Use the following resources to aid your local history and genealogy research. Please contact us at history@pclib.org or (331) 808-3535 for research assistance.

Genealogy programs are typically held on the last Monday of the month. Click here to access the library calendar to find genealogy events.

• Arcadia Publishing/History Press Histories of Chicagoland and Illinois
  • Includes dozens of full-text books about the history of Chicago, its suburbs, and Illinois.
• Birth, Death, Other Records for Illinois
  • Contact the Illinois Department of Public Health for help in obtaining records.
• Chicago Genealogical Society
  • Various research sites for tracing your Chicago family history.
• Chicago Public Library Digital Collection
  • Search the digital collections of the Chicago Public Library.
• Chicago Tribune (1980s-present)
  • A library resource. Search the most recent global news content, as well as archives which date back into the 1980s.
• Cook County Assessor’s Office
  • Search properties in Cook County.
• CookViewer: Cook County Map Application
  • Search a recent map of Cook County.
• DuPage County Assessor’s Office
  • Search properties in DuPage County.
• DuPage County Collector Books
  • Search property records for DuPage County.
• DuPage County Parcel Viewer Map
  • Search a recent map of DuPage County.
• Elgin Area Digital Archive From Gail Borden Public Library
  • Search through Gail Borden Public Library's digital archive. This includes several newspapers which cover Hanover Township. There are also copies of Hanover Township records from 1850-1975, and Hanover Township Treasury and Schools records from 1850-1971.
• Encyclopedia of Chicago
  • Search entries for the history of Chicago and its suburbs.
• Explore Chicago Collections
  • Search photographs and documents about the history of Chicago.
• Hanover Park Agenda Center
  • Search past Board of Trustees minutes and other committee minutes and agendas.
• Hanover Park Archive
  • Search past Hi-Lighters, annual budgets, and other forms.
• Hanover Park Historic Committee
  • Contact the Hanover Park Historic Committee if you would like to help preserve Hanover Park’s past.
• Illinois Digital Archives
  • Search historical records for anywhere in Illinois.
• Illinois Historical Aerial Photography 1937-1947
  • Click on the "Viewer" tab to view historic aerial photographs of Illinois from 1937-1947.
• Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales
  • Search properties in Illinois.
• Illinois Statewide Death Index, pre-1916
  • Search an index of death records in Illinois before 1916.
• Illinois Death Certificates Database, 1916-1972
  • Search an index of death records in Illinois from 1916-1972.
• Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
  • Search an index of marriage records in Illinois.
• LDS Genealogy-Streamwood
  • Lists online locations of Streamwood genealogical records (most of which can be found on our library databases).
• Library of Congress: Illinois Local History and Genealogy Resource Guide
  • Compiled by reference specialists at the Library of Congress, this guide identifies key print and online resources for pursuing Illinois family history.
• NewspaperArchive
  • A library resource. A database with access to historical issues of hundreds of Illinois newspapers, including the Daily Herald.
• Streamwood Newsletters
  • Search past Streamwood Village newsletters, and explore the Streamwood homepage for more documents.
• Wayne Township Assessor’s Office
  • Search properties in Wayne Township.

• Ancestry Library Edition
  • A library resource (in library use only). Research census information, yearbooks, military records, grave photos, birth and death records, and more.
• Black Freedom Struggle
  • Search primary sources to learn about Black history in the United States.
• Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records
  • Search land records from the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Census Records Online
  • Search census records from 1790-1950 through the National Archives.
• Community History Archives
  • Search the community archives of over 1,000 American cities. Through Advantage Archives.
• Digital Public Library of America
  • Search historical records for anywhere in the United States.
• FamilySearch
  • A library resource. Create your own account and use in the library or in your home. In-library access provides more resources. Search for your ancestors, create and contribute to family trees, post family photos, and more. Search records such as "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998."
• Fold3
  • A library resource. Access original military records including stories, photos, and personal documents of those who served in the military.
• HathiTrust
  • Search full-text historical documents and books.
• Heritage Quest
  • A library resource. Create your own account and use in the library or in your home. Research census information, city directories, military records, immigration records, Indian census rolls, birth and death records, and more.
• Historic Aerials
  • Historical topographical maps from the 20th and 21st centuries (with watermarks).
• Historical Topographical Maps
  • Historical topographical maps provided by the United States Geological Survey.
• Library of Congress
  • Search historical documents including land plats.
• National Archives (NARA)
  • The National Archives and Records Administration has census data, military records, land records, and more.
• Native Land
  • A website dedicated to helping people across the world learn more about their local Indigenous history.
• Newspapers from ProQuest
  • A library resource. Full-text articles from hundreds of U.S. and international newspapers.
• U.S. Census Data for Social, Economic, and Health Research
  • From IPUMS USA, another resource besides census.gov to research census data.

• BillionGraves
• Find a Grave
• Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator

Newspapers

• Hanover Park Examiner (1997, 2002-2004, 2007-2024)
  • Ceased publication in 2024. Collection does not include every issue of the Hanover Park Examiner. Ask a librarian to retrieve an issue.
• Streamwood Park Examiner (1997-2025)
  • Ceased publication in February 2025. Collection does not include every issue of the Streamwood Examiner. Ask a librarian to retrieve an issue.

Local History Books

• 100th Anniversary : Immanuel Evangelical & Reformed Church, Hanover Township
• The Dedication : Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church : July 5, 1964
• Forward Through the Ages: a History of Immanuel United Church of Christ, 1852-2002
• From Camelot to Metropolis: a Chronicle of Ontarioville and Hanover Park, Illinois
• Hanover Harvesters
  • a history of Hanover Township
• Hanover Township: Rural Past to Urban Present
• Historical Chronology of the Village of Streamwood
• Ontarioville: Its Past & Its People

Genealogy Books (found in our local history/genealogy room--see call numbers below for each book)

Histories and records of local counties or townships such as DuPage, Cook, Wayne, McHenry, and Lake such as:

• Family Maps of Cook County, Illinois (G912.773 Boy)
• History of Cook County, Illinois: From the Earliest Period to the present time (G977.31 And)
• Index to the Roll of Honor, Cook County, Illinois (G929.37731 Mar)
• Kane County Illinois Cemetery Compendium (G929.5 Mcc)

Maps

Search our maps of Streamwood, Hanover Park, Hanover Township and local counties.

Other Physical Resources (located within the main library building)

• Streamwood and Hanover Park community newsletters
• Board meeting minutes from Hanover Park, Hanover Township, and Streamwood
• U-46 and school records
• Yearbooks from U-46 schools
  • Tefft Junior High yearbooks from 1974-1975, 1975-1976, 1977-1978, 1978-1979, and 1979-1980 can be viewed by contacting the local history librarian.
  • Streamwood High School yearbooks (also available in our Digital History Collection)
• Newspaper clippings
• Illinois Blue Book (many editions available online through the Illinois Digital Archives)
• Various microfilm scans can be viewed by contacting the local history librarian.