Just another little tidbit of [hopefully] useful information. Instead of going to DC, we can go to Chicago. Good luck, take care, take time & share, Judy in IN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National Archives -- Great Lakes Region In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Address The National Archives -- Great Lakes Region 7358 South Pulaski Road Chicago, IL 60629 Telephone: (773) 353-0162 Hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays Holdings This branch of the National Archives holds approximately 62,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the 1780's to the present. Their original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as American Indians, agriculture, and regional court records. Among their national records on microfilm are United States population censuses for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; Indian censuses from 1885-1940; various passenger lists and indexes to passenger lists; military records from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Patriot War of 1838, the Mexican War, as well as records of volunteer soldiers for the Civil War, The War with Spain, and the Indian Wars. Access to Records On site Researchers who plan to use the original records on-site should schedule visits in advance. All researchers using original records need to get a researcher ID card. Records may be photocopied unless the condition of the document prohibits it. Researchers who plan to use the microfilm records can do so in the self-service microfilm reader room. Call in advance to make reservations. Self-service microfilm to paper copies are available. Through the mail The National Archives staff will not do genealogical research for you. However, they can look up and copy a particular record if you have detailed information about that record. Costs are usually less than $10. If you are looking for a specific type of record, call or write to find out what information is required before the staff will initiate a search. Literature available A number of important pamphlets are available through the Archives. You may consider ordering the following pamphlets to help you in your search: Microfilm Publications in the National Archives - Great Lakes Region Guide to Records in the National Archives - Great Lakes Region Select List of Publications of the National Archives and Records Administration Ordering Reproductions from the National Archives Military Service Records in the National Archives of the United States Using Records in the National Archives for Genealogical Research Using Census Records The National Archives Microfilm Rental Program Microfilm Records that Pertain to Genealogy Hi Folks; Sorry to sound like a broken record but there is info on the Cook Co. ILGenWeb site that has a link to the Archives, with all their info AND a link to a page of Volunteers that do obit and city directory lookups... check out <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcook/index.htm">Cook Cnty ILGenWeb USGenWeb - Research Resources Page</A> thanks angel jacobsen-shweika co-ordinator for <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcook/cook.htm">IL: ILGenWeb Cook County Illinois Genealogy</A> webmistress for <A HREF="http://jacobsen-shweika.com/genealogy">JACOBSEN "Jenealogy" Journal</A> ==== COOK-CO-IL Mailing List ==== There is never a fee to join any ROOTSWEB LIST. However, donations are always welcomed! :) Support Rootsweb: http://www.rootsweb.com