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
| Monday | Thursday |
| 9:00 am-1:00 pm | 9:00 am-1:00 pm |
| Tuesday | Friday |
| 9:00 am-1:00 pm | 9:00 am-1:00 pm |
| 7:00 pm-9:00 pm | |
| Wednesday | Sunday |
| 9:00 am-4:30 pm | 2:00 pm-4:30pm |
Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society is now 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.
Upcoming Events
A Historical Tidbit is a
short Tazewell County related article.
It could be a 5 or 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:
- 2023 – Illinois State Historical Society Best of Illinois History Award
11/11/2023
- 2023 – Illinois State Genealogical Society Community Service Award
10/31/2023
- 2021 – Marge Sevier & the creation of World War II Remembrances
10/31/2023
- 1900’s – James A. Williams & Mary E. Linn
07/12/2023
- 1880’s – Dr. Samuel Kennedy Linn & Jane Lindsey
07/12/2023
- 1880’s – Photographer H.H. Cole
04/05/2023
- 1941 – Four Generations of the Lampitt Family
01/14/2023
- 1926 – Pekin High Football Letterman
11/27/2022
- 1907 – Grimm Wedding Cake
10/29/2022
- 1900’s – James F. Rollings
10/21/2022
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 13,000 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 Terri Lynn Nut Have Arrived
Available for Immediate Pick-up!
Our Terri Lynn Nuts order has arrived! You many stop by the library and pick up your order at your earliest convenience but, please, no later than November 30.
Currently, we have a all items listed on the order form for sale except we're out of Almond Cranberry Granola. Call the Society or Email us for current inventory.
Thank you for your continued support of the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society!
Illinois State Genealogical Society
Confers Community Service Award
Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society was awarded the Illinois State Genealogical Society 2023 Community Service Award for our Underground Railroad Conductor Recognition Project.
This is the second award TCGHS has accepted this year—earlier the Illinois State Historical Society presented an award in April, also for the Underground Railroad Conductor Recognition Project.
Shelving Donation Matching Gift Available!
For the past forty-five years Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society has provided the public and membership a place to research local & family history – currently we have over 14,000 books, microfilm records, family histories, as well as local & family photographs. Through many kind donations over the years, our shelves are literally "bursting at the seams".
So, we have decided to upgrade our static book shelving to high-capacity mobile shelving, allowing us to utilize the space formerly lost to the aisles between our fixed shelving units – almost doubling our linear shelving space. As you can imagine, this is a very expensive endeavor, committing much of our long-term funds.
Fortunately, a local couple has generously stepped forward, committing to matching all donations from the public & membership, up to $30,000.
Please note this is a 100% matching gift – we only receive the pledged $30,000 from our angel donors when we have in an additional $30,000 in matching donations. In other words, $30000 or Bust!
So far we have raised $11,450 towards our $30,000 goal! That‘s 38% of the total!
With your kind donations, we hope to soon complete our funding. As a 501(c}3 non-profit, all your donations are tax deductible. We are an all-volunteer organization which receives no Federal, State, or County government funding.
Donations can be made online, in person at the library, or by mail. Please indicate your donation is to be used for our Building fund. Also, also note if you wish to remain anonymous.
If we can get donations of $30,000,
every dollar will be matched.
Thank you for your support!
December 2023 Mystery Photos Posted!
sUnfortunately, 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 photo to see it full-size!
Here's the mystery photos from the December 2023 issue of The Monthly:
Both photos taken at Tazewell County Court House, circa 1959. Can you identify anyone?
Please contact us even if you are not 100% sure of your information—sometimes a tiny tidbit can lead to big results! Thanks for your help!
Also, take a look at all the Mystery Photos we have posted in the past! Perhaps you can identify one of them.
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 have been 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.
Many 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!
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