Local History

The Local History Collection at the Decatur Public Library:

Mission Statement:

The Decatur Public Library will collect, organize, preserve and provide access to a non-circulating collection of primary and secondary sources that document the history of the City of Decatur, its inhabitants, government, environment, businesses, institutions and organizations.  Materials related to the history of Macon County, its communities and Illinois will also be maintained in cooperation with other historical, genealogical, archival and library collections in the area. (created August 2011)

The Collection:

The collection includes, but is not limited to, published books, photographs, government documents or facsimiles, maps, manuscripts, pamphlets, newspapers, serials, audio-visual materials, institutional and organization records, and scrapbooks of historical materials that relate to Decatur and its environs.  Emphasis will be placed on documenting the creation of city and county government, settlement, industry, commerce, education, recreation, and historically significant individuals as well as the history of civic, religious, cultural and social organizations.  Found in the collection in various physical formats are: organization minutes, letters, yearbooks, periodicals, newsletters, demographic information, city directories, phone books, reports, studies, plans, obituaries, local histories, maps and plats, and images. (created August 2011)

Listed below are many of the great resources found in the Shilling Local History Room:

• Past Local Newspaper on microfilm (Located outside the Shilling Local History Room.  Available whenever the library is open.)
  • Decatur Herald and Review: 1931-October 2012
  • Decatur Herald:
    • Decatur Morning Herald: 1880-1931
    • Herald Dispatch: 1896-1899
    • Saturday Herald: 1880-1895
  • Decatur Daily Review:
    • Decatur Daily Review: 1878-1931
    • Decatur Local Review: 1873-1876
  • Decatur Republican:
    • Decatur Daily Republican: 1867-1870, 1872-1899
    • Decatur Republican (Weekly): 1870-1898
  • Daily Labor Bulletin: January 5, 1886-January 26, 1886
  • Labor Bulletin: September 14, 1886-January 22, 1889
  • Evening Bulletin: July 15, 1895-1896
  • Decatur Daily Dispatch: July 12, 1889-February 28, 1890
  • Bulletin Sentinel: 1895-1896
• Cemetery Listings
• Obituary Indexes for the Decatur Daily Review (Herald and Review)
  • 1879-2012
  • Decatur Public Library does charge for obituary and article requests.  It is $5.00 for research/lookup for up to 3 people, $10.00 for research/lookup for 4 people or more, and then $.50 for each copy.  Please send a check or money order, made payable to Decatur Public Library, to the address listed below.  Call ext. 166 or e-mail rdamptz@decaturlibrary.org for more information.
• Old Local Yearbooks: Please contact the Local History Room for more information on which years are available.
  • Decatur High School – Decanois:
    • 1914-1975, 1977-1998
  • Lakeview High School – Dorian:
    • 1953-1963, 1966-1969, 1972-1982
  • MacArthur High School – Cadet:
    • 1958-1976, 1978-1984, 1986-1993, 1996-1999, 2001-2012
  • Eisenhower High School – Pantherama:
    • 1958-1959, 1961-1967, 1969-1970, 1972-1995, 1997-2005, 2007-2010
  • St. Theresa High School – The Teresian:
    • 1955-1967, 1969-1984, 1985-2011
  • Millikin University – Millidek:
    • 1906-1909, 1911-1921, 1923-1958, 1960-1998
  • various junior highs
• City Histories
• Annual Reports of Businesses
• Special Interest  Artifacts
• City Directories
  • 1871-1872, 1881, 1884, 1889, 1896-1897, 1899, 1901, 1903-1906, 1909-1912, 1915, 1919-1926, 1928-1933, 1935-1942, 1944-1964, 1966-2003, 2005-2013
• Special Interest Indexes
• Maps and Zoning Information
• Photographs
  • The library is currently working on getting its extensive photograph collection online.
  • If you are interested in using an image in a publication, we ask that you contact us and fill out our Reproduction agreement.

Hours of Operation:

Monday: 10:00-4:00 (4:00-7:00 by appointment only)
Tuesday: 10:00-4:00 (4:00-7:00 by appointment only)
Wednesday: 10:00-5:00 (5:00-7:00 by appointment only)
Thursday: 10:00-5:00 (5:00-7:00 by appointment only)
Friday: 10:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00 (3:00-5:00 by appointment only)
Saturday: 10:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00
Sunday: Closed

Calling ahead is strongly recommended as the room is staffed by volunteers, and the hours cannot be guaranteed. 

Contact Information:

Shilling Local History Room
Decatur Public Library
130 N. Franklin St.
Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: 217-424-2900 ext. 166
E-mail: localhistory@decaturlibrary.org