Hi, Bob, Shari & others on the list, I would like to clarify a few things about how records in the State of Illinois are handled. First, let me tell you that I am the lady Shari has referred to as getting some death certificates for her. I have been to the Illinois State Archives and several IRAD locations many times, so I feel that I am qualified to give out this information. First, the Illinois State Archives (not IRAD) holds the microfilmed copies of the death certificates for Illinois for the years 1916 through 1947, whose index is available on line at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/idphdeathindex.html Prior to 15 Nov 2002, the Illinois State Archives would send out 2 free death certificates to any person who sent a request by snail mail or e-mail. Because of the tremendous flood of requests this had produced, this free service was discontinued as of that date. Now, the ways that a person can obtain a death certificate for the years 1916 through 1947 are: 1. Send $10.00 non-refundable search fee to the Illinois Department of Public Health. (results will be a non-certified copy) 2. Go to the Illinois State Archives and do a search of the microfilmed death certificates in person. (results will be a non-certified copy) 3. Contact the county in which the death occurred to get a copy of the death certificate at whatever fee the particular county has set (results may be certified or may be non-certified genealogical copy, depending on county rules) Because so many people have found that it is impossible to get to the State Archives in Springfield, but they cannot afford the $10.00 search fee, I have offered to get these death certificates for them, for only my expenses. The Illinois State Archives has continued to accept requests for other records that they house. However, because of the large back log of requests they have for the death certificates, it would be fair to say that there will probably be a 6 month wait in getting any records from the Archives. Now, for the IRAD records. IRAD was set up by the Illinois State Archives as a way that counties could make records available to the public, but with less work for the county employees. Each county determines what records they wish to send to the IRAD location that serves their county. The IRAD locations are staffed by college interns whose sole responsibility is serving the public with the records that are available at their facility. The listing of records for each county that are available at IRAD are on line at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/genealogy/forms/iradsrch.html The IRAD locations do not take e-mail requests. You may call the IRAD location for the county whose records you desire or you may send a snail mail request. In either case, they ask that you limit your request to 2 records per inquiry. When those 2 records are received, you are allowed to submit your next request. Normal turn around time for receiving replies from IRAD locations is about 3 weeks. If anyone has further questions about the Archives or IRAD, I would be willing to try to answer them. Mary Rottmann rottmann@hotmail.com >From: "shari & chuck horton" <sharuck@islc.net> >Reply-To: "shari & chuck horton" <sharuck@islc.net> >To: ILMCLEAN-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [ILMCLEAN-L] Bob, RE: IRAD >Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:44:18 -0500 > >Bob, go to >www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/genealogy/forms/deathrefform.html > Or you can go to www.usgenweb.com/il, scroll down to State Marriage, >Death Index at IRAD. You can click and read all about their databases. If >you specifically want to order copies of death certificates, then use the >first address. >The date of death and certificate number are required. If the person you >are requesting died after 1916 and before 1950, you can go to the death >index to see if they are listed. The certificate number should be there. >You can order two names for free. All you do is submit your request >online. You can't request another two until you have received your first >request. I might add that a researcher told me that the people at IRAD >told her that as of Jan 7, they still had 17,855 requests to fill. I sent >for mine back in October, and have yet to receive them. I contacted a lady >who goes there often. She does research for the Southern part of IL If >the person you are looking for died in the Southern part of the state, >Springfield and South, she only charges $3.00 for the copy. I threw in a >little extra for gas, but she doesn't request anything other than the >$3.00. I had the death certificate of my grandfather, who died in >Bloomington within a few days. IRAD is located! > at Illinois State University in Normal. There is an address for them at >the website. If you live within distance, you can get them for yourself. >If you would like her e-mail, I will send it to you. >Shari >sharuck@islc.net > > >==== ILMCLEAN Mailing List ==== > >Email or ISP changes: unsubscribe your old email address prior to the >change effective date. Once your new email address is effective then >resubscribe using your new address. _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail