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 Art Mathisen, former teacher, dean, basketball coach, and principal of Danville High School, was also ...
02/27/2026

Did you know…that Art Mathisen, former teacher, dean, basketball coach, and principal of Danville High School, was also one of its first driver education teachers? Here is Mr. Mathisen in the school parking lot with some of his driver education students in 1953. Mr. Mathisen was at DHS from 1950 until 1980, except a short time at South View. He was an accomplished member of the U of I’s famed basketball team, the Whiz Kids, shortly before World War II. After teaching and serving as DHS’s head basketball coach, he moved into the school’s administration - lastly serving as principal from 1969 until 1980. He died in 2004 and was buried at Spring Hill.

Did you know…that IGHS has a set of concrete steps for sale? They have been inside until recently. They are for sale for...
02/27/2026

Did you know…that IGHS has a set of concrete steps for sale? They have been inside until recently. They are for sale for $100. Buyer must be able to load and transport the steps. If interested, please call IGHS at 217-431-8733. If one would like to take a look at the steps, they are in back of the IGHS Library at 215 W. North Street in Danville, Illinois.

Did you know…that a sketch of the Hoopeston home of J.S. McFerren was in the 1875 Atlas of Vermilion County? J.S. McFerr...
02/24/2026

Did you know…that a sketch of the Hoopeston home of J.S. McFerren was in the 1875 Atlas of Vermilion County? J.S. McFerren was a prominent Hoopeston banker and citizen.

Did you know…that IGHS has an extra reprinted copy of “125 Years of History - Oakwood, Illinois 1870-1985.”? This 400+ p...
02/20/2026

Did you know…that IGHS has an extra reprinted copy of “125 Years of History - Oakwood, Illinois 1870-1985.”? This 400+ page book includes detailed information about the village as well as numerous family histories of past and present village area families.The cost of the book is $40. If you are interested, please call IGHS at 217-431-8733.

Did you know…what the main roads looked like in Vermilion County, Illinois, before they were paved? Here is a photo of G...
02/14/2026

Did you know…what the main roads looked like in Vermilion County, Illinois, before they were paved? Here is a photo of Georgetown Road south of Danville taken in 1914-1915. When there was a hard rain, roads would become nearly impassable.

Did you know…that in its early days, Hyster was located at 1003 Myers Street in Danville, Illinois? The photo of the pla...
02/14/2026

Did you know…that in its early days, Hyster was located at 1003 Myers Street in Danville, Illinois? The photo of the plant below was taken on April 15, 1951. Later that year in the summer of 1951, the annual picnic was held for the Hyster employees and their families at a local park. Photos are below.

Did you know…that an Oakwood, Illinois, man contacted the Danville police when his wife left him without notice? This ar...
02/14/2026

Did you know…that an Oakwood, Illinois, man contacted the Danville police when his wife left him without notice? This article from the March 28, 1901, issue of The Danville Weekly Democrat tells of the episode. Not only did his wife run off, but she took the family savings of $300 - note: $300 in 1901 would be worth $11,440 in 2026. The wife was employed at Danville’s Modern Hotel which was located at the corner of Madison and Vermilion. The police said they would act if the husband sweared out a warrant, but he declined to do so. Newspapers carried much more detail in their articles a century ago, as one can see.

Did you know…that IGHS has a duplicate copy of the History of Ross and South Ross Townships of Vermilion County, Illinoi...
02/14/2026

Did you know…that IGHS has a duplicate copy of the History of Ross and South Ross Townships of Vermilion County, Illinois? This well-documented book covers the history of both townships as well as Rossville, Alvin, and Henning. The 348-page volume has numerous family histories of residents and former residents. Written in 1987, the book is in excellent condition. It is for sale for $25.00. If interested, please contact IGHS at 217-431-8733.

Did you know…that the IGHS has an extra copy of Bob Wright’s Danville - A Pictorial History? This exceptional 199 page ...
02/11/2026

Did you know…that the IGHS has an extra copy of Bob Wright’s Danville - A Pictorial History? This exceptional 199 page book is filled with a multitude of historical photographs of Danville, Illinois. Bob Wright, a longtime editor and reporter at The Commercial-News authored the city’s history in 1987. The book is for sale for $20. Please call IGHS if you are interested in purchasing this volume.

Did you know…that in 1980, a Westville, Illinois, family discovered a small family graveyard in their back yard? The Bro...
02/10/2026

Did you know…that in 1980, a Westville, Illinois, family discovered a small family graveyard in their back yard? The Brown family purchased a home on Knight Street in Westville in 1977. Three years later, they bought some additional property behind their original purchase. The area was covered with underbrush. Once cleared, they discovered a small family cemetery. There was a large, six foot tall granite monument marking the graves of Joshua Caraway (1787/89-1858), his wife Elizabeth (d. 1869), and their daughter Cynthia (1828-1858). Joshua and Charles Caraway had a land patent grant in Vermilion County, dated 1824. In a 1909 interview with Elizabeth West, for whom Westville was named, she shared that the Caraway family was well-to-do, arrived in Westville from Virginia in the early years of settlement, and had the largest home in the area, made of logs, and was sometimes used for church services. The large stone pictured here in the 1980s evidently replaced the Caraways’ original stones. There were a number of smaller stones in the cemetery as well. Joan Brown, when interviewed for the Commercial-News article, shared that the family was rather proud of the cemetery and that her sons Adam and Paul enjoyed playing around the Caraway monument.

Did you know…that IGHS has a duplicate copy of Lottie Jones’ classic 1911 two-volume set of the History of Vermilion Cou...
02/10/2026

Did you know…that IGHS has a duplicate copy of Lottie Jones’ classic 1911 two-volume set of the History of Vermilion County, Illinois? The interior of the books is in good shape while the exterior is a bit rough. The first volume goes into exhaustive detail on the history of Vermilion County while the second volume contains biographical sketches of county residents. IGHS is selling the two-volume set for $50.00. If interested, please contact IGHS at 217-431-8733.

02/07/2026

Did you know…that Thomas Duncan was the first policeman employed by the City of Danville? He came to Danville in the 1850s as a young man. He also worked in the Kirkville and Kellyville mines. Mr. Duncan was made Danville’s first policeman under Danville’s first mayor, Jasper Winslow, who took office in 1868. Until that time, the county sheriff provided the service for Danville. Thomas Duncan died April 3, 1901, aged about 75. He had no known relatives. —-Danville Weekly Democrat, April 4, 1901.

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when IGHS & Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to IGHS & Foundation:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category