History and Genealogy

The original library building now contains the Lester Pfister History & Genealogy Room.

Other local history and genealogical information you can see at the library:

  El Paso Newspapers

• A microfiche reader/computer is available for viewing old newspapers from 1888 up until 2003. Our microfiche reader was purchased in 2014.
• Digital Newspapers can be viewed in the library from 1888 up until 2003.
• Paper copies of newspaper from 2003 to present day have been bound together and are available for the public. 
• There is a void in the newspapers from 1961-1965. If you have any of these issues, please contact the library. 

Yearbooks from El Paso High School and El Paso-Gridley High School.

Local historian, Marilyn Swanson put together many binders of information about local cemeteries, library history, and other local information.

FamilySearch Affiliate Library

• The El Paso District Library is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. FamilySearch.org offers free access to over a billion national and international genealogy resources. Library patrons can take advantage of the benefits of the library being affiliated with Family Search.  Library patrons will need to use a library computer to have special access to historical records not otherwise available to the public outside of a FamilySearch Family History Center. Users will need to create a free account on familysearch.org, and then they will be able to search records, family trees, genealogies, books, and more to learn more about their ancestors. 

 

Please see the following for a more detailed list of historical and genealogical sources:

• Genealogical and Historical Resources at the El Paso District Library
• ​The Woodford County Genealogy and Historical Society List of Resources
• Genealogical and Historical Resources at the Eureka Public Library District in Eureka, Illinois

Links to Sites about El Paso History:

El Paso, IL Community History Webpage

Woodford County El Paso A History in Pictures (Illinois Ancestors)

Lester Pfister corner of Lester Pfister History & Genealogy Room

Portrait of Andrew Carnegie painted in 1907 by Sarah Arnold, a longtime El Paso resident.