MCGS Home  About MCGS  Join Us!  Resources
Events  Projects

   

Email MCGS
Postal Mail:
P.O. Box 488
Normal, IL 61761

 

______

Resources

Catalog
Library
Publications for Sale
Journal 40-Year Index
Obit Index '86-'99
Journal Surname Indexes
Townships
Useful Links
Research Volunteers
Donate Items
Databases

 

 

 

 

 

 

R E S O U R C E S

Research Policy for anyone unable to visit our library

The following indexes are copyrighted by MCGS
You may link to them, but you may not copy them.

Index to MCGS Vertical Surname File©
A-L (1,100+ names)
M-Z Coming Soon (1,000+ names)

Index to Duis' book,
Good Old Times in McLean County, Illinois
©

Obituary Index 1986 - 1999©
Died in McLean Co., Buried Elsewhere

 Gleanings Indexes 1967 to Present©

McLean County Immigration Records Index
Name index prepared by MCGS from records at the Circuit Clerk's Office

View "mystery photos"

Link to the Stevenson-Ives Library Online Catalog

Stevenson-Ives
Library & Archive

The MCGS shares the Stevenson-Ives Library & Archive with the McLean County Museum of History.  The library has over 10,000 volumes and 1,500 linear feet of archival material.  Our vertical files contain several hundred surname records.  We have an excellent CD collection, including PERSI--the Periodical Source Index (see below).  This is a non-circulating research facility.  While materials in the archive must be obtained for patrons by trained staff, there is an open-stacks policy in the library.

The Stevenson-Ives Library is located on the second floor of the McLean County Museum of History on the Courthouse Square in downtown Bloomington, IL. Downtown Bloomington map


 

Library Hours

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday thru Saturday
Sunday (Sept. thru May)

 


Genealogy Research Computers/Printer

Computers are available for online research, printing, and research using our set of LDS CDs. Patrons may order LDS microfilm for use in our library. See available CDs below.
 


 

Donations of books and documentary materials
pertaining to McLean County history and people are welcome.  Please contact Nola Marquardt, Acquisitions Director.

Research CD’s Available At The Stevenson-Ives Library
As of February 28, 2006

Ancestry Reference Library 2000
Buchanans of Ohio
Census Index: Ireland 1831, 1841
Census Index: 1880 U. S. Selected States/ Counties
Census Index: 1860 U. S. Selected States/Counties
Census Index: 1830 U. S. Selected States/Counties
Census Index: 1820 U. S. Selected States/Counties
Census Microfilm Records: Kentucky, 1850
Census Records: Indiana, 1860
Church Records: Selected Areas of Pennsylvania, 1600’s-1800’s
Conference Memoirs: United Methodist Church
Early New York Families 1800’s-1900’s
Early Settlers of New York State, 1742-1942
Early Settlers of Ohio, 1700’s-1800’s
English Origins of New England Families, 1500’s-1800’s
Family Finder Index Vol. 1 & 2
Family Pedigress 1500-1990
Genealogical Records: Colonial New Jersey Source Records, 1600’s-1800’s
Genealogical Records: Early Kentucky Settlers, 1700’s-1800’s
History of Piatt County Together With a Brief History of Illinois 1883
Illinois 1870 Census Index
Immigrants to the New World, 1600’s-1800’s
Index to Griffith’s Valuation of Ireland 1848-1864
Indiana 1870 Census Index
Iowa 1870 Census Index
Kentucky Explorer (Magazine) Vol. 1 1986-87  Vol. 2 1988-88
Land Records: Kentucky 1774-1924
Law Practice of Braham Lincoln
Maine & New Hampshire Settlers, 1600’s-1900’s
Marriage Index: New Jersey 1680-1900
Marriage Records Early- 1850 Illinois, Indiana
Marriage Records Illinois, Indiana Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee
McLean Co. and Woodford Co. Cemetery Photographs
Missouri 1870 Census Index
Mortality Index: United States 1850-1880
1910 Illinois Federal Census Index
1910 Indiana Federal Census Index
1930 U. S. Federal Census Index Illinois (Central)
1930 U. S. Federal Census Index Illinois (North except Chicago)
1930 U. S. Federal Census Index Illinois (South)
1920 U. S. Federal Census Index Illinois (North except Chicago)
1920 U. S. Federal Census Index Illinois (South)
Ohio 1870 Census Index
Ohio Vital Records #1 & #2 1790’s-1880’s
Passenger & Immigration Lists: Boston 1821-1850
Passenger & Immigration Lists: Germans to America, 1850-1888
Passenger & Immigration Lists: Irish to America, 1846-1865
Passenger & Immigration Lists: Irish Immigrants to North America, 1803-1871
Pennsylvania 1870 Census Index
Periodical Source Index (PERSI)
Portrait & Biographical Album of Peoria County, Illinois 1890
Roll of Honor: Civil War Union Soldiers
St. Louis Catholic Burials
SAR Patriot Index
Tennessee 1870 Census Index
World Family Tree Vols. 1-22    28-33
Virginia & West Virginia 1870 Census Index
Vital Records: Indiana Deaths 1882-1920

 

Library Desk Volunteer Charles Lamlein

Volunteers undergo extensive orientation.  They welcome questions from patrons on library holdings and genealogical/historical research.  Interested in volunteering?  Contact the McLean County Museum of History

 

 

 

Our Research Volunteers Are Happy To Assist You!

