We specialize in the history of McHenry County and welcome questions about families, historic homes, businesses, schools, churches, organizations, cemeteries, local events, photographs, newspapers, and other topics represented in our collections. If you’re unsure whether we can help, just ask! We typically respond to requests within 3-5 business days.
Many questions can be answered quickly at no charge. If your request requires extensive staff research, fees may apply.
Current members receive up to three hours of complimentary research per membership year. Research requests from non-members are billed at $30 per hour for research beyond our complimentary service. We will review your request before beginning extensive research and will always contact you for approval before any billable research begins. If you’re not yet a member, learn more about the benefits of membership.
Yes. We offer digital scans and reproductions of many photographs, postcards, documents, and other materials. Fees vary depending on the intended use and the resolution requested. Visit our Reproduction Services page for current pricing.
Although we can’t guarantee every search will produce results, we’ll search the appropriate collections and let you know what we find. If another library, archive, or government office may be better suited to your question, we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.
Yes! We welcome donations that help preserve the history of McHenry County. Please contact us before bringing items to the museum so we can discuss your donation.
