Get started with new books, essential websites and databases.
Research Your Roots @ the Library!
Available from home with your Cook library card:
History and genealogy archives featuring original documents and photographs, including military records, city directories, and naturalizations records.
- *Chicago Tribune Historical Database
Search the full newspaper, including advertisements, from 1849 - 1985.
Census data, family records, local histories and the PERSI magazine index. This collection assembles every extant
federal census, banking and military records, genealogies, primary source materials, and genealogical and local history serials. U.S.
- *New York Times (Historical)
The complete paper—cover-to-cover—with full-page and article images in downloadable PDF, from its first issue in 1851 up to 2007
In Library Use Only:
- Access Newspaper Archive
Use this archive to view, save and print articles dating from 1759 to 1977 from smaller newspapers across the country. The collection is far from complete, but a rich resource for some areas. Use the Advanced Search to see if a newspaper from a specific city is included.
- American Ancestors Formerly New England Ancestors.
Hundreds of searchable databases including vital records, cemetery transcriptions, marriage and death indexes, family histories and more.
- Ancestry Library Edition
This database is the library subscription service of the Ancestry.com website, providing complete access to hundreds of online genealogical databases including census and military records, birth and marriage records, immigration information, and more. Available in the library.
New: Arkiv Digital
For Swedish genealogy. In library use only. Access it from the Other Programs folder on the desktop of the public computers at the library.
- Sanborn Maps of Illinois
Large scale plans of a city or town drawn to the scale of 50 feet to an inch. Search the archive of maps from 1867-1970.
Try a free online class to get started
Research with the DAR
Interested in joining the DAR? Are you stuck on your DAR application? Would you like to know more about the DAR?
DAR volunteers are at the library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month in the Lower Level Collections room to help you. Come meet these friendly volunteers and get your DAR application started.
Essential Web Sites
Cyndi's List Find websites by category.
FamilySearch.org Hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
USGenWeb Useful for finding resources by state or county
LinkPendium An alternate site for finding resources by geographical area
RootsWeb Mailing lists, message boards, and a great "Getting Started" section
Illinois State Archives See the variety of state records available online or in archives.