All requests for research must be made by regular U.S. mail and accompanied by an initial minimum fee of $10.00 for the first two surnames, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.  Additional surname requests are $5.00 each.  Any additional charges, which may include 25 cents per photocopied page, will be billed.  Please send your request and fee to MCGS, Attn: Corresponding Secretary, P.O. Box 488, Normal, IL 61761-0488.  If you have email, please include it with your request in case someone from the Society needs to get in touch with you with a brief question.

 


 

Partial view of Stacks

Journals & Newsletters
Census Index shelves

 

 

 

 


Platbooks & Genealogy Records card catalog

Patrons may search using our extensive card catalogs which include newspaper indexes, vital records indexes, cemetery indexes, archives index, and books.

 

 

 

A REAL LIBRARY HOME
Library Location History

The following paragraphs were written by Elizabeth Masters, 1975 MCGS President, probably for a report to the Long Range Committee, Chaired by Paul Benjamin, about a proposed combination of the Genealogical Society's Books with those of the McLean County Historical Society after the move to the Old Courthouse.  (Edited for typographical errors.)

As a long time member of the McLean County Genealogical Society, I should like to express how I feel about the upcoming combining of our library holdings with those of the McLean County Historical Society, and the move into the second floor quarters planned for a much larger and more suitable library facility than either of our Societies has in our present quarters. Having been involved with the Genealogical Society's Library from its inception in 1966, I have seen its holdings grow from about two shelves of books in the old Withers Public Library in Bloomington to our present room, bursting at the seams on the premises of the McLean County Historical Society. Believe me, this phenomenal growth, both in quantity and quality of resource material, and in the numbers of members and others using them, has not come about without some "growing pains" and a great expenditure of effort and support on the part of our members and friends of which I consider the Historical Society to be at the top of the list.

One of our most persistent and difficult problems has been that of a safe, accessible repository for our books. We had been "evicted" from both Withers Public Library and the Normal Public Library (at the time their new Library building was completed).  This was in the Spring of 1973 and our Librarian then, Miss Alice Ogle, graciously offered to place the books in her home at 116 Eastview Drive, Normal. She provided shelving, some just planks across bricks, in delightful surroundings in which to work, and kept it open to all on Wednesday afternoons, and on other days by special appointment. I was glad to be able to help her on many Wednesdays as she was not in very good health then.

In late 1974 we were approached by Wayne Rogers, President of the McLean County Historical Society, with an invitation to share, without charge, quarters which they had rented at 1340 E. Empire, formerly a shoe store, with lots of shelving already in place. Here, for the first time since the fire, some of their books were also made available, so we had access to many of the books of both Societies at that time. By recruiting of volunteers from our Society we were able to have the facility open on a 7-day schedule. At this time it also became possible to check out some of our books to our members. This was the beginning of our Library Volunteers and the need was as great then as it still is and as it certainly will be when we occupy the combined Library in the Courthouse.

In the Summer of 1976 the Historical Society rented temporary facilities at 112 E. Front Street to bring together all their holdings and an office until their 3rd floor quarters in the McBarnes Building were completely restored. Again we were invited to share, without charge their temporary quarters in the former Smith-Alsop Paint Store, with plenty of shelving in place. This was a more central location for our Library, and we were able to continue to keep it open on a seven-day schedule with the help of our loyal volunteers.

Then, in 1977, we were assigned to our present room on the 3rd-floor of the McBarnes Building and for the first time in our history we had a REAL LIBRARY HOME. We purchased new steel shelving, a new mimeograph machine for our Newsletter and Quarterly and with some tables and chairs offered to us by the Historical Society we were finally in business. Miss Ogle presented us with a good used copier, which we later were able to parlay, at a minimal cost to our Society, into the rental of a fine copier we now have.  She also provided, the steel shelving on the south wall of our room to which we now shelve the many quarterlies we receive. Eventually we started paying a minimal rent to the McLean County Historical Society, but it is a very small payment for the services we have received and are still receiving from them.

As to the question of intershelving of our books with those of the Historical Society, we should be the beneficiaries of such a move because they have much material of interest to Genealogists which will be more accessible for ups by our members end others than it is now -- mainly because most of our members are not aware of its existence in their library and hesitate to search-it out.
                                                                                Signed, Elizabeth Masters

Back to Top

MCGS Home   About MCGS  Join Us!
Resources   Events   Projects

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Design and Content ©The McLean County Genealogical Society 2005-2008.  All rights reserved.
Contact Webmaster: 
Susan Ann Pope