~WELCOME~
Interested in local history? Want the obituary of a relative? A peek at old photos of downtown Hudson? We’ve got those items and more in the Hudson History Room. Come in and experience the history of Hudson!
You’ll find:
- Notebooks of Homes in Hudson Village and Township 1838-1930 and 1950 to the present
- Obituaries and military records
- Information on Hudson and rural schools
- A collection of Elbert Hubbard books
- Vintage photographs
- Historical displays
Cemetery Information and Obituaries
Researching your family’s history? The Hudson History Room is a great place to start. We have information on folks who were buried in the following cemeteries:
- East White Oak (in Woodford County)
- Hinthorn Cemetery
- Hudson Cemetery
- Hudson West Cemetery
- Kaufman Cemetery
- Messer Cemetery
Or start your genealogical research by checking our list of obituaries available in the History Room. Obituary information comes solely from obituaries filed at the Hudson Area Public Library District’s History Room. The full obituaries are located at the Hudson History Room. All places named within the obituaries are located in Illinois unless otherwise noted. Copies are available at the library for ten cents a page OR by mail for a flat five dollar fee.
Newspapers
We have back copies of the following newspapers:
- The Carlock Chronicles, 1965-1970 (We also have several issues from 1962.)
- The Hudson Happenings
- The Quill
Take a Walking Tour of Hudson
The History Room staff has put together a Historical Walking Tour of Hudson, IL. This tour takes you to a 21 sites of historical significance in the history of Hudson. Additional information on all these sites can be found in the History Room along with information on all the other interesting people, places, organizations, and events from Hudson’s past.
Need a Gift? Copies of Images of America — Hudson are available for purchase.
Judith Lampert and Sue Keeran penned a book about Hudson with text and photos celebrating Hudson’s history for Hudson’s 175th, in 2011. The book, published in April 2011, costs $15.00 per copy with all proceeds to benefit the Hudson Area Public Library District’s Hudson History Room. Ask at the library desk for your copy of Hudson today!
Surplus Elbert Hubbard Books for Sale
The Hudson History Room has two surplus copies of Elbert Hubbard books for sale. Elbert Hubbard was a Hudson native and design icon who created the Roycrofters movement. The books, An American Bible, have dust-jackets and sell for $7.50 per volume. Proceeds from the sales of these books return directly to the Hudson History Room.
Links to Other History Sites
McLean County Genealogical Society
McLean County Museum of History
Pantagraph Digital Archive (This requires a username and password that may be obtained from a library staff member.)