Records that survive
These are the record series from Perry 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 Consent Files1827–1868
- Marriage Record1827–1916
- Marriage Record Index1827–1974
- Birth Certificates, Delayed1845–1914
- Birth Record1878–1915
- Birth Record Index1878–1916
- Death Record1878–1915
- Death Record Index1878–1915
- Death Certificate Registers (Duquoin)1902–1903
- Death Record, Coroner's1911–1915
Deeds and land
- Land Patent Record1814–1903
- Deed Index1827–1863
- Taxable Lands Lists1827–1840
- Swamp Land Record1852–1894
- Chattel Mortgage Dockets (Duquoin)1885–1889
- Village Trustees' Minutes (St. Johns)1959–1995
Wills and estates
- Probate Record1828–1858
- Probate Will Record1829–1843
- Probate Administrator's Bonds and Letters1843–1856
Naturalization
- Naturalization Papers, Circuit Court1845–1909
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1860–1902
- Naturalization Record, County Court1884–1906
- Naturalization Petition Record, City Court (Duquoin)1920–1929
Military and pensions
- Mother's Pension Case Files1913–1937
Tax records
- Assessor's Books1856–1899
- Assessor's Books (Duquoin)1867–1869
- Tax Assessment Abstracts1881–1892
Court records
- County Commissioners' Minutes1835–1971
- Insanity Proceedings Case Files1854–1939
- Police Magistrate Dockets (Duquoin)1857–1963
- Coroner's Inquest Record1870–1892
- Feeble-minded Case Files1905–1938
- Dependent and Delinquent Children Case Files1907–1937
- Local Improvements Board Minutes (Duquoin)1907–1914
- County Court Case Files, Saloon Violation1908–1915
- City Court Fee Books (Duquoin)1909–1926
- Sheriff's Process Dockets (Duquoin)1909–1922
- Jail Registers1918–1957
- Justice of the Peace Dockets (Duquoin)1918–1921
- Poor Relief Case Files1936–1972
- Police Association Minutes (Duquoin)1955–1957
- and 1 more series in the full listing
Schools
- School District Record1861–1951
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1902–1960
- School Student Permanent Record, High School1928–1951
- School Election Papers1964–1978
Elections and voters
- Election Papers, Anti-saloon1907–1915
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Duquoin)1865–1957
- City Treasurer's Account Books (Duquoin)1880–1921
- Streets and Alleys Account Books (Duquoin)1894–1900
- Village Ordinance Record (St. Johns)1903–1959
- Excavation Permit Record (Duquoin)1923–1950
- Police Arrest Record (Duquoin)1923–1945
- Police Blotters (Duquoin)1926–1950
County government
- Street Commissioner's Work Log (Duquoin)1887–1891
Other records
- Servitude Record, Indentures1834–1881
- Marks and Brands Record1859–1894
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
- Perry 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, Perry" 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: Jackson County, Randolph County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Jackson County, Randolph County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1827, 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.