The George Ross Library is on the second floor of the Centralia Area Historical Museum which is in the historic Kohl & Meyer Building. The museum has three floors of historical displays, all easily accessed by an elevator. Anyone interested in local history and/or genealogy is sure to find something to interest them here. We hope the George Ross Library will appeal to the student, the avid researcher, or anyone who wants to read amusing stories about our history.
What can you find in the George Ross Library?
Printed Resources Available In The Library
The collection is constantly growing. It currently contains:
· City history books for Centralia, Central City, Hoyleton, Irvington, Iuka, Kinmundy, Odin, Omega, Patoka, Salem, Sandoval, Shattuc, Walnut Hill, Xenia, and others
· County history books for Marion, Clinton and Washington Counties
· Marion County Cemetery books
· Centralia City Directories from 1894 to present
· Footprints in Marion County published by the Marion County Genealogy Society with index
· George Ross newspaper articles and gleanings
· Marion County census books
· Centralia High School and other local school yearbooks
· Historical Preservation information
Digital Resources Available
This ever-expanding collection is constantly being updated. Computers are available in the library to search these databases which are user friendly.
· Photographs
· Newspaper articles, business ads and gleanings from many local newspapers
· Centralia City Directories
· Lists of Centralia High School graduates
· Elmwood Cemetery records
· Family tree files
· Special Collections such as John Shaw Walnut Hill Collection, Phil Venezia Sports Collection, George Ross Articles, and newspaper accounts of the No. 5 Mine Disaster
· Centralia Historical Hall of Fame
· Research assistance for genealogists: charts, helpful websites, instructions for the beginner
· Photographs and information on old businesses, organization, schools, people, and much more
· Photographs and information on old homes and buildings
Research Reports
Another project currently being expanded is the creation of digital research reports available on our computers and easily accessed by the public. We currently have more than 20,000 reports on surnames, old businesses, old homes and buildings, organizations, churches, schools, etc., with information that would be very time-consuming for the researcher to compile. Each report may contain information from a number of sources including:
· Photographs
· Newspaper articles and gleanings
· Census
· Centralia City Directories
· Early land purchases
· Births, Marriages, Deaths and Burials
· Biographies
· Obituaries
These reports can assist the researcher by giving an instant collection of various types of information, along with source information.
Special Library Collections
John Shaw Walnut Hill Collection—This includes history and genealogy research in the area.
Phil Venezia Sports Collection—A treasure trove of local sports, including newspaper articles, charts, photos and Centralia Hall of Fame information.
Illinois Central Railroad Collection—This collection contains blueprints, employee information, and freight train diagrams.
Plus many others.