Index

HISTORY

Although Illinois became a state in 1818, the Department of Archives and Index wasn’t created until 1873. The Department’s duties were to "make and keep proper indexes to the executive records and all public acts, resolutions, papers and documents" filed with the Secretary of State (Rev. Stat. 1874, p. 986). However the department did not develop as an archival institution; instead it concerned itself primarily with the care of current records.

The Index Department's duties--besides being the keeper of the Great Seal of Illinois--have been expanded by the General Assembly to include more than 300 additional responsibilities. The Department has five sections:

• Administrative Code
• Lobbyist Registrations
• Notary Public
• Public Records
• Administration