At this time, our society does not offer research services, but we are happy to provide some guidance via the following the resources:
1. Vital Records (such as Birth, Marriage, and Death records) can be obtained directly through the Peoria County Clerk’s office.
These records are generally protected documents that can only be obtained by the individuals listed on the record. However, genealogical copies can be obtained after the following periods:
Birth Records: 75 years after birth (individual must be deceased)
Marriage Records: 75 years after the marriage
Death Records: 20 years after the death
By State law, only indexes prior to 1916 can be made available to the public. This includes indexes of documents filed in the County Clerk’s office prior to 1916. Indexes are available for following filed years:
Birth Records: 1878 - 1915
Marriage Records: 1825 - 1915
Death Records: 1878 – 1915
Genealogical copies can be requested in-person or by mail. In-person requests are collected and mailed back after a search has been conducted by a genealogist. Mail requests can be submitted using the form available at https://www.peoriacounty.org/219/Genealogy-
You can download the Genealogy Request Search form and fill-in the pertinent information name, record type, date of event, etc). The fee for the first genealogical copy of a record is $5 and each additional copy of the same record is $4.
Checks should be made payable to the Peoria County Clerk and the request mailed to:
Peoria County Clerk,
324 Main St, Room 101
Peoria, IL 61602
The link to the Peoria County Vital Records Index is here: https://www.peoriacounty.org/DocumentCenter/Index/
2. Land Records for Peoria County can be searched via the County’s Historical Index at this link: https://recorder.peoriacounty.gov/recorder/web/login.jsp
3. Court Records for Peoria County (like divorces, adoptions, naturalization, criminal and civil cases, and probate records) are kept by the Peoria County Circuit Clerk’s Archive at the Peoria County Courthouse. For more information, you can email Archivist Kim Schilling at: kschilling@peoriacounty.org
4. Historical Newspapers can be found on microfilm at the Peoria Public Library’s Main Branch in downtown Peoria. The Library’s Local History & Genealogy Department is a wonderful resource for Peoria County research: https://peoriapubliclibrary.org/about-ppl/local-history-genealogy/
Librarians can assist with newspaper look-ups for specific known dates of events. You can e-mail the librarians directly at: Questions@ppl.peoria.lib.il.us
5. Additional Resources can be found on our website at https://www.peoriacountygenealogy.org/resources/
The Members Only section of our website also has online access to additional Peoria County records such as Cemetery Records, Church Records, Undertaker Records, and previous issues of our society’s publication Prairie Roots. Click here to join and view these additional records: https://www.peoriacountygenealogy.org/join/
6. Professional Research Help
We recommend contacting a professional genealogist regarding help with complex research, brick walls, or general family searches.
Professional Genealogists can be found through these organizations:
Association for Professional Genealogists: https://www.apgen.org/
International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGEN): https://www.icapgen.org/