Genealogy

Access Newspaper Archive (only accessible in the library)

Use this archive to view, save, and print articles published in smaller Illinois newspapers between 1831 and 2021. The collection is far from complete, but is a rich resource for some areas. Use the Advanced Search to see if a newspaper from a specific city is included.

American Ancestors (only accessible in the library)

Hundreds of searchable databases including vital records, cemetery transcriptions, marriage and death indexes, family histories and more.

Ancestry Library Edition (home access temporarily available!)

Access to more than 4,000 databases and 1.5 billion names. Included are the digitized images of the U.S. Federal Census from 1790 forward, vital, church, court, and immigration records, as well as record collections from Canada and other areas.

Arkiv Digital (in-library use only)

For Swedish genealogy research. Search birth, marriage, death, military, household records and more. Access this resource from the Other Programs folder on the desktop of the public computers at the library.

Chicago Tribune Historical Archive

From Newsbank - contains 2.5 million obituaries and death notices, front pages from 1900 - 1984, and selected articles from the newspaper's clipping files. Paid ads are excluded.

Chicago Tribune Historical Database

Search the full newspaper, including advertisements, from 1849 - 1985.

Fold3

History and genealogy archives featuring original documents and photographs, including military records, City Directories and Naturalization Records.

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.

Sanborn Maps of Illinois (only accessible in the library)

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.

Library Databases

Daily Herald

Chicago Tribune Historical Archive

Chicago Tribune Historical Database

New York Times Historical Database

Access Newspaper Archive (in library use only)

 

Online

Google News Archive
Chronicling America Newspaper Directory

Directories

Chronicling America Newspaper Directory
Wisconsin Historical Society

Where to write for Vital Records

Adoption

Genealogy.com- All About Adoption
Cyndi’s List on Adoption
Illinois Adoption Records

Illinois Vital Records

Passenger Lists

Castle Garden
New York State's immigration processing facility from 1855 to 1890.

Ellis Island
The main port of entry for immigrants from 1892 to 1954.

Stephen Morse
Search passenger list sites using specialized search forms.

Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild Volunteers have transcribed over 10,000 passenger lists.

National Archives Immigration RecordsLibrary & Archives Canada
Many of our ancestors arrived in the United States through Canada.

Naturalization

Early naturalization records were filed in the counties of the states. In 1907, the process went national and records were kept at the federal level.
National Archives Naturalization Records

Canada
Library and Archives Canada Ancestor Search

Czech and Slovak
Czech and Slovak American Genealogy Society of Illinois
Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International

France
Genealogy in France

Germany
Basic Research Outline for German Genealogy
German Resources

Greek
Beginning a Greek Genealogical Search in the U.S.

Italian
Italian Ancestry

Jewish
JewishGen

Polish
Polish Genealogical Society of America

Swedish
Finding Your Swedish Roots

UK and Ireland
GenUKI

Libraries

Arlington Heights Public Library

Has an extensive book and microfilm collection as well as quality programs.

Northwest Suburban Genealogical Society