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Covering approximately 707,000 individuals, this marriage index is one of the most substantial resources for tracing mid- to late-19th century Illinois marriages. It draws from fifty-eight counties across the state—many of which had not previously compiled or published their marriage records in one place. For those researching ancestors in Illinois, this collection opens up new possibilities for discovering family connections.
Illinois didn’t always have centralized recordkeeping, especially in the earlier part of the 1800s. Marriage records were usually created and stored at the county level. Some of these early records were lost, poorly preserved, or remained in local archives that were hard to access. This index pulls together those scattered records, providing a searchable resource that may include:
- Names of both the bride and groom
- Marriage date and county
- Possibly the officiant or witness information
- A reference to where the original record can be found
Once you identify a marriage in the index, you can follow up by requesting the full marriage certificate or license from the appropriate county clerk’s office or check the Illinois State Archives or Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system. These institutions often have microfilmed or digitized records that offer more complete details.
In some cases, marriage entries may also be supported by local newspaper announcements—especially for families in larger towns or those with strong community ties. These announcements can include names of parents, places of birth, occupations, or notes about the ceremony, all of which add depth to your family story.
Illinois saw waves of immigration during this time period—Germans, Irish, Swedes, Italians, and many others settled throughout the state. This index helps capture marriages within these communities, which is especially helpful for those trying to trace immigrant ancestors and determine when and where different family branches settled.
For the best results, always verify information found in the index with original documents and cross-reference with census records, church records, or cemetery data to build a full picture of your ancestor’s life.