An updated version of the Newberry's Cook County Vital Record Guide has just been published. A link is available on the ChicagoAncestor's Tools page. This guide provides valuable information about locating digitized vital records. For those records that have not yet been digitized, the contact information for the appropriate archives and government agencies is also provided.

Having a hard time finding those Chicago Ancestors? Register now for Getting Acquainted with Your Chicago Ancestors.

Learn sleuthing skills from the pros. We will start with end-of-life records, move to adult years, and then cover childhood. Find out about the innovative ChicagoAncestors.org website and other online sites to aid your research. You’ll come away with a road map for each leaf on your family tree.

Saturdays, Oct. 29 – Nov. 19
1 - 3 pm
Four sessions, $135
Register online

The Newberry staff is at the FGS Conference in Springfield, IL. Stop by our table (#606) in the exhibit hall and say hello. Tell us what you want to see next on ChicagoAncestors.

Having a hard time finding those Chicago Ancestors? Register now for Getting Acquainted with Your Chicago Ancestors.

From birth to death they left a paper trail. In a half day, you will come away with the information you need to track your Chicago ancestors through birth, school, marriage, work, and death. Learn about the innovative ChicagoAncestors.org website and other online sites to aid your research.

Saturday, August 6th
1 - 4 pm
One session, $55

Several new collections have recently been added to ChicagoAncestors.org, including Episcopal, Evangelical, Methodist, Presbyterian, Other Christian Churches and Eastern Religions. In all, over 100 new houses of worship have been plotted on the map. If we know the location of the records from these churches, we have included that information as well. Most of these additions come from the Newberry Guide to Chicago Churches and Synagogues.

The Yearbook Collection has been now been updated to include all the latest acquisitions of both the Newberry Library and the Chicago History Museum.

To start the new year off right, we've implemented some changes and added some new features to ChicagoAncestors.org. The highlights of these changes include:

• Additional Help information - including download-able instructions for entering and updating your own data
• A redesigned Browse page
• The ability to modify data you've already submitted
• A redesigned Tools page
• Additional information on Chicago city directories
• Additional information on Cook County vital records
• An updated list of honorary street names

We have just the thing for those of you who need help getting started with research plans for the coming year. The 2011 Calendar from the Burlington Route Historical Society features incredible black and white images from the Newberry's digital collection, Daily Life Along the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.

Triple the impact of your gift to the Newberry Library!

For every $1 donated to the Annual Fund in May and June, the Newberry will receive an additional $2 thanks to a generous challenge grant. With help from friends like you, we seek to raise $100,000, which will result in $300,000 for the Annual Fund. Most importantly, your gift will help our staff continue to offer extraordinary service to all who use the Library. For more information or to make a donation, click here!

Society publications are a wonderful source for genealogists. Unfortunately, it can be hard to locate articles of interest, as many of these newsletters and quarterlies have not been digitized. What if you could search for a church in the area around Leavitt Street and Harrison Street and find 2 articles about the Campbell Park Presbyterian Church? Or find that an article about the Joseph Wingert Flour, Feed, and Hay Store on 735 Maxwell St. was published in 1991?