What JPL has to Offer...

The Local History Room is open to the public for local history and genealogy research during regular library hours: Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Sundays in the summer, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend).   
 
Please note that if you need the Local History Librarian’s assistance, an appointment is necessary. To make an appointment with the Local History Librarian please use the Local History – Appointment Request Form, or contact the Local History Librarian at 815-846-3112.

The Genealogy/Local History collection at the Ottawa Street Branch, includes:

  • Joliet and/or Will County history books
  • Newspapers on microfilm from 1846-present
  • Will County directories 1859-60 and 1872-73
  • Joliet city directories 1875-present
  • Joliet telephone directories from 1908
  • Will County atlases/plat books.
  • Joliet high school and IL university yearbooks
  • Funeral brochures for African-Americans of Joliet and Lockport1968-2012.
  • Archival materials concerning Joliet and Will County history
  • Computers for local history, genealogy and digitization
  • Printed obituary indexes for 1915-18 and 1976-2012
Two microfilm reader machines and a desktop printer sit on a long table in front of large windows.
A tall wooden card catalog cabinet standing next to a long table covered with stacks of flat documents.
Tiled fireplace surround featuring scenes and quotes from The Song of Hiawatha, depicting figures in a forest setting, teepees, wildlife, and indigenous imagery.
A library interior featuring a large wooden table in front of a fireplace, a black metal magazine rack, and a tall shelf of books labeled Non-Fiction.

Researching Your Family History

Visit the Ottawa Street Branch and search items in our Genealogy/Local History collection. Microfilm copies can be made at no charge.

Library staff will search microfilmed editions of Joliet newspapers for obituaries, marriage and birth announcements, or other articles of interest. Due to the large number of pages published by Joliet newspapers, we can only do a search if you can give us the month and year that the event occurred.

Requests can be made by calling the Adult Services department of the Ottawa Street Branch at 815-740-2666, or by using our online Reference Request form.

Genealogy Databases

Free Genealogy Resources

These free resources can help you build your family tree:

  • Archives.gov-African American Heritage – Research documents, photos and records.
  • Archives.gov -Research documents, photos and records.
  • AfriGeneas- A site devoted to African American genealogy, to researching African Ancestry in the Americas in particular, and to genealogical research and resources in general.
  • Chronicling America – Search digitized U.S. newspapers (1777-1963) and the U.S. Newspaper Directory (1690-present).
  • Google News Archive -Search newspapers from the 1700s onwards in 23 different languages.
  • FindAGrave.com – Find information about cemeteries and the people buried there; create and edit memorials with a free account.
  • Fulton History – Search more than 47 million digitized newspaper pages on FultonSearch.org and postcards, yearbooks, videos, and more on FultonHistory.com.
  • Illinois Digital Archives -The Illinois Digital Archives (IDA) was created in 2000, as a repository for the digital collections of the Illinois State Library as well as other libraries and cultural institutions in the State of Illinois.
  • Interment-25+ million cemetery records online.
  • JJC Archives-Joliet Junior College newspaper archives and photo collections from Dr. Robert Sterling.
  • Midwest Genealogy Center – Browse the online archives and oral history collection.
  • Soldiers and Sailors Database- A database containing information about the men who served in the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War
  • Will County Historical Society – Discover Will County history.

Free Access to Digital Collections

Biblioboard Library of Illinois: Browse 150+ books from Arcadia Publishing and the History Press about Chicago and Illinois History. 30+ Illinois community collections and many more free books, video and audio.

Digital Public Library of America: Search 44 million images, text, video, and audio from cultural institutions across the United States.

Europeana: Search millions of books, music, artwork, and more from cultural institutions across Europe.

Google Books: Search 40 million books and magazines; download books in the public domain and search others.

Hathi Trust Digital Library: Search 17 million books, periodicals, and more; 39% of the collection is available for download.

ILGenWeb History Project: The compilation is a special project devoted solely to the history of the state.

Internet Archive: Search millions of books, videos, audio, and more; pre-1926 books are available for download.

Lewis University Digital Archives: Includes local artwork, I&M Canal research papers, and historic Joliet photographs.

World Digital Library: Search more than 19,000 historically significant books, maps, manuscripts, and more.

