First published by the Illinois Historical Records Survey in 1941, this volume contains everything from county record availability to a checklist of state and county vital statistics records.

Did you know microfiche records are available for all Cook County deaths from 1871-1936? Here's another tidbit: don't request a death certificate from 1870 through 1927 in Mc Donough County unless you have the date of death (records are filed by date of death for that time period).

Whether you're just beginning your Illinois research or are a seasoned veteran, this book is a 'must-have.'

---

* * WPA Workers
During the Great Depression in the early 1900s, many Americans were given a "job" by the United States Government to support their family. One such "job" was transcribing early court, family, Bible, and cemetery records as well as other local records. Original versions were typed on onion skin paper with "x" number of carbon copies. Although the State Archives owns the vast majority of 'first' or typed copy, carbons have circulated for years but are now scattered. Often the typing is not the best and is difficult to read but these valuable records still constitute one of the best sources of information for Tennessee Counties. In many cases, these are all that remain of the original as many county records have been lost. WPA records are generally full text transcription: much larger in scope than an abstraction or summary.