Just starting your Chicago
family tree? I can help!
I very much enjoy gathering records to build a family tree. In fact, I always have a project of my own to work on when I want to relax. If you're looking for someone to help research a Chicago family, email me to see if I can help.
I can locate vital records, census records, Catholic church records, obituaries, probate records, and divorce records and more. And I can visit the Circuit Court Archives, the Harold Washington Library, IRAD at NEIU, The Chicago History Museum and the Newberry Library. (Just ask if you need me to travel to other repositories.) I can also make visits to some Chicago-area cemeteries.
My fee is $25 per hour ($26.06 if paid by PayPal). This includes cemetery photos and any records I might find online. For records obtained at local repositories I will ask you to reimburse me for the cost of copies, and if I travel downtown, I'll ask for the cost of travel (usually $4.50) or parking (usually $5.00).
I won't begin research until we agree on a research plan and the turnaround time will vary, depending on travel needs. However, you'll find that I am pretty focused once I begin. My usual approach is to organize the information I find for you using a genealogical database program or an online tree and I will provide you with a list of the sources searched along with a summary of what was found.
Research Available through ChicagoGenealogy.com
I prefer to do lookups through Genlighten.com (it's efficient) and you can find a list of offerings on my profile page. but I will also take requests by email.
My specialty is finding Chicago death certificates, 1878-1947 and I offer a number of options:
1) Send me a death index entry from 1923-1947and I'll send you a digital image of the corresponding record. $6.00. (Before 1923 the records are online for free at FamilySearch. After 1947 the certificates are available from the county or state.)
2) Send me a name and a death date for an individual who died 1878-1947 when you can't find the record online or in the index and I'll do my best to find the death record for you. $8.00, if found.
3) Send me a list of index entries for death records 1923-1947 for a person of the same name along with identifying information and I'll try to find the match you're looking for. $10, if found, $5.00 if not found.
I can also look for Catholic church records for Chicago parishes.
I charge $7.00 for marriage register entries (I can almost always figure out the parish from the marriage license) and $7.00 for baptismal records when the parish is known. If you need help finding records when the parish is unknown, I may be able to help for an hourly rate of $25 per hour. Email me for more information.
I'm happy to take email requests to look for obituaries from online sources. I charge $2.00 for each one found.
To request searches by email, please send a note to info@chicagogenealogy.com and include "Lookup Request" in the subject line. (I cannot accept lookup requests or provide consultation by telephone or by regular mail.)
My fees are payable by check or PayPal once I let you know that I have completed your request. I usually do lookups on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and turnaround time is almost always next working day.