County Histories & Biographies

The library has a number of publications dealing with McLean County history as well as the history of other Illinois counties. Listed here are histories and biographical publications dealing with McLean County.

The Biographical Record of McLean County, Illinois.  Published by S. J.Clarke Publishing Company, 1899.  920 BIO

Bloomington and Normal Biographies.  Compiled by Citizens Historical Association, Indianapolis, Indiana.  The Table of Contents serves as an Index to the names included.  929.2 BLO

The Good Old Times in McLean County, Illinois.  1874, Dr. E. Duis, published by The Leader Publishing and Printing House, Bloomington, Illinois.  Contains 261 sketches of old settlers; a complete sketch of the Black Hawk War, and descriptions of all matters of interest relating to McLean County.  A separate index to this publication is listed below.  977.359 DUI

            An Index to the Good Old Times in McLean County, Illinois.
           An index compiled by Alice Taylor Steinberg and published by the Bloomington-Normal Genealogical Society, 1969.  977.359 DUI

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McLean County.  2 volumes, illustrated, 1908.  The Illinois information edited by Newton Bateman and Paul Selby.  The McLean County information edited by Ezra M. Prince and John H. Burnham.
977.359 BAT

A History of African-Americans in McLean County, Illinois 1835-1975.  By John W. Muirhead, The Bloomington-Normal Black History Project McLean County Historical Society, 1998.  977.359 MUI

History of McLean County.  2 volumes, 1924, by Jacob L. Hasbrouck.  977.359 HAS

The History of McLean County.  Published in 1879 by Wm. Le Baron, Jr. & Co.  Prof. Merriman of Bloomington wrote the General History of the County.  The township histories of Bloomington, Normal and White Oak were written by Capt. J. H. Burnham.  The balance of the township histories were written by historians H. H. Hill and A. W. Kellogg.  This publication includes a history of the county, its cities, towns, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, and more.  977.359 M55

The Illustrated History of McLean County.  Commentary by Don Munson, edited by Martin A. Wyckoff & Greg Koos, published by the McLean County Historical Society, 1982.  A separate index to this publication is listed below.  977.359 ILL

            Index to the Illustrated History of McLean County (1982).
            Compiled by William P. LaBounty, published by McLean County Historical Society, 1998.  977.359 ILL

Irish Immigrants in McLean County, Illinois.  Edited by Greg Koos, 2000.
325.2417 IRI

McLean County in the World War, 1917-1918.  Edited by E. E. Pierson & J. L. Hasbrouck, published by McLean County War Publishing Co.  Provides a history of McLean County’s contributions to the World War and includes sketches of McLean County Army Officers.  977.359 PIE

“A New Geography of McLean County,” by Michael D. Sublett and William D. Walters Jr., Outdoor Illinois Magazine, Volume XV, Number 5, May 1976, pp. 15-48.  (977.359OUT)

Portrait and Biographical Album of McLean County, Illinois.  Published by Chapman Brothers, 1887.  Contains full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of McLean County.  Also includes Illinois Governors and United States Presidents. 920 POR

Soldiers’ and Patriots’ Biographical Album.  Contains biographies and portraits of soldiers and loyal citizens in the Civil War, as well as a history of the organizations growing out of the war.  Published by Union Veteran Publishing Company, 1892.
(Locked Case 923.5SOL)

“Ten Who Helped McLean County,” by H. Clay Tate, Outdoor Illinois Magazine, Volume XV, Number 5, May 1976, pp. 49-51.  (977.359OUT)

This Is McLean County, Illinois.  Written in 1955 by John Drury, this publication contains historical narratives, includes county and township maps, and many unique aerial photographs of cities, towns, villages and farmsteads.  It is #31 of The American Aerial History Series.  977.359 DRU