Abstracts1883–1902
- Tax Assessment Abstracts1897–1913
- Telephone and Telegraph Tax Books1901–1922
- Collector's Cash Books1911–1922
- Tax Abatement Record, Personal Property1930–1943
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1823–1849
- Circuit Court Fee Books1825–1893
- Justice of the Peace Dockets (Meacham Twp.)1860–1912
- Coroner's Inquest Record1870–1883
- County Order Record1870–1933
- Jury Registers1871–1878
- Sheriff's Fee Books1873–1888
- Jury Order Registers1876–1926
- Justice's Transcript Record1881–1896
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1897–1901
- Police Magistrate Dockets (Kinmundy)1903–1942
Schools
- School Fund Loan Record1839–1879
- School Treasurer's Cash Books1839–1861
- School Teachers' Certificate Examination Record1862–1958
- School Superintendent's Annual Reports1867–1955
- School District Record1879–1943
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1889–1968
- School Pupil Examination Record1915–1957
- School Student Permanent Record1920–1977
- School District Annual Financial Reports, High Schools1936
- School Teachers' Institute Record1936–1945
- School Teachers' Annual Reports1944–1961
- School Election Papers1952–1976
- School Teachers' Certificate Registers1959–1969
Census
- Census Record1865
Other records
- Bad Check Claims1874–1881
- Agricultural Statistic Schedules1877–1878
- Blind Relief Application Record1916–1927
- Dog License Record1918–1920
- Treasurer's Ledgers1930–1939
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
- Marion 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, Marion" 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: Fayette County, Jefferson County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Fayette County, Jefferson County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1823, 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.