R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Illinois
Research Outline
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Familysearch™
     Familysearch At Family History Centers
     Familysearch™ Internet Genealogy Service
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
     National Archives
     State Archives, Libraries, And Societies
     Illinois Regional Archives Depository System
     Another Important Library
     Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Bible Records
Biography
     Major Biographical Collections
     Biographical Encyclopedias
Cemeteries
     Locating Cemeteries
     Internet Tombstone Transcripts And Index
     Print And Microfilm Abstracts
Census
     Federal Censuses
     Mortality Schedules
     Territorial And State Censuses
     Census Substitutes
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
     City Directories
     Business Directories
     Locating Directories
Divorce Records
Emigration And Immigration
     Immigration And Migration
     Records
     Histories
Funeral Homes
Gazetteers
Genealogy
     Nationwide Indexes
     Statewide Indexes And Family Group Collections
     Pioneers Certificate Applications
     Centennial Farms
History
     State Histories
     Federal Papers Regarding Illinois
     The Draper Manuscript Collection
     Kaskaskia And Cahokia Records
     Local History Bibliographies
     County And Local Histories
Land And Property
     Early Settlers
     Government Land Transfers
     Individual Land Transfers
Maps
     Statewide Atlases
     County Atlases
     City Maps
Military Records
     Records Covering More Than One War
     Revolutionary War (1775 –1783)
     War Of 1812 (1812–1815)
     Civil War (1861–1865)
     Spanish-american War (1898–1899)
     World War I (1917–1918)
     Additional Military Records
Minorities
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
     Guide Book
     Card Index, 1840–1950
     Availability
Newspapers
     Inventory On The Internet
     Published Inventories
     Birth, Marriage, And Death Notices In Newspapers
     Availability
Obituaries
Occupations
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
     Birth And Death Records
     County Records Of Births And Deaths
     State Records Of Births And Deaths
     Marriages
     Chicago And Cook County
     Guide To Vital Records
Voting Registers
Other Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

This outline describes major sources of information about families from Illinois. As you read this outline, also study the United States Research Outline (30972), which will help you understand the terminology, contents, and uses of genealogical records.


RECORDS OF THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY

The Family History LibraryLook this term up in the glossary. has many of the records described in this outline. The major holdings of Illinois records include censuses and county courthouse records, such as probate, land, military, naturalization, and vital records of most counties. They generally date from the year the county was formed to the early 1900s, although some indexes for later years are available.

The library has acquired many printed transcripts and indexes of Illinois county records, as well as copies of census and biographical indexes found at the Illinois State Archives. The Family History Library also has some important collections and indexes for records of the city of Chicago and Cook County. Only a few sources are mentioned specifically in this outline.

Many early records of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in the city of Nauvoo and Hancock County are mentioned in the Tracing LDS Families Research Outline (34080).

Most sources described in this outline list the Family History Library’s book, microfilmLook this term up in the glossary., microficheLook this term up in the glossary., compact discLook this term up in the glossary., and computer numbersLook this term up in the glossary.. These are preceded by FHL, the abbreviation for Family History Library. You can use these numbers to locate materials in the library and to order microfilm and microfiche at Family History CentersLook this term up in the glossary..

You can use the computer number if you have access to the Family History Library CatalogLook this term up in the glossary. on computer. The Computer Number Search is the fastest way to find a source in the catalog.

The Internet is growing in importance to genealogists. Sources found on the Internet are cited in this outline with their Universal Resource Locator (URL) address.


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FAMILYSEARCH™


FamilySearch at Family History Centers

FamilySearch™ is a collection of computer files containing millions of names. FamilySearch is a good place to begin your family history research. Some of the records come from compiled sources, and some have been extracted from original sources. The Family History Library and many Family History Centers have computers with FamilySearch. A few FamilySearch files, for example, the U.S. Social Security Death IndexLook this term up in the glossary. and the U.S. Military IndexLook this term up in the glossary., are found on the Family History Library and Family History Center version of FamilySearch, but not on the FamilySearch™ Internet Genealogy Service.


FamilySearch™ Internet Genealogy Service

The web site www.familysearch.org allows you to preserve your genealogy, order Family History Library publications, learn research strategies, and look for information about your ancestors in the following resources:

Ancestral FileLook this term up in the glossary., a file of over 35 million names organized into families and pedigrees.
International Genealogical Index, an index of over 360 million names extracted out of vital records primarily from the British Isles, North America, and northern Europe.
Family History Library Catalog,Look this term up in the glossary. a description and classification of over 2 million microfilm reels and hundreds of thousands of genealogical books. You can search the catalog by family name, locality, author, book, or film number.
SourceGuide, a resource that contains a collection of over 150 research outlines for states, nations, or genealogy topics, an extensive glossary of word meanings, and a catalog helper.
Family History CentersLook this term up in the glossary., a list of locations where you can order the microfilms described in the Family History Library Catalog and SourceGuide.
Web Sites, a categorized list of thousands of links to Internet sites related to family history.
Collaboration Lists, user-created mailing lists of researchers interested in similar genealogical topics.


