Wait? What’s in That Cabinet Again?!

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 curiosities.

Last time, we featured some of the genealogies that are contained within this cabinet, but that is not all you can find inside. There are also other genealogy research helps that you may find useful. These related to certain regions/cities and record types. As we know, genealogical research can benefit from many different types of resources.

Some of the interesting titles in the cabinet include…

• • • • Calendar of Irregular Marriages in the South Leith Kirk Session Records 1697-1818 by James Scott Marshall.
      • The Emigrant’s Hand Book and Guide to Wisconsin: Comprising Information Respecting Agricultural and Manufacturing Employment by Sanuel Freeman
      • General Directory and Business Advertiser of the City of Chicago, for the Year 1844: Together with a Historical Sketch and Statistical Account, to the Present Time by J.W. Norris.
      • Kenosha: From Pioneer Village to Modern City, 1835-1935 by Carrie Cropley
      • Plan of Chicago Prepared Under the Direction of the Commercial Club During the Years MCMVI, MCMVII, and MCMVIII by Daniel H. Burnham and Edward H. Bennett

These publications are older/rarer, so you may not be able to find them anywhere else, including online. Come to the library and page through one or more of them if you think they will be useful for your genealogical research!

If you are interested in accessing one of these books, you can ask a librarian at one of the Adult Information Desks for help. If there is a librarian at the Lower Level desk, ask them to unlock the cabinet and retrieve the book(s) you want. These books cannot be checked out, but you can make scans/copies from them.

To explore all of the books inside this cabinet, check out our online catalog. As you can see, there are over sixty items inside this cabinet, which is often called the “Closed Stacks.” Perhaps one will have a helpful clue or the genealogical information that you need!