IGHS & Foundation

IGHS & Foundation Illiana Genealogical & Historical Society, the first Illinois genealogical society chartered in 1964 Conducts research at a reasonable cost.

Publishes Illiana Genealogist, a quarterly Illiana Genealogical and historical publication provided to all members. Operates a comprehensive and independent genealogical library at 215 North Street, Danville, IL 61832.

100% volunteer-run. Repository of all Vermilion County, Illinois, probate files from c1829-1970. Please check our website and visit us at the IGHS library!

Did you know…that Miss Helen Conover was hired to teach Latin at Danville High School in the fall of 1924 - when the cur...
11/01/2025

Did you know…that Miss Helen Conover was hired to teach Latin at Danville High School in the fall of 1924 - when the current DHS building opened its doors for the first time? She spent the next 41 years at the high school teaching Latin which was then a class taken by many students planning to go to college. Strict, well- organized, and a woman of high standards, Miss Conover made her mark at DHS. She died December 28, 1987, and was buried at Attica.

Did you know…that a 13-year-old boy from Pennsylvania, David Anderson, was visiting his aunt on Hazel Street in Danville...
11/01/2025

Did you know…that a 13-year-old boy from Pennsylvania, David Anderson, was visiting his aunt on Hazel Street in Danville, Illinois, in the 1920s and asked to meet Joseph G. Cannon? This account from The Commercial-News (January 2, 1927) was written by E. R. Phipps, a neighbor of David Anderson’s aunt. The account tells of the young teenager’s visit with Joseph G. “Uncle Joe” Cannon before the former speaker of the house died in 1926.

10/28/2025

Did you know…that an early quartermaster of the Danville Soldiers’ Home/Veterans’ Home, Captain E. B. Wheeler, did Indian scout duty and served under Buffalo Bill Cody as a fighter on the plains as a young man? Captain Wheeler died in April, 1908, in Danville of heart failure. As quartermaster, he was in charge of ordering supplies and logistics for the institution.

Did you know…that an unnamed Danville, Illinois, resident purchased a five by six feet-size painting by Claude Lorraine ...
10/25/2025

Did you know…that an unnamed Danville, Illinois, resident purchased a five by six feet-size painting by Claude Lorraine in 1908 for $10,000? Claude Lorraine (c1600-1682) from the Duchy of Lorraine (now part of France) was a well- known landscape painter who spent most of his years painting in Italy. $10,000 in 1908 would be worth over $352,000 in today’s dollars - probably why the resident’s name was not disclosed. This article is from the April 11, 1908, issue of the Danville Commercial-News.

Did you know…that Danville had a Cycling Club in the 1890s? Here are the members outside the old Danville High School at...
10/25/2025

Did you know…that Danville had a Cycling Club in the 1890s? Here are the members outside the old Danville High School at the corner of Pine and Seminary Streets in 1890. The notation said that this was a ladies’ cycling club, but as one can see, several men were in the photograph.

Did you know…how the former Diamond School west of Danville, Illinois, on Route 150 looked before 1929? Here is a photo ...
10/25/2025

Did you know…how the former Diamond School west of Danville, Illinois, on Route 150 looked before 1929? Here is a photo of the school before that time. Originally an independent school district, Diamond later consolidated with the Oakwood School District. It had been added on to over the years. The school was closed several years ago and was recently torn down except for the gym.

Did you know…how Mann’s Chapel near Rossville, Illinois, appeared before it was modified? The church was constructed in ...
10/25/2025

Did you know…how Mann’s Chapel near Rossville, Illinois, appeared before it was modified? The church was constructed in 1857 of bricks donated by a wealthy landowner, Abraham Mann. The first photo below was taken of the church in 1887. One will notice that there was vestibule in the early years and that the windows were not as tall as they are today. The second photo was taken after the exterior was modified.

Did you know…that the 1910 Danville High School football team went 6-1-1? They were only defeated by Urbana by a 6-0 sco...
10/21/2025

Did you know…that the 1910 Danville High School football team went 6-1-1? They were only defeated by Urbana by a 6-0 score. Besides those six points, only two additional points were scored against Danville during the entire season. Clarence Fisher was the team captain while Mr. Sumner was the coach. The team photo was taken in front of the old Danville High School building at the corner of Seminary and Pine. The team is identified below.

Did you know…that Danville, Illinois’ Central Christian Church’s groundbreaking on the northeast corner of Vermilion and...
10/21/2025

Did you know…that Danville, Illinois’ Central Christian Church’s groundbreaking on the northeast corner of Vermilion and English took place on November 13, 1949? Pictured below are Robin Hood, board chair, and Don Wilson at the site examining a representation of the new church building on a billboard. One will note, as customary of that time, men typically wore hats when they were dressed up.

Did you know…that Danville street cars were once powered by long-eared mules? This article was published on the April 11...
10/18/2025

Did you know…that Danville street cars were once powered by long-eared mules? This article was published on the April 11, 1908, issue of the Danville newspaper. By 1908, the street cars had long ceased to be pulled by mules when this article was written.

Did you know…that a donor recently gave IGHS the April 24, 1865, issue of the Savannah (Georgia) Republican? It appears ...
10/18/2025

Did you know…that a donor recently gave IGHS the April 24, 1865, issue of the Savannah (Georgia) Republican? It appears the newspaper was kept since it reported on the arrest of John Wilkes Boothe, President Lincoln’s assassin.

Did you know… that the Van Valkenburg brothers owned both the Plaza and Savoy Hotels in downtown Danville, Illinois, in ...
10/07/2025

Did you know… that the Van Valkenburg brothers owned both the Plaza and Savoy Hotels in downtown Danville, Illinois, in the early 1900s? The Plaza was across the street to the south of the Bresee Tower while the Savoy was the Bresee Tower’s neighbor on the west side. The Bresee Tower was known as the First National Bank Building at the time this photo was taken around 1938. The DeLuxe Cab in the photo is a 1938 Oldsmobile.

Address

215 West North Street
Danville, IL
61832

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm

Telephone

+12174318733

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