Reference and Lookups

Below is a list of Effingham County sources, as well as the names of volunteers who will do look-ups.  (See the Guidelines for requesting lookups below).

Please Note: the names and email addresses for lookup volunteers has not been updated in many years and you may not be able to reach a volunteer through their old email address.

If you would like to volunteer, please e-mail State Coordinator with "Effingham County Volunteer" in the subject line; that will get my attention REAL fast! Tell me what reference material you will be using to do the lookups. I'll post your information below, along with your name and e-mail address. I will assume that your return e-mail address is the one on your e-mail heading unless you note otherwise.

GUIDELINES FOR REQUESTING LOOKUPS FROM A VOLUNTEER

The volunteers WILL NOT do your research for you (you must do your own research), but they will use the reference material they have on hand. They may also use their expertise to refer you to other possible sources.

Remember: These are volunteers, NOT paid genealogists, and their offer to help is based on their love for genealogy and their willingness to help others.  Please be as explicit as possible regarding the time period, and provide complete names and locations.  Give the volunteer as much information as you can.

For instance, if you request a census lookup, limit your request to one or two specific heads of household(s). DON'T ask for ALL of the Smith's or Jones' on the 1880 census. Please give the volunteer at least three weeks to respond; remember, they have lives of their own, too! If the lookup involves "snail" mail, you will be expected to provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope as you cannot expect the volunteer to incur any costs involved with your lookup. Finally, please be sure to let the volunteer know you appreciate their help. Don't take them for granted.

Effingham County Sources

Effingham County Genealogical and Historical Society
200 N. 3rd St
Effingham, IL
(816) 262-5376
Email: eleanorbounds3@gmail.com

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/p/Effingham-County-Genealogical-and-Historical-Society-Illinois-100068001712875/

If you are asking for research, ALWAYS include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. You will be charged for copies. If extensive research is involved, you may be charged. Volunteers are at the Library to assist with research on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM until noon.

To apply for membership, contact the Effingham County Genealogical and Historical Society at the address shown above.

Effingham Public Library
200 N. 3rd St.
Effingham, IL 62401
(217) 342-2464
Email: info@effinghamlibrary.org
Website: https://effinghamlibrary.org/

The Office of Vital Records

Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1916. They are kept at :

The Office of Vital Records
State Department of Public Health
605 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, IL 62702
217-782-6553)

Effingham County Clerk

The Effingham County Clerk's office has birth & death records from 1878 (very incomplete prior to 1916); marriage records from 1834; and land records from 1833.

They provide only certified copies.

Effingham County Clerk
101 North 4th Street, #201 (second floor)
P. O. Box 628
Effingham, IL 62401
217-342-6535

The Clerk's office is open 8:00 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday.  Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

Death Certificates -- $9.00 for the first certificate; $4.00 each for each additional certificate.
Marriage and Birth Records-- $7.00 for the first certificate; $2.00 for each additional certificate.

For more information, refer to their web site Effingham County Clerk & Recorder.

Effingham County Circuit Court

Effingham County Clerk of the Circuit Court
120 West Jefferson Avenue
Effingham, Illinois 62401
217-342-4065

Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce, probate and civil court records.< /p>

For information on fees and what is available from the Circuit Court, refer to their web page Effingham County Circuit Court.

Lookups Available

Please be considerate when asking volunteers for lookups. Do not ask for more than two at a time.

Available only at Helen Matthes Library 10 a.m. to noon daily except Tuesday

Soft cover $25
Hard cover $40

Volume I contains: Lots of screaming headlines about the catastrophe; pictures of the fire; lists of names of the deceased and survivors, eyewitness stories from several survivors; articles naming heroes; the firetruck "Caledonia"; write-ups about the disaster from many different newspapers and magazines, fundraising and plans for building a new hospital.

St. Anthony Hospital Fire 1949, Volume II - 300 pages with index of about 1,500 names
Completely different from Volume I

Available only at Helen Matthes Library, 10 a.m. to noon daily except Tuesday

Soft cover $25
Hard cover $40

Volume II contains:
Pictures not previously seen by the general public; Zona B. Davis’ 1949 account of the fire; Dean Manuel thesis; interviews with two recently-found survivors; stories from many people who remembered the tragedy; Larry Banbury manuscript; song about the fire by Henry D. Schrock; WCIA Channel 3 TV-April interviews with survivors; inquest into the deaths; verdict returned at the inquest.

Publication about Effingham County

Images of America - Effingham County by Kate Keller Bourland and Bill Grimes;
published by Arcadia Publishing

This is a pictorial history of Effingham County and is a collection of archival photographs from all over Effingham County. All of the photographs include a description and many of them include names of people in the photos. Cities included are Effingham, Teutopolis, Altamont, Beecher City, Dieterich, Watson, Mason, Edgewood, Montrose and Shumway.

Copies are available at local retailers in Effingham, Altamont and Teutopolis as well as from online bookstores.