Research Library

Mrs. Irene Black’s lifetime collection of local history and genealogy material was originally located in Bridgeport, Illinois, but in 2001 she donated the collection to the Lawrence County Historical Society.  In 2016 it was relocated to Lawrenceville.  During the period between its founding and the move, the Historical Society actively collected additional geographic, historic and biographic materials including family histories and vital records such as birth, marriage and death records. After the move, the Richard Palmer Collection of local history, as well as 15,832 individual obituaries, were added as well as an extensive collection of Civil War biographies and other military materials.  

The two story building located at 1100 Lexington Ave. Lawrenceville was donated to the Society by Mrs. Julia Ladner to further the Society’s mission to ignite a passion for local history and family research in a dynamic new environment.

The building gave the textile curators an ideal place to store and exhibit the extensive textile collection including wedding gowns, baptismal gowns, school jackets, military uniforms, ladies’ hats and much more. In addition, the oil Industry collection of photos, history and artifacts is housed there. An entire room is devoted to local school yearbooks, photographs, and other school memorabilia. Bound local newspapers can also be found here. Early photographs of places around the county reveal forgotten history.

At present the research library is open Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from 9-12 and by appointment on weekends. If your group would like a tour, or you have a donation of items you feel have historic value to Lawrence County, contact lawrencelore@gmail.com.

For limited genealogical queries contact lawcohissoc@gmail.com.