Clark County Genealogy

Clark County genealogy records are managed by the county clerk in Marshall, the county seat in eastern Illinois near the Indiana border. The clerk at 501 Archer Ave holds marriage licenses, birth and death registers, land records, and other vital documents dating back to 1819 when the county was established. Clark County has online deed records from 1959, making it one of the few smaller Illinois counties with digitized land records going back that far. The IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston preserves older Clark County government documents. With about 15,000 residents, Clark County offers both in-person and some digital access to genealogy records for family researchers.

Clark County Clerk Records

The Clark County Clerk is at 501 Archer Ave in Marshall. Call (217) 826-8311 for questions about records and fees. This office holds the county's vital records, land documents, and marriage licenses. Clark County was established in 1819, making it one of the older counties in Illinois. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) makes the county clerk the official custodian of these files, and the Marshall office has over 200 years of records in its collection.

One of the standout features for Clark County genealogy researchers is online access to deed records from 1959 forward. Many Illinois counties of this size do not have digitized land records going back that far. These online deeds can help you trace property ownership and identify family connections without visiting the courthouse. Land records are particularly useful for genealogy because they show where families lived, who they sold property to (often relatives), and sometimes reveal maiden names through inheritance patterns.

The Marshall courthouse accepts walk-in visits for record searches. Staff can look up names in the indexes while you wait. Mail requests also work. Include the full name, date range, record type, your payment, and a photo ID copy with your letter. Make checks payable to the Clark County Clerk.

Clark County Vital Records

Clark County birth and death records from 1916 onward are also held by the Illinois Department of Public Health. IDPH handles genealogy requests by mail only. Each copy costs $10. Processing takes about 12 weeks. For Clark County records before 1916, the county clerk in Marshall or IRAD at EIU are your main sources. Some early birth and death entries from the late 1870s may exist at the clerk's office, but coverage was spotty before statewide registration became mandatory.

The VitalChek ordering page below shows another way to request Illinois vital records that include Clark County entries.

VitalChek is an approved vendor for Illinois vital record orders. They charge extra service fees on top of the state's base cost. For genealogy copies specifically, going through IDPH directly by mail is usually cheaper, but VitalChek offers faster processing for those who need it. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) sets the access rules. Birth records open after 75 years, death records after 20 years, and marriage records after 50 years.

Note: Clark County's online deed records from 1959 are separate from vital records and do not require genealogy eligibility to access.

Clark County Records at IRAD

The IRAD depository for Clark County is at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Call (217) 581-6093 to check on Clark County holdings. IRAD preserves older government records transferred from the courthouse in Marshall. For a county established in 1819, this means IRAD may hold some of the oldest documents in eastern Illinois. Holdings can include historical vital records, court case files, probate records, naturalization papers, and voter registers from the 1800s and early 1900s.

Check the IRAD holdings database to see what Clark County records are stored at EIU before making the drive to Charleston. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) is the law behind the IRAD system. It says county records with lasting historical value must be preserved, not thrown out. Research at IRAD is free. You can photograph documents at no charge. Staff take phone and mail requests but limit each one to two names.

Searching Clark County Genealogy Online

The Illinois State Archives has free online databases covering Clark County. The statewide marriage index runs from 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover the pre-1916 era and 1916 to 1950. These databases are good starting points for Clark County genealogy research from home. Search the indexes for names and dates, then follow up with the Clark County Clerk or IRAD for the actual records.

Clark County sits in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Court records from this circuit carry genealogy clues that vital records miss. Divorce files, estate cases, guardianship records, and land disputes all name family members and reveal how people were connected. The circuit clerk in Marshall handles court records separately from the county clerk. Old court files may have been transferred to IRAD at EIU in Charleston. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives the public access to government records in Clark County, though vital records follow their own access rules under the Vital Records Act.

The Freedom of Information Act shown above applies to public records requests in Clark County. Recent birth and death files remain restricted to eligible applicants. Only records past the genealogy time thresholds can be requested freely for family research.

• Online deed records: 1959 to present
• State Archives marriage index: 1763 to 1900
• State Archives death index: pre-1916 and 1916-1950
• IRAD at EIU: free research, two-name limit by mail
• IDPH genealogy copy: $10 by mail, about 12 weeks

Nearby Counties

Clark County is in eastern Illinois near the Indiana state line. Families in this border area moved between counties and across state lines often. If your Clark County search hits a dead end, try these surrounding areas.