Chicago research tools

OK so while I’m on the subject of the Newberry Library, if you’re doing research in Chicago, Cook County, there’s no better site than the ChicagoAncestors site from Newberry Library, which you can find in the Genealogy Collection Guides and Research Tools page of the Newberry’s site, under “Research Chicago”. You can also get there directly by going to www.chicagoancestors.org. You can browse through their collection of photos, digitized books, and church records under the Browse tab, and then view the collections. But my favorite part is under the “Tools” tab – There are several absolutely wonderful links, including one to the Cook County Clerk’s office with a very user-friendly search of birth-marriage and death records database going back to 1872, and the ability to purchase and instantly view the actual certificates. Also under the “Tools” tab are other great links to searchable City Directories, maps, histories and more.