CHICAGO FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH SOURCES OVERVIEW&CRITIQUE

A WORD ABOUT CENSUSES Microfilms can still be useful Especially the SOUNDEXES 1. Harold Washington Library – self service 2. National Archives – appointments No reader-printers No reader-printers 3. Newberry Library – No reader-printers

CHICAGO CITY DIRECTORIES ► Harold Washington Library – Self Service [State St. at Congress] [State St. at Congress] Reader printers usually available (Free) Reader printers usually available (Free) ► Newberry Library – Readers “only” [Walton at Dearborn or Clark] [Walton at Dearborn or Clark] ► Chicago History Museum – Few reader-printers Actual books – Actual books – [Clark at North Avenue] [Clark at North Avenue]

TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES 1. Harold Washington Library – Self Service (Third Floor) White and Yellow pages White and Yellow pages To the 1970’s on microfilm To the 1970’s on microfilm Latest editions on microfiche Latest editions on microfiche Also Suburban Directories Also Suburban Directories

DEATH INDEXES On line at – departments/archives departments/archives For Cook County/Chicago – Only after 1871 For Cook County/Chicago – Only after 1871 Not a required act until after 1916 Not a required act until after Illinois Regional Archives Depository [Northeastern Illinois State Univ. – [Northeastern Illinois State Univ. – St. Louis or Central Park Aves. St. Louis or Central Park Aves. North of Foster] North of Foster] 2. Newberry Library

Birth and Marriage Indexes Also on line at the Illinois State Archives web site 1. Illinois Regional Archives Dep. (IRAD) 2. Newberry Library 3. Mormon Family History Centers SAM FINK INDEX

CHICAGO NEWSPAPERS ► Harold Washington Library – Self Service All Chicago papers All Chicago papers - Try the DAILY NEWS first - Try the DAILY NEWS first ► Newberry Library - DAILY NEWS 1876 – DAILY NEWS 1876 – TRIBUNE 1936 – 1960’s - TRIBUNE 1936 – 1960’s ► Chicago History Museum – Three box call

CHICAGO NEWSPAPERS Part 2 Foreign Language Newspapers ► Harold Washington Library SONNTAG and the ABENDPOST SONNTAG and the ABENDPOST ► Chicago History Museum SONNTAG and the ABENDPOST SONNTAG and the ABENDPOST ► Polish Historical Society CHICAGOSKI DEZENNIKI CHICAGOSKI DEZENNIKI

PLACES TO GO #1 COOK COUNTY CLERK Birth, death, marriage certificates 1. Very poor over the counter service 2. By Mail ► Get document numbers – Save $5 ► No birth data after 1930’s except for family ► No marriage data after the 1950’s except for family except for family

PLACES TO GO #2 CLERK OF THE COOK COUNTY COURTS Daley Center, Room 1113 A friendly, helpful staff 1. Naturalization Index on microfilm – Soundex Will provide copies of documents to the 1920’s 2. Probates – Name indexed by blocks of years 3. Divorces – Name indexed by blocks of years 4. Criminal cases – Docket Books only 5. Wills filed index (See Probates)

PLACES TO GO #3 COOK COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS County Building – Clark Street side Torrens Vault downstairs The clerks are not very helpful Self Service if you have a LEGAL DESCRIPTION CAN PROVIDE 1. Approximate dates of death 2. Probate case numbers 3. Names of wives and offspring

PLACES TO GO #4 ILLINOIS REGIONAL ARCHIVES DEPOSITORY 1. Naturalization Index (Only) – Soundex 2. Chicago Voter Registrations 1888, 1890, , 1890, Chicago Homicide Records (on line) 4. Birth - death indexes (Only) 5. Cook County marriage documents Outside of Chicago Outside of Chicago

PLACES TO GO #4 Cont. 6. Chicago City Cemetery plot owner records – records – Soon to be published by the Soon to be published by the Chicago Genealogical Society Chicago Genealogical Society 7. No Dunning Records The staff here is not all that familiar with The staff here is not all that familiar with the records available. the records available.

PLACES TO GO #5 COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER 2200 West Harrison 1. Walk in service no longer available 2. A complicated by mail system Coroners inquest testimony can be very helpful in providing names.

PLACES TO GO #6 CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM (Use of the Research Library free to all) A very friendly staff 1.Card catalog with names 2.Cabinet card (photographs) index 3.Access to TRIBUNE on line historical search engine 4.City and County histories on open shelves 5.“Book of Chicagoans” – Blue Books on open shelves 6.Street name and street number changes (also on line)

PLACES TO GO #6 Cont. CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM DOWN SIDE 1. Limited number of reader printers 2. Closed stacks for many items 3. Other – 3 items at a time NOT SET UP TO BE A FAMILY HISTORY REPOSITORY NOT SET UP TO BE A FAMILY HISTORY REPOSITORY

PLACES TO GO #7 NEWBERRY LIBRARY A very friendly and knowledgeable staff 1.All published print census indexes 2.A fine card catalog for family histories 3.Much on line database access 4.Chicago Genealogical Society Quarterly 5.Illinois “Rolls of Honor” 1929 and Chicago Evangelical Church data

