Have you ever wondered why Oktoberfest is celebrated in September? The actual history may surprise you! Yesterday, the annual festival began in Munich. This historic folk festival has deep cultural roots that continue to reverberate throughout the world, and Chicagoland is no exception. The multitude of smaller Oktoberfest celebrations held around our area are proof…
Have you ever encountered an unfamiliar or archaic word when you are conducting genealogical research? Perhaps you read the cause of death on an ancestor’s death certificate and wanted to learn more. Or perhaps you found a genealogical abbreviation/acronym that you could not readily decipher. Maybe you are researching in an unfamiliar language and need…
Have you ever noticed the small display cabinet in the Genealogy Section on the Lower Level of Cook Park Library? It has a glass cover and several shelves of books inside! Have you ever wondered about those books? Well, this two-part blog post will explore some of the items inside our very own cabinet of…
Have you ever noticed the small display cabinet in the Genealogy Section on the Lower Level of Cook Park Library? It has a glass cover and several shelves of books inside! Have you ever wondered about those books? Well, this two-part blog post will explore some of the items inside our very own cabinet of…
Do you like to read eBooks, listen to eAudiobooks, or watch movies online? Then, you may already know that the library subscribes to various platforms that make online reading and viewing possible. Perhaps you have even used Hoopla? Many people associate Hoopla with online videos and streaming music, and it IS a great source for those! However, Hoopla also…
Why on earth would you want to focus your genealogical research on America? Is there really anything that could be gained by studying the United States and its history? Many times, when we think about our genealogy, we think about researching certain ethnicities or in other countries; however, American genealogy should not be overlooked, particularly…
Happy Immigrant Heritage Month! This special celebration “aims to honor and recognize the contributions and diverse cultures of immigrants to the country. The designation of Immigrant Heritage Month began in 2014, when former President Barack Obama issued a presidential proclamation establishing June as National Immigrant Heritage Month.” Did you know that immigrants arrived to the…
Did you know that Libertyville has not always been Libertyville? That’s right! The town whose residents started the Cook Memorial Public Library District has been known by several other names. In the past, Vardin’s Grove, Independence Grove, and Burlington were all used in lieu of Libertyville. Also, one of these precursors (Burlington) briefly served as…
Do you have ancestors who served in the military at some point in history? If so, you may be able to find their service records, draft cards, and more online! These documents can help illumine information about their service, while bringing them to life with details about their physical appearance. Sometimes, you may be unsure…
Want to explore your Jewish roots? Then, there is no better time than May to identify Jewish heritage resources! To start, the library has quite a few Jewish genealogy books that can be helpful for beginning and continuing your research. These print resources are just a smattering of all that is available. You will also…
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