Archives

Researching local history has never been easier. Come into the local history room, and our dedicated local history staff and volunteers can help you find what you are looking for.

Past Local Newspapers on Microfilm

We have a listing of all of the newspapers from in and around Macon County that the library has on microfilm.

Cemetery Listings for Macon County

These indexes list each person buried in Macon County cemeteries. These indexes were compiled by the Decatur Genealogical Society, and may not be up-to-date.

Obituary Indexes

Indexes of deaths listed in the Decatur Daily Review (later Herald and Review) from 1879 to present are listed alphabetical by last name and are searchable online through the obituary database.

Local Yearbooks

List of all of the yearbooks the library owns from the different high schools in Decatur and Millikin University can be found in the Local History Room, High school yearbooks up to 1977 are available online at Omeka. The library has an assortment of yearbooks from surrounding towns.

City/County Histories

These histories include an assortment of history books about Decatur and Macon County.

City Directories

Books containing information on residences, businesses, and organizations in Decatur from 1871 to today are available.

Maps and Plat Books

Maps of Decatur and Macon County throughout the years can be found in the Local History Room. Plat maps and books show farmland 1865 to today. Plat books are collected for the five surrounding counties as well: Sangamon, Logan, De Witt, Piatt, Moultrie, Shelby, and Christian.

Photographs

Photos of Decatur and Macon County, many of which are from the Decatur Herald and Review are available in the Local History Room. In addition, photos are slowly being added to Omeka.

If you are interested in using an image in a publication, please contact the Local History Room, and fill out our Reproduction Agreement.

Services

Photocopying and Scanning

Almost all the materials in the Local History Room can be photocopied or scanned except for materials that have copyright restrictions or are too fragile. To ensure the safety of the material and the quality of the photocopy or scan, only the staff and volunteers are allowed to use the equipment. Please ask a volunteer to make a copy for you.Please bring a flash drive if you would like an item scanned for you. The charge for photocopying is $.15/page for black and white, $.50 for color copies, and $.50 for archival paper (available upon request). There is no charge for scanning an item on-site.

Microfilm and Microfiche

The library has five microfilm scanners that are available to visitors when the library is open. Four of these machines are capable of reading microfiche as well. The oldest machine (Canon 300) is $.25/page, while the four newer machines are $.15/page.

More Information

Call (217) 421-9766 or e-mail localhistory@decaturlibrary.org for more information or if you are out-of-town and would like virtual assistance.