PLACES TO GO #7 Cont. 7. Fine Civil War Adjutant General material (Much of this is on line – especially for Illinois) 8. Forest Home Cemetery Plot Ownerships DOWNSIDE On line data base seating is limited On line data base seating is limited Limited local newspaper availability Limited local newspaper availability THE NEWBERRY IS NOT A LOCAL HISTORY REPOSITORY

PLACES TO GO #8 NATIONAL ARCHIVES 74 th and Pulaski (A “safe” neighborhood) A small staff which does not have the time to be helpful 1. All published print indexes 2. City Directories on microfilm 3. Microfilms of all “open” censuses 4. Federal Naturalizations 5. World War I Draft records

PLACES TO GO #8 Cont. 6. Specialized historical record groups DOWNSIDE 1. Appointments only 2. Very limited reader-printers 3. Most records need to be pulled in advance- except for Censuses

PLACES TO GO #9 CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY HAROLD WASHINGTON A friendly staff which knows next to nothing about genealogy 1. Cook County/Chicago Censuses 1850 – 1930 (Third Floor) 2. Chicago Newspapers on microfilm on open shelves 3. Other major national newspapers on microfilm 4. Chicago City Directories on microfilm

PLACES TO GO #9 Cont. 5. Cook County and Chicago SIDWELL maps Used to find property legal descriptions (Fourth Floor) 6. Sanborn Fire Insurance maps (Sixth Floor) on Microfilm 7. Collection of all published works on all aspects of Chicago history (Sixth Floor) 8. Artists and Musicians Data Bases (Eighth Floor) 9. Chicago Special Collections Civil War and Neighborhoods Collections

PLACES TO GO #10 ► OAK PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY – (Great for Chicago’s Austin neighborhood) (Great for Chicago’s Austin neighborhood) Lake Street in Oak Park – an easy walk Lake Street in Oak Park – an easy walk from the “Green” Line’s Oak Park Ave. from the “Green” Line’s Oak Park Ave. Station Station Oak Park OAK LEAVES (newspaper) Oak Park OAK LEAVES (newspaper) card index of deaths to 1980 card index of deaths to 1980 The OAK LEAVES is on microfilm The OAK LEAVES is on microfilm

PLACES TO GO #11 ► Evanston Public Library (Great for Chicago’s well to do and for far north neighborhood data.) (Great for Chicago’s well to do and for far north neighborhood data.) An easy walk from the “Purple” Line’s An easy walk from the “Purple” Line’s Davis Street stop. Davis Street stop. 1.Evanston newspapers 2.Evanston and north shore suburban city directories 3.Local history room

PLACES TO GO #12 CHICAGO CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE ARCHIVES 711 West Monroe (An appointment in advance is required) Very limited help is available 1. Parish baptismal, marriage, burial records for each parish to 1916 On microfilm On microfilm You must know the specific parish You must know the specific parish

PLACES TO GO #13 NUMEROUS CHICAGO CEMETERIES ► Non denominational – Graceland, Rosehill, Forest Home, Graceland, Rosehill, Forest Home, Oakwoods, Union Ridge, etc. Oakwoods, Union Ridge, etc. ► Catholic – Resurrection, Mt. Carmel, Holy Sepulcher, Resurrection, Mt. Carmel, Holy Sepulcher, etc. etc. ► Irish Catholic – German Catholic Calvary, Mt. Olivet - St. Boniface Calvary, Mt. Olivet - St. Boniface

PLACES TO GO #13 Cont. ► German Lutheran – Wunder’s, Concordia, St. Lucas Wunder’s, Concordia, St. Lucas ► Scandanavian Protestant – Mt. Olive Mt. Olive ► Jewish – 54 different Jewish congregations at 54 different Jewish congregations at Waldheim Cemeteries Waldheim Cemeteries ► Bohemian – Bohemian National Bohemian National

PLACES TO GO #14 ETHNIC MUSEUMS RESEARCH CENTERS ► Swedish – Andersonville (Clark near Foster) Foster) ► Scottish – Scottish Home (Riverside, Ill) ► Irish – Irish Heritage Center (North Knox Street) Street) ► Polish – Polish American Museum (Milwaukee Ave. at Augusta Street) Ave. at Augusta Street)

PLACES TO GO #14 Cont. ► Italian – Stone Park, Illinois ► Lithuanian – Balzekas Museum (Pulaski Ave.) Ave.) ► Jewish – Spertus Museum NOT a complete list

FINAL THOUGHTS CHICAGO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY CHICAGO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY First Saturday of the month First Saturday of the month 1:30 PM at the Newberry Library 1:30 PM at the Newberry Library CHICAGO - COOK COUNTY SOURCES CHICAGO - COOK COUNTY SOURCES By Loretto D. Szucs By Loretto D. Szucs FINDING YOUR CHICAGO ANCESTORS FINDING YOUR CHICAGO ANCESTORS By Grace DuMelle By Grace DuMelle