Interested in learning more about the history of the Elgin area? Gail Borden Public Library collects a wide variety of local information including school yearbooks, city directories, and maps. Visit the Information Desk at the Main Library to learn more.
Digital Archives
A small portion of Gail Borden Public Library's historical archives have been made available online. These materials are part of the Illinois Digital Archives, which contains information from throughout the state of Illinois. If you are looking for more information on a particular subject, visit the Information Desk at the Main Library to speak with a Librarian.
For more Chicago area history, visit Explore Chicago Collections.
Resources at Gail Borden's Main Library
- Elgin City Directories & Kane County Directories
- Elgin & Kane County Maps & Atlases
- Kane County Histories
- Elgin Histories
- Pictorial, Descriptive & Architectural Studies
- Elgin Newspapers
- Annual Reviews of Local Construction
Additional Online Resources
- Kane County Recorder
- Kane County Assessor
- Elgin Township Assessor
- Cook County Assessor
- Elgin History Museum
Local Newspapers Online
The Gail Borden Public Library is working on digitizing our community's historic Newspapers. You can now view the online archive, which will be updated with content as we continue this project. To see the full set of digitized newspapers you need to be in the library connected to our wifi.
Newspaper Index
The Elgin Newspaper and Vital Record’s Index is a searchable database of articles from the Courier News and Daily Herald for articles concerning Elgin. Try a keyword search for a name, place, or subject.
Back to the main research page
Click to view and print this short guide to finding more about your home's history.
Preserve Your Home
Historic Preservation on
the City of Elgin’s Website
Building Plaque Program
from the City of Elgin