Illinois Prairie has a variety of resources to help you trace your ancestry and delve into the past.
Genealogy Programs
Our monthly Digging Deeper Into Your Roots series provides genealogical guidance to the amateur family historian. Learn tips and techniques to advance your family history journey.
Local Collections
Each of our branches has unique items in its physical collection specific to that community, like yearbook collections and local history publications, for in-person research.
Digital Resources
Our digital resources, including Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest Online, and Heritage Hub, offer access to countless historical records and articles, and the Community History Archive includes digital copies of Woodford County newspapers going back to the 1800s.
If you need further assistance, scroll to the bottom of this page and complete our Genealogy Help Form and someone from our staff will be in touch.
Genealogy & Local History Events
Digging Deeper Into Your Roots
Discover the fascinating world of genealogy on a captivating journey back in time. Learn the techniques and resources needed to uncover your ancestry, from deciphering documents to navigating online databases. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining your methods, Digging Deeper is a roadmap to confidently trace your lineage, understand historical contexts, and preserve your family legacy for future generations. Connect with your past in a meaningful way!
Ask Me Anything!
Have genealogy questions? Curious about tracing your family history? Join us in February for a special "Ask Me Anything - Genealogist Version"!
Disclaimer(s)
Registration is requested for this program.
Registering guarantees your space, should capacity become an issue. It also allows us to adequately prepare materials for all attendees. Finally, it gives our staff the ability to contact you in the event of any last-minute schedule changes.
Digging Deeper Into Your Roots
Discover the fascinating world of genealogy on a captivating journey back in time. Learn the techniques and resources needed to uncover your ancestry, from deciphering documents to navigating online databases. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining your methods, Digging Deeper is a roadmap to confidently trace your lineage, understand historical contexts, and preserve your family legacy for future generations. Connect with your past in a meaningful way!
Boots on the Ground
When interest in family history research surged in the 1970s, most genealogists had two options — writing letters or traveling to where records were stored.
Disclaimer(s)
Registration is requested for this program.
Registering guarantees your space, should capacity become an issue. It also allows us to adequately prepare materials for all attendees. Finally, it gives our staff the ability to contact you in the event of any last-minute schedule changes.
Attend the premiere of a new documentary!
The involvement of Metamora and its surrounding community in the Underground Railroad is a significant, yet largely unknown, aspect of Central Illinois history.
Disclaimer(s)
This is not a library-sponsored program.
This program is presented in cooperation with one of our community partners. Please contact the presenting group or organization if you have questions regarding this program.
Physical Record Collections
The IPDPL Local History collection is spread throughout our District, with each IPDPL branch hosting items related to that community. Most of these items are part of our reference collection and may only be viewed while visiting the library. Items include yearbooks, community anniversary documentation, family histories, and more. If you have questions about available records, please contact the branch directly or submit your question using the form below.
Online Genealogy & Local History Resources
Ancestry Library Edition (in-library use only)
Ancestry Library Edition provides users the ability to research genealogy and family history online. Search record collections, view original documents, and save copies of records via email. For in-library use only. (No library card required!)
HeritageQuest Online
HeritageQuest Online is a comprehensive database with more than 4.4 billion records, delivering an essential collection of genealogical and historical resources dating back to the 1700s. Records include unique primary sources, local and family histories, convenient research guides, interactive census maps, and more for in-library or at-home use.
Community History Archive
Community History Archive allows users to search the full text of Federal Census Bureau records (1830 – 1920), the Woodford Sentinel (1862 – 1890), the Metamora Herald (1889 – 1996), the Washburn Leader (1902 – 1993), the Herald (1970 – 2011), the Roanoke Review (1991 – 2001), and other local newspapers online. (No library card required!)
Metamora Herald Newspaper Image Collection
The Metamora Herald Newspaper Image Collection contains images from The Metamora Herald newspaper (published from 1889 to 2011).
Woodford County Beauty Pageant Archive Collection
A digitized archive of photo albums donated to IPDPL, chronicling the Miss Woodford County Beauty Pageant from 1971 to 1993. Photos, newspaper clippings, and related memorabilia are included.
History Reference Center
Covering topics in U.S. and world history from the earliest civilizations through the 21st century, this database contains full-text journals, magazines, reference books and thousands of primary source documents.