IGHS & Foundation

IGHS & Foundation Illiana Genealogical & Historical Society, the first Illinois genealogical society chartered in 1964 Conducts research at a reasonable cost.

Publishes Illiana Genealogist, a quarterly Illiana Genealogical and historical publication provided to all members. Operates a comprehensive and independent genealogical library at 215 North Street, Danville, IL 61832.

100% volunteer-run. Repository of all Vermilion County, Illinois, probate files from c1829-1970. Please check our website and visit us at the IGHS library!

Did you know…that the Big Four Railroad once had a depot in Ridge Farm? This phitograph is from an old post card.
11/11/2025

Did you know…that the Big Four Railroad once had a depot in Ridge Farm? This phitograph is from an old post card.

11/11/2025

Did you know…that the area around Henning, Illinois, was once called “The Eight Mile?” The Eight Mile Prairie was in Blount and South Ross Townships. Its name was bestowed by old time farmers of the area — eight square miles of prairie with the village of Henning in the middle.

Did you know…that this was the view of the Vermilion River from the old Gilbert Street bridge in 1904? One can see the a...
11/08/2025

Did you know…that this was the view of the Vermilion River from the old Gilbert Street bridge in 1904? One can see the advertisement for Ike Stern & Co. painted in the distance on a building. Ike Stern & Co. sold clothes and was located at 12-16 N. Vermilion Street in Danville.

Did you know… how the First Presbyterian Church of Danville, Illinois, looked when it was new? The current building was ...
11/08/2025

Did you know… how the First Presbyterian Church of Danville, Illinois, looked when it was new? The current building was constructed in 1891. This photo was taken in 1904. The church remains remarkably the same. Note the old street light that is captured in the top portion of the photo as well as the brick streets at the corner of W. North and Franklin.

Did you know…that these houses stood at N. Walnut and Seminary Streets in Danville, Illinois, in 1904?
11/05/2025

Did you know…that these houses stood at N. Walnut and Seminary Streets in Danville, Illinois, in 1904?

Did you know…that this beautiful house once stood on N. Gilbert Street in Danville, Illinois? Note the unique windows on...
11/04/2025

Did you know…that this beautiful house once stood on N. Gilbert Street in Danville, Illinois? Note the unique windows on the side of the house next to the interior staircase. This photograph was taken in 1904.

Did you know…how the Danville’s National Military Hospital buildings looked when the facility was new? The National Sold...
11/04/2025

Did you know…how the Danville’s National Military Hospital buildings looked when the facility was new? The National Soldiers’ Home was built in 1898. Here are photos of two of the buildings taken in 1904.

Did you know…that Miss Helen Conover was hired to teach Latin at Danville High School in the fall of 1924 - when the cur...
11/01/2025

Did you know…that Miss Helen Conover was hired to teach Latin at Danville High School in the fall of 1924 - when the current DHS building opened its doors for the first time? She spent the next 41 years at the high school teaching Latin which was then a class taken by many students planning to go to college. Strict, well- organized, and a woman of high standards, Miss Conover made her mark at DHS. She died December 28, 1987, and was buried at Attica.

Did you know…that a 13-year-old boy from Pennsylvania, David Anderson, was visiting his aunt on Hazel Street in Danville...
11/01/2025

Did you know…that a 13-year-old boy from Pennsylvania, David Anderson, was visiting his aunt on Hazel Street in Danville, Illinois, in the 1920s and asked to meet Joseph G. Cannon? This account from The Commercial-News (January 2, 1927) was written by E. R. Phipps, a neighbor of David Anderson’s aunt. The account tells of the young teenager’s visit with Joseph G. “Uncle Joe” Cannon before the former speaker of the house died in 1926.

10/28/2025

Did you know…that an early quartermaster of the Danville Soldiers’ Home/Veterans’ Home, Captain E. B. Wheeler, did Indian scout duty and served under Buffalo Bill Cody as a fighter on the plains as a young man? Captain Wheeler died in April, 1908, in Danville of heart failure. As quartermaster, he was in charge of ordering supplies and logistics for the institution.

Did you know…that an unnamed Danville, Illinois, resident purchased a five by six feet-size painting by Claude Lorraine ...
10/25/2025

Did you know…that an unnamed Danville, Illinois, resident purchased a five by six feet-size painting by Claude Lorraine in 1908 for $10,000? Claude Lorraine (c1600-1682) from the Duchy of Lorraine (now part of France) was a well- known landscape painter who spent most of his years painting in Italy. $10,000 in 1908 would be worth over $352,000 in today’s dollars - probably why the resident’s name was not disclosed. This article is from the April 11, 1908, issue of the Danville Commercial-News.

Did you know…that Danville had a Cycling Club in the 1890s? Here are the members outside the old Danville High School at...
10/25/2025

Did you know…that Danville had a Cycling Club in the 1890s? Here are the members outside the old Danville High School at the corner of Pine and Seminary Streets in 1890. The notation said that this was a ladies’ cycling club, but as one can see, several men were in the photograph.

Address

215 West North Street
Danville, IL
61832

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm

Telephone

+12174318733

Website

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