Illinois & Local History

This special collection includes obituary records, cemetery indexes, census records, military information, Ottawa city directories, & fire insurance maps, LaSalle county directories, atlases, and plat books.

The Illinois Room is open to the public throughout the library's operating hours. Visitors must sign in and check bags (if applicable) at the Circulation Desk to access the room and its resources. Items in the Illinois Room collection do not circulate. 

Photos and documents related to the local history of Ottawa and La Salle County are located in the library's Illinois Room. The process of organizing these items and creating finding aids for them is an ongoing process.

The local newspaper (under its various names) is available on microfilm from May 23,1840 to June 30, 2014.

• Ottawa Free Trader  (May 23, 1840 - December 30, 1916)
• Ottawa Free Trader Journal  (January 2, 1927 - January 5, 1927)
• Ottawa Weekly Republican Times  (June 19, 1852 - December 28, 1916)
• Ottawa Daily Republican Times  (January 2, 1903 - June 30, 1967)
• Ottawa Daily Times  (July 1, 1967 - August 31, 2005)
• Ottawa Times  (September 1, 2005 - June 30, 2014)