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Published Materials
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library houses more than 171,700 books and pamphlets, 3,000 maps, and 1,200 periodical series. Major collections relate to individuals, cities and towns, agriculture, industry, religion, and transportation. There are many family genealogies and a variety of material on the Civil War (both Union and Confederate), the Northwest Territory, overland journeys, and Midwestern settlement.
The earliest maps in the Library collection date from the mid-1700s. Of particular note are pre-statehood maps of the Great Lakes, Northwest and Louisiana Territories, and the United States east of the Mississippi River. There are numerous nineteenth-century Illinois transportation guides. Selected published materials are available on interlibrary loan.
For questions about items and/or research in other library collections, please click on the link for that collection at your left. These collections include the Newspaper/Microfilm Collection, the Audio-Visual Collection, the Manuscripts Collection, and the Lincoln Collection.
General Illinois Material
The Library houses numerous volumes on the history of Illinois from the standard work Illinois: A History of the Prairie State by Robert P. Howard to Governor Thomas Ford's A History of Illinois, from its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847 to the more contemporary Illinois: A History of the Land and Its People, by Roger Biles. Gazetteers of various settlers, material on ethnic groups in Illinois and their patterns of migration, and fraternal and religious organizational material are among the unique holdings of the library. The library also has materials on the Native American population.
County Material
County histories, especially those published between 1870 and 1915, provide county surveys from the time of origin to the time of printing. Each contains biographical sketches of individuals and families living within the county. Most also contain family name indexes. The Library has histories from each of Illinois' 102 counties. Nearly all of these histories were published in the 19th century. In addition the library has a surname index for most of the biographical sketches in the Illinois county histories in its collection.
County plat books contain detailed maps of the townships within the county and indicate ownership of the land at the time of printing (ca. 1870 - 1930). Some also contain brief histories and biographical sketches.
The Library has a number of indexes to federal census records. These include Illinois indexes for the years 1810, 1818, 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850, 1860, and 1870 as well as abridged copies of federal records for many Illinois counties (1810 - 1880).
The Library has a number of privately printed lists of cemetery inscriptions. Indexes of birth, death, probate, land, marriage, and other miscellaneous records are also held.
City Material
The Library holds histories, city directories, and miscellaneous publications about many Illinois cities and towns.
Family & Association Material
The Library has family genealogies and histories, publications of patriotic and veterans' organizations, journals, quarterlies, and newsletters of many local, state, and national genealogical and historical societies and other organizations. The Library has genealogical research handbooks, Illinois and national DAR lineage books, and records of other patriotic and hereditary organizations. The Library is one of only five repositories in Illinois for the records compiled by the Illinois branch of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Civil War Material
The library has an extensive
collection of Civil War regimental histories and reunion booklets
of various regiments. Other Civil War materials are available
in the Manuscripts and Audio Visual collections.
Out-of-State Material
In addition to the material described above, the Library has
a rich collection of state and national histories and biographies.
The library has significant genealogical holdings for states
other than Illinois. The states best represented in the Library's
genealogical collections are:
| Indiana |
Massachusetts |
North/South Carolina |
| Kentucky |
New Jersey |
Ohio |
| Maryland |
New York |
Pennsylvania |
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Virginia |
Access to Collection
The Rolling Prairie Library
System's online catalog is named "HIP" (Horizon Information
Portal). HIP provides access to the published and manuscript
holdings of the ALPL, plus the holdings of over 140 member libraries
in central Illinois. To access HIP, click on the link above: "Search catalog".
Contact: Jane.Ehrenhart@illinois.gov.
Copying
Visitors may make photocopies from ALPL published titles depending
on the item's condition. Photocopies are 25 cents per page.
The Library utilizes a "cash card" system, in which a patron
purchases a copy card for $1.00. The card dispenser machine
is located on the first floor in the Steve Neal Reading Room.
After purchasing the card, patrons may add value to the card,
with bills, ranging from $1.00 up to $100.00. Cash cards may
also be used to produce print-outs from public computers in
the Reading Room, at a charge of 10 cents per page. In addition,
the cash cards may be used to produce copies in the Newspaper/Microfilm
Collection, located on the second floor. Please note
that the cash card dispenser accepts only bills and does not
give change.
Contact
Reference Desk, Published Collection
Telephone: (217) 524-6358
Email: Jane.Ehrenhart@illinois.gov
Hours
MUSEUM – 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM DAILY
CLOSED – New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
LIBRARY
PUBLIC AND RESEARCH HOURS
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday, Sunday – Open for Exhibit Viewing Only
Library Closings (2009/2010)
The Library is Closed On Official State Holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, General Election Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
APPOINTMENTS
Appointments are necessary for research in the Manuscripts, Audiovisual, and Lincoln Collections. Please make arrangements by telephone.
Manuscripts: (217) 558-8855
Audiovisual: (217) 785-7955
Lincoln Collection: (217) 557-8336
UNION STATION
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM DAILY
CLOSED – New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
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