Sanborn Maps: Detailed maps of U.S. towns and cities from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Joliet History: City of joliet charter

City Charter City of Joliet

Joliet History: Tour Brochures

This collection features information brochures and literature from different organizations in Joliet collected over the years.

  • CAPA
  • Illinois Canal Society 
  • This Olde House Walk
  • Victorian Manor-Jacob Henry Mansion
  • Contemporary Community Public Art Brochure
  • Joliet Jewish Congregation
  • Look at Us: Joliet Jewish Congregation
canal map 1
Illinois Canal Society Map. 2
Illinois Canal Society Map. 3
cancal map
Illinois Canal Society Map. 5
IL Canal Society Maps
house walk
victorian manor
Joliet Public Art Brochure-Cover
Joliet Public Art Brochure- Pg.6&7
Joliet Public Art Brochure- Pg.5&6
Joliet Public Art Brochure- Pg.3&4
Joliet Public Art Brochure- Pg.1&2
Joliet Public Art Brochure- Back
Joliet Jewish Congregation (Brochure-Front)
Joliet Jewish Congregation (Brochure-Rear)
Joliet Jewish Congregation Pg.1
Joliet Jewish Congregation Pg.2
Look At Us Brochure- Back (Joliet Jewish Congregation)
Look At Us Brochure- Cover (Joliet Jewish Congregation)
Look At Us Brochure- Unfolded Front View Section (Joliet Jewish Congregation)
Look At Us Brochure- Unfolded Rear View (Joliet Jewish Congregation)

Joliet History: Historic Summary of the Mexican Population in Joliet

This document was written by Navor Rodriguez and translated by Rebeca Ulloa and describes the history of the early Mexican population in Joliet. The author writes about social clubs, religion, the Depression Period and activities from 1905-1953.

English

Spanish

Joliet History: The Brown book by chastine c. mason

This document published by United Publishing Co. by Chastine C. Mason, featuring a Who’s Who of Black leaders in Joliet for 1958-1959

The Brown Book by Chastine C. Mason

original catalogue

This original catalogue of the Joliet Public Library from 1868.

Public Catalogue

Grand Masquerade

Grand Masquerade

Photocopies of the invitation for the Joliet Library Associations “Grand Masquerade” on February 7, 1877. The event was a fundraiser to buy books for the library.

Grand Masquerade 1, 2, 3

Route 66 ultimate guide

Your personal travel guide for Route 66! 

Joliet History-Ottawa Street Branch Blue Prints

This collection of photographs from the Burnham side of the building, or the original 1903 building, showcases the original blue print plans.

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ILLINOIS HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND GOVERNMENT QUIZ

Questions and Answers from the IL Secretary of State and State Archivist 

Joliet Cemeteries

Catholic Diocese of Joliet
16555 Weber Rd, Crest Hill, IL
815-221-6100

St. Cyril and Methodius Cemetery
St. John’s Cemetery
St. Joseph’s Cemetery
St. Patrick’s Cemetery

Mount Olivet Cemetery Family Service Center
1320 E. Cass St.
815-726-7444

Elmhurst Cemetery
1212 E. Washington St.
815-722-0877

Mount Mariah Cemetery
Joliet Jewish Congregation
815-741-4600

Mound Cemetery
18750 Cherry Hill Rd.

Joliet Cemeteries continued...

Oakwood Cemetery
1137 E. Cass St.

Zarley Cemetery (DesPlaines Cemetery)
Patterson Road
Contact Joliet Township
175 W. Jefferson St.
815-726-4781

St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
1024 E. Cass Street

St. Peter Lutheran Church
310-350 N. Broadway St.
815-722-3567

Woodlawn Memorial Park I
2306 W. Jefferson Street
815-725-3489

Woodlawn Memorial Park II (Hills of Rest Cemetery)
2250 W. Jefferson Street
815-725-1662

wwI will county soldiers

A collection of names of WWI soldiers from the Will County area, collected by JPL staff and organized by library volunteers. 

Joliet History: Postcard Collection

This collection of post cards features many historic Joliet elements including the I&M Canal, Old Jefferson Street Bridge and of course the Joliet Public Library.

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