How to Find Your Ancestors in Chicago, Illinois
Genealogy, and researching ancestors, can be time consuming, and you should be prepared before you start. The good thing about researching an ancestor in Chicago is that there'll be comprehensive records available going back a long time. Researching our ancestors not only is interesting, it can help us to better understand ourselves.
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Instructions
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Gather together as much information as possible about the person who you are researching. This is vital when it comes to ensuring that you have found the right person, especially if you are trying to trace someone with a common name.
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Contact local Chicago newspapers and inquire about reading the obituaries that they have on record. If your ancestor has died in the past few years, you might be able to access their obituary online, but older ones might now only be available on microfilm. Microfilm copies of old newspapers often are kept in local libraries, but if not, ask the editor of the newspaper if you can be allowed to access their archives.
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Visit the Chicago Public Records Office at 122 N. Wells St., and research their lists of births, deaths and marriages in Chicago. You will need to have as much information as possible about the person you are researching. Call the office before you go, because you'll probably need to make an appointment.
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Join the Chicago Genealogy Society, where you can access the society's online records and communicate with others who are doing the same thing that you are. Although the society does not have staff to provide a research facility, they can give you a list of fellow members who would be willing for a fee to help you with your research.
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Join an online genealogy website such as Genealogy.com, where you can access millions of records. After the initial 14-day, free-trial period, you'll be charged a fee for accessing their records.
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Visit Chicago churches and research the records they keep of marriages and deaths. Churches kept records before the state did. If your ancestor died within their parish, you might even be able to find them in a graveyard.
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References
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