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FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG

The records of the Family History Library are listed in the Family History Library Catalog available at the library, at each Family History Center, and on the Internet at www.familysearch.org/search/searchcatalog.asp. To find a record in the Family History Library Catalog, look in the Locality Search for:

  • The place where your ancestor lived, such as:
UNITED STATES - CENSUS RECORDSILLINOIS - LAND RECORDSILLINOIS, COOK - VITAL RECORDSILLINOIS, COOK, CHICAGO - DIRECTORIES
  • The record type you want to search, such as:
UNITED STATES - CENSUS RECORDSILLINOIS - LAND RECORDSILLINOIS, COOK - VITAL RECORDSILLINOIS, COOK, CHICAGO - DIRECTORIES

The following section headings in this outline match the names of record types used in the Family History Library Catalog.

RECORD SELECTION TABLE: ILLINOIS

This table can help you decide which records to search. It is most helpful for post-1850 research. 1. In column 1, select a research goal. 2. In column 2, find the types of records most likely to have the information you need. 3. In column 3, find additional record types that may be useful. 4. Look in the section of this outline that corresponds to the record type you chose. It explains what the records might tell you, how to search them, and how to find the records in the Family History Library Catalog using the Locality Search. Some records are not at the library. 5. If you do not find the desired information, see the Records Selection Table in the United States Research Outline (30972) for more suggestions. Note: Records of previous research (Genealogy, Biography, History, Periodicals, and Societies) are useful for most goals, but are not listed unless they are especially helpful.

1. If you need 2. Look first in 3. Then search
Adoptions Court Records, Vital Records Probate Records, Census
Age Census, Cemeteries, Obituaries Vital Records, Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
Birth date Vital Records, Obituaries, Cemeteries Church Records, Military Records, Biography
Birthplace Vital Records, Church Records, Obituaries Census, Military Records, Funeral Homes
Boundaries and origins (places) Maps, Gazetteers History, Societies
Children Census, Probate Records, Obituaries, Genealogy Vital Records, Church Records, Land and Property
City or parish of foreign birth Vital Records, Obituaries, Biography Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records, Funeral Homes
Country of foreign birth Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records Obituaries, Military Records, Minorities
Death information Vital Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Newspapers Probate Records, Funeral Homes, Church Records
Divorce Divorce Records, Vital Records, Court Records Newspapers, Census
Emigration information Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Maps Obituaries, Biography, Minorities, Land and Property, Court Records
Ethnic background Native Races, Minorities, Emigration and Immigration Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records, Census, Periodicals
Historical background History, Periodicals, Gazetteers, Native Races Maps, Land and Property, Church Records
Immigration date Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Societies Court Records, Biography, Obituaries, Periodicals
Living relatives Obituaries, Probate Records, Census Funeral Homes, Land and Property, Biography
Maiden name Vital Records, Obituaries, Probate Records Church Records, Funeral Homes, Bible Records
Marriage information Vital Records, Obituaries, Census, Genealogy Church Records, Probate Records, Military Records
Naturalization Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Voting Registers Court Records, Land and Property, Periodicals
Occupations Occupations, Census, Obituaries Biography, Directories, History
Other family members Census, Obituaries, Probate Records Funeral Homes, Vital Records, Church Records
Parents Vital Records, Obituaries, Census, Genealogy Probate Records, Funeral Homes, Church Records
Physical description Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration Biography, Occupations
Place-finding aids Maps, Gazetteers Archives and Libraries, History, Societies
Places of residence Census, Military Records, Obituaries, Directories, Taxation, Voting Registers Land and Property, Naturalization and Citizenship, Public Records
Place of residence when you know only the state Census, Vital Records, Military Records Naturalization and Citizenship, Taxation, Directories
Previous research Genealogy, Biography, Periodicals History, Archives and Libraries, Societies
Record-finding aids Archives and Libraries, Church Records, Periodicals Societies, For Further Reading
Religion Church Records, Vital Records, Obituaries Biography, Cemeteries, Funeral Homes
Social activities Societies, Obituaries, Biography Cemeteries, Directories, Funeral Homes

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Version of Data: 4/11/2006]