Hundreds of Illinois archives on line

The Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board has a search page for archives in the state -- searchable by county, city, or any of five regions. (It's based on a 1996 survey that has been updated.) Far southern Illinois has 19 archives, eastern 46, western 64, northwestern 46, and the six-county northeastern region 204. Chicago alone has 76 archives listed, from Adler Planetarium to the William Wrigley, Jr. Company. (And if you think "archives" is just a funny word for "library," you have some surprises coming.)

On Saturday, October 24, at least some of those archives will come to you. According to the H-Illinois email list edited by the indefatigable Tim Draper of Waubonsee Community College, the Chicago Archives Fair will be held from 11 am to 2 pm that day on the lower level of the Harold Washington Library at 400 S. State in the Chicago Loop (OK, technically, just outside of the Loop, since the el runs in front of it). Information and contacts at Chicago Area Archivists.