Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society
“…increasing and enriching public knowledge of our heritage”
Ehrlicher Research Center
719 N. Eleventh Street
Pekin, Illinois
(309) 477-3044
Mailing Address:
PO Box 312
Pekin, Illinois 61555-0312
| Tuesday | Wednesday |
| 10:00 am-2:00 pm | 10:00 am-2:00 pm |
| Thursday | Sunday |
| 10:00 am-2:00 pm | 2:00 pm-4:00 pm |
Upcoming Events
Historical Tidbits
A Historical Tidbit is a
short Tazewell County related article.
It could be a 5-6 page story but could be as simple as a
family photo, letter, or document.
If you have a Tazewell County related article, photo, letter, or document you’d like to share, here’s how to make a submission.
Here's the latest ten additions & modifications:
- 1944 – Green Valley High School Class
04/03/2026
- 1870’s – Berry Gang
12/08/2025
- 1944 – Carl H. Porter – D-Day (June 6) Normandy Jump
11/11/2025
- 2021 – Marge Sevier & the creation of World War II Remembrances
09/08/2025
- 2023 – Upgrade Shelving in TCGHS Library
08/08/2025
- 1954/1955 – Julie Warren’s Birthday
06/16/2025
- 1918 – Walter Louis Opper
04/29/2025
- 1912 – Hallstein Siblings
10/31/2024
- 1911 – Rupp & Shepler Family
08/02/2024
- 1953 – Junior High State Basketball Championship – Washington Junior High (Pekin)
07/23/2024
Browse entire
Historical Tidbits
Collection
If you have a
Tazewell County related
article, photo, letter, or document
you’d like to share,
here’s how to make a submission.
Welcome to theTazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society!
The Society was established in 1978 to “stimulate interest; to collect, preserve, and safeguard records; and to provide related educational services for the purpose of increasing and enriching public knowledge of our heritage.”
Our library is staffed with one or more trained volunteer genealogists. Our collection currently contains almost 15,000 volumes.
Unexpected closings can occur but are very rare (usually due to inclement weather and, recently, worldwide pandemics) – if in doubt, call us at 309 477-3044 before leaving home. If you are coming through town and can't stop by during our normal hours, email us in advance and we'll try to make arrangements to meet you at the library.
Our meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. Our monthly meeting starts with a one hour presentation about a genealogical or historical subject followed by a short business meeting. The public is welcome to attend any of our meetings/presentations. Many of our meetings may be attended virtually via Zoom - again, the public is welcome!
But we do encourage you to consider joining the Society - annual dues are just $25 for an individual or $28 for a family (two individuals living at same address). Here's how to join!
A good way to get a general idea of what's available on tcghs.org is to review our website map. Thanks for stopping by!
- Annual Nut & Candy Fundraiser -
Place your Order by October 15
Our fall Farmstead Nuts & Treats sale has started!! With over 50 products that range from Jumbo Pecans to Deluxe Mixed Nuts as well as a vast assortment chocolate-covered candies, fruits, and nuts, you are sure to find the perfect item for snacks, baking, and holiday gifts! All items are packaged in 1-pound resealable zipper bags.
Download, look over, and fill out our order form now. Not online? Call us at 309-477-3044, or pick a form up at the library during normal hours.
Orders with payment should be in by October 15. Delivery will be in late October/early November. No orders will be processed until payment has been received!
We will only be placing one order this year. Since Farmstead Nuts does not require us to order a full case of a product, there will be very little (if any) unordered stock left over. So, if you want nuts & candies this season, please make your order now! There will be no follow-up orders!
Thank you for your continued support of the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society!
September 2026
Mystery Photo Posted!
Unfortunately, we have many photographs in our collection that are undated with unnamed persons taken at an unknown locations. We have dubbed these as our Mystery Photo Collection
We publish one or more photographs each month in The Monthly newsletter and on our website. All additional details we have accompany each photo. Click on image to see it full size!
Here's the mystery photos from the September 2026 issue of The Monthly:
If you recognize him, please let us know.
Please contact us even if you are not 100% sure of your information—sometimes an educated guess or a tiny tidbit can lead to big results! Thanks for your help!
Also, take a look at the over 165 Mystery Photos we have posted in the past! Perhaps you can identify one of them.
- Celebrating America's 250 -
Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Central Illinois County Clerks
Clerk of the Second Continental Congress Timothy Matlack first read the Declaration of Independence aloud before a crowd gathered outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia on the evening of July 4, 1776.
In that spirit, a bipartisan group of sixteen County Clerks and Recorders of Deeds from Central Illinois has joined to perform that public task once again in honor of the America 250 Celebration.
Can You Spare an Hour
Once a Month??
We are proud to be one of the few genealogical societies that still offers a printed newsletter for members who like a hard copy, but we need extra hands to keep it going. You can help us put together the newsletter and get it ready for mailing.
We meet at the library at 1:00 pm on the third Tuesday of each month, The work is quick, the company is fun, and your help is truly appreciated!
Dedication of Tazewell County
Revolutionary War Burials
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society commissioned five stone memorials honoring Revolutionary War veterans buried in our county. Here's coverage by 25 Home Team News of the May 30 dedication held at Antioch Cemetery:
Tazewell County Veterans of World War II Remembrances
Buy One - Get One Free Sale!
The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society believed that conserving our World War II veteran’s experiences was so important that in 2007 we recorded many of the Tazewell County veteran’s stories to preserve for future generations. Hundreds of veterans shared their unique experiences–many for the first time!
You’ll relive with “ordinary” men and women how their amazing sacrifices during these extraordinary times forged the values that made our people and nation great! No wonder they were christened The Greatest Generation!
Hundreds of these memories were selected and published in an approximately 500 page 8.5″ x 11″ book entitled Tazewell County Veterans of World War II Remembrances. The book has a high quality, long-lasting library binding. Pictures of many of the veterans were included with their stories.
All of these valiant men and women have since passed away. Now, you can get 2 copies of the book for the original price of just one - $33 delivered to your home! Get yours today before they are gone!
Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library! Visitors to our library have free access to many millions of additional digital images on the FamilySearch website than they can access from home.
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