Customer Reviews

Chicago and Cook County: A Guide to Research

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is hands down the most comprehensive resource on all aspects of genealogical research in the Chicago/Cook County Illinois area bar none. I purchased this book when it was new and don't know how else I would have done as much Chicagoland area research without it. Without this book I would have had no idea where to start researching when visiting Chicago and really helped insure I got the biggest bang for the buck when there. Where Ms. Szucs really pays off is breaking out the various municipalities and even offers offbeat sources such as the Medical Examiners Office that I would NEVER have thought of and it's a good thing as I've used that as a resource twice now with great results. Yes, it would be great to have an updated edition with new area codes and telephone numbers, internet sources and the like, but I find those sources can get stale-dated pretty darned quickly! Mrs. Szucs delivers what you need to get the ball rolling and it's always important to double-check local numbers and use those available resources like Google.

Chicago is rich with genealogy records but if one does not live in or near this vast city it is very hard to obtain those records.

This book, however, has helped me immensely with the research of my husband's Irish Chicago ancestors - what to look for, where to look, where to write. Besides giving a brief history of Chicago and its records, it includes information about the great fire and the destruction of the vast number of public records. But then it gives hints on what to look for when these records are needed by the genealogist and what can be used instead.

The book is chock full of information of libraries, depositories, collections, addresses - everything the genealogist needs to research the City of Chicago.

Be sure to get the most updated version because addresses and prices do change.

This is the same 1996 edition in a new cover. A big clue was the list of suburban Chicago libraries still with the 708 area code. Most of them changed to 847 in 1996.
I don't see any mention of the Internet either. There is a lot of info online for Chicago/Cook County research.

The basic information is very informative and I have helped several people by using this book.

I am awaiting the revised edition.

I recently purchased this book to aid the geneology research into my family history on the patriachal side of my family. Have found it an excellent aid and pointer to avenues to persue.