Records that survive
These are the record series from Massac 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 Record1854–1923
- Marriage Record Index1854–1901
- Birth Record, Delayed1864–1877
- Birth Record1878–1916
- Birth Record Index1878–1941
- Death Record1878–1915
- Death Record Index1878–1971
- Burial Permit Registers1902–1903
Deeds and land
- Deed Index1843–1900
- Deed Record1843–1911
- School Trustees' Minutes1890–1954
- School Trustees' Annual Reports1899–1906
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files Index1846–1964
- Probate Dockets1852
- Probate Will Record1860–1894
- Probate Record1866–1885
Naturalization
- Naturalization Record, Final, Circuit Court1862–1904
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1863–1893
Military and pensions
- Mother's Pension Record1915–1929
Tax records
- Assessor's Books1848–1894
Court records
- Circuit Court Record1843–1849
- Poor Relief Order Registers1878–1942
Schools
- School Treasurer's Record1842–1865
- School Student Permanent Record1902–1944
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1903–1955
- School Pupil Examination Record1939–1941
- School Election Papers1953–1976
- School District Annual Audit Reports1964–1976
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1974–1975
Census
- Census Record1855
Other records
- Estray Record1843–1895
- Marks and Brands Record1860–1911
- Physician and Accoucheur Registers1877–1934
- Dentist Registers1881–1936
- Blind Relief Application Record1906–1943
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
- Massac 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, Massac" 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: Johnson County, Pope County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Johnson County, Pope County
Later formed partly from Massac County: Pulaski County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1843, 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.