Research

 The McHenry County Historical Society Local History Research Library has as its purpose the acquisition, cataloguing and preservation of documentary materials that relate to the history of McHenry County and its people. When consistent with the mission of the Society, these materials may be made available to the public for research, study and promotional purposes.

In order to use the Research Library, an appointment must be made
at least 24 hour in advance.

Hours:
The library hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year round. There is a fee for use by non-members.

The Research Library is accessible by appointment only. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated no matter what the circumstances or the distance traveled. Please understand that we are a nonprofit organization with a small staff trying to do many things, often simultaneously.

You must call our office at 815-923-2267 to make your library appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Please note that our library is a busy place. We cannot always get you on the schedule within 24 hours, but we will do our best.
 
General Library Usage Guidelines:
 Research fees apply for people who are not members of the McHenry County Historical Society. To qualify as members, membership standing must be current at the time an appointment is made for the research library.

Printed materials may be copied if copyright provisions allow and if it can be done without damage to the materials.

All copying will be done by staff members. Copying charges are assessed according to the size of the paper and amount used.

The Historical Society reserves the right to limit the number of copies made, to restrict the use of the reproduction of rare or valuable material, to make special quotations on materials involving unusual difficulty in copying and to charge a higher fee than specified.

Photographic Services
For the convenience of those who wish for copies of photographic prints or color photocopies, the McHenry County Historical Society Library will prepare prints on order subject to the following conditions:

1. Permission is granted for one time use only and a fee is charged for each item. Written permission and use fees are required for each additional use.
2. Photographic prints are made only through the Historical society. Photographs may not be copied by patrons using their own cameras.
3. Copies obtained from the Historical Society library may not be deposited in another repository.
4. Prints from glass negatives will be the exact size of the original negative.
5. Negatives are not available for purchase.
6. Pictures used should carry the credit: "Courtesy of the McHenry County Historical Society" and/or "Don Peasley Photo Collection of the M.C.H.S." when appropriate. All responsibility relating to copyright is assumed by the user.
7. The library reserves the right to decline any order or to limit the number of prints made.
8. Payment must accompany all orders; rates (subject to change without notice) are listed below.
9. Request for prints must be signed.
10. In granting permission for use, the Historical Society does not surrender its right to use any of the materials from its collection or to grant other permission to use.
11. The Historical society does not grant exclusive right to use.
12. The user will donate one copy of the book, movie or video, magazine article, or other publication containing reproductions from its collections.
13. Verification is required for users claiming non-profit status.
14. Describe work requested on the back of the Photographic Service Order form. 

Materials in the library are non-circulating.

No food or drink is allowed in the library.

Holdings:
The McHenry County Historical Society's Local History Research Library contains an extensive array of information pertaining to McHenry County history including but not limited to subject files, biography files, photograph files, obituary files, local history books, scrapbooks, diaries, tax records, patentee books, plat maps, yearbooks, telephone directories and much more. A staff member will assist researchers in locating documents and materials pertinent to their research needs.
 
For bibliography of reference materials for McHenry County History: Reference Material