Original Message from [email protected] <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>GOOD NEWS FROM THE ARCHIVES:           Although this will remain "unofficial" for a short     time, the Statewide Marriage Index worked on for so     many years by the ISGS, State Archives, and Secretary     of State Information Systems Services Department is now     available on the Secretary of State web site.           There is now a link to the marriage database on the     Archives' homepage which may be reached at the     following address:           www.sos.state.il.us/depts/archives/arc_home.html     Look under the "Search Our Online Databases."           An official announcement concerning the database will     be pending until more formal arrangements can be made.     In the meantime, you are invited to give the database a     test run and report any problems you might experience.           There are currently a little over one million records     in the online database. Plans are to update the     database every 6 months or so. Eighty-four counties are     represented in the online database. Data entry is     complete for 43 of those counties. Please check out the     supplemental information that is reached by links on     the introductory page and the search entry and search     results pages.           We have tried to make it as clear as possible what     records are included in the database and how to obtain     copies of marriage records from IRAD or county clerks.     IRAD currently has marriage records from 61 of the 84     counties represented in the database and we will soon     accession marriage records from several others.           Karl Moore      Illinois State Archives      217-785-1266      [email protected] <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> I just thought some people on the list might be interested. Debbie