Peoria, Illinois, Newspaper Archives (1837 - 2018)

Peoria, Illinois historical newspapers are invaluable for anyone researching their family history. The newspaper archives provide access to years of records, including old newspaper clippings, death notices, wedding announcements, and birth records that can help you trace your lineage.

Some of the reasons to explore Peoria, Illinois Newspaper Archives:

• You can find out more about your family's history.
• You can connect with distant family members.
• You can learn about the lives of your ancestors.
• You get access to nearly 150 years of local history.

How to Search Peoria, Illinois Newspaper Archive

Searching through the archives is simple and straightforward, whether you're just starting to explore your roots or you're adding details to a family tree you already have:

Simply enter the last name of that relative and click on the “Search” button to begin.

For more detailed searches, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Enter the first, middle, and last names to get more precise results.
• Step 2: Include a keyword, like a school or town, to narrow down your results.
• Step 3: Exclude certain keywords to filter out unrelated entries.
• Step 4: Adding a range of years can be useful since many people have the same name.
• Step 5: Change how the results are sorted—by best matches, newest, or oldest.

Here are some strategies to help you find the right information:

• Begin with recent relatives, then work your way back to the older ones.
• Try searching using initials, as older obituaries often used them instead of full names.
• If you're looking for information about a female relative, try searching under their married name.
• Check out for common misspellings, as names weren't always spelled correctly in older records.

Additional Resources to Consider:

• US newspaper archives
• Records of births and marriages
• Passenger lists
• Government publications
• Social Security Death Index
• Archives focusing on different cultural groups
  

Start with GenealogyBank to trace your family history and go back further in time than you have ever been. For more details, visit GenealogyBank Learning Center.