The Sutro Library in San Francisco is the "largest genealogical library west of Salt Lake." The libraries holding can be searched via the Melvyl Catalog Database. Actually you can search many different public libraries in California, but the one of greatest interest is Melvyl. Once you choose the Melvyl Database Catalog at this link: http://www.melvyl.ucop.edu/ then on the next page it will ask you which library to search, choose: "Calif. State Library" Start by doing a "subject search" using the terms: illinois and genealogy When I looked the other day the search returned 247 volumes. This is an extremely valuable resource and I'm not sure if it is common knowledge of it's existence. Isn't the internet wonderful! Wayne