Finding Chicago Death Certficates, 1878-1915
This search can sometimes become quite complicated and I
will be updating this page with further information at a later date.
In the meantime, if you are trying to locate these records on Family History
Center films and have any questions about how to do it, email me . . .
Step 1
If you find a matching entry, proceed to Step 2.
If you don't find a matching entry, proceed to Step 4.
Step 2
If
the record is for a death in Chicago, proceed to Step 3a.
THEOBALD, HENRY 04/25/1915 CHICAGO
48 YRU 00019230
COOK
If the
record is for a death in Cook County, proceed to Step
3b.
THEOBALD, GEORGE 12/11/1905 COOK COUNTY 64 YRU 00017954
COOK
Step 3a
Step 3b
Once you have the certificate number for a Cook County death certificate (outside the city of Chicago), you can request a copy of the record from IRAD at NEIU ($1), access the Cook County birth certificates, 1878-1894 and Cook County birth certificates, 1916-1922on film through your local Family History Center (about $5.50 to order a film; no cost if the film is at the FHC), or send in a request to the Cook County Clerk's Office ($15).
If you need a death certificate for Cook County for 1910-1915 it may be on the Chicago death certificate films and a lookup can be requested from ChicagoGenealogy.com ($5).
Many Cook County death certficates from the late 1880s are missing on the Cook County death certificate films. If IRAD is unable to provide a copy of the certificate, check with the Cook County Clerk's office to see if they can provide death information from a death register.
Step 4
If you can't find an entry in the online index, try the suggestions below.
1) Search the Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index using Stephen Morse's One Step page. It will allow you to filter for age and year of death and it's a good way to find names that are misspelled. If you find an entry, follow the directions above to find the death certificate.
2) Check the Chicago Death Index, 1871-1933. (The actual title in the catalog is "Indexes to deaths in the city of Chicago during the years 1871 to 1933 : showing name, address and date of death.") It includes out-of-town deaths (OT), a common reason why a death doesn't appear in the online index, and stillbirths (SB).
If you find a match in this index for a death for deaths 1916-1933, the "register number" is the same as the "certificate number" or "state file number" found in the online index and it can be used to find the death certificate.
If you find a match in this index for a death 1878-1907, the register number from this index cannot be used to find the death certificate on Family History Center films. Look for a matching entry in the online or fiche index. If you find one, use that certificate number to locate the record. If you don't find one, "scroll through" the certificate film to see if you can find the record that way. (see below)
If you find a match in this index for a death 1908-1915 it is possible to use the register number to find a certificate IF you choose a film from the right group of certificate films for the year but use this approach only if you can't find the matching entry in the online or microfiche index.
If you find a match labeled "OT" it is an out-of-town death and you will need to look for the record on the Out-of-town death certificate films or contact the place of death to see if they can provide a certifiate.
3) Scroll through death certificate films for the right month/year/first letter of surname. Certificates before 1916 are grouped by first letter of the surname for each month/year on the death certificate films available through Family History Centers and so if you have a death or burial date, it is possible to "scroll through" the death certificate film to see if the record is there. To do this, use the One Step index to find an entry for a death with the same first letter of surname in the same month and year and use that certificate number to choose the film. Locate the beginning of the entries for the right surname letter, month, and year and scroll through. (If you don't find the record, check to make sure it's not on the coroner's certificate film or the Cook County certificate film.)