Records that survive
These are the record series from Mason 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 the University of Illinois Springfield.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1841–1918
- Birth Record1877–1906
- Birth Record Index1877–1982
- Birth Record, Delayed1877–1906
- Death Record1877–1910
- Death Record Index1877–1903
- Marriage Record Index1878–1946
- Cemetery Record (Havana)1889–1981
- Death and Burial Permit Record (Havana)1910–1917
Deeds and land
- Swamp Land Record1852–1897
- Chattel Mortgage Dockets (Havana)1854–1914
- School Trustees' Minutes1860–1954
Naturalization
- Naturalization Papers, County Court1855–1906
Military and pensions
- Militia Roll Record1861–1862
Tax records
- Collector's Books1903–1949
- Motor Fuel Tax Fund Audit Reports1930–1960
- Railroad Tax Books1933–1951
- Collector's and Treasurer's Audit Reports1944–1945
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes Index1841–1926
- Justice of the Peace Dockets (Havana)1857–1910
- Police Magistrate Dockets (Havana)1860–1914
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1873–1960
- Public Library Board Minutes (Mason City)1914–1972
Elections and voters
- Election Papers (Havana)1951–1971
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Havana)1853–1983
- City Ordinance Record (Mason City)1866–1911
- City Ordinance Record (Havana)1873–1980
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Mason City Twp.)1883–1981
- City Council Minutes (Mason City)1885–1984
- Water Department Account Books (Havana)1895
- Disinterment Record (Havana)1897
- Township Auditors' Record (Mason City Twp.)1899–1941
- Public Library Record (Mason City)1908–1934
- Township Record (Mason City Twp.)1931–1990
- Contagious Disease Record (Havana)1933–1948
County government
- County Annual Audit Reports1931–1960
Other records
- Drainage District District1930–1936
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
- Mason 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, Mason" 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: Menard County, Tazewell County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Menard County, Tazewell County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1841, 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.