Records that survive
These are the record series from Cook County held by the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system, with the earliest and latest years. A span can include gaps. They include county, township and city records. This county's are held at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Birth Record1871–1915
- Birth Record Index1871–1916
- Death Record Index1871–1916
- Marriage Licenses1871–1915
- Marriage Record Index1871–1916
- Birth Certificates, Outside the City of Chicago1878–1894
- Birth Record, Outside the City of Chicago1878–1894
- Death Certificates, Outside the City of Chicago1878–1909
- Burial Permit Stub Books (Hyde Park)1884–1886
- Death Record, County Hospital1944–1946
Deeds and land
- Deed Record (Washington Heights)1880–1884
Wills and estates
- Probate Will Record Index1850–1919
- Probate Case Files Index1871–1935
- Probate Miscellaneous Record1871–1926
- Probate Record1871–1923
- Probate Administrator's Bonds and Letters1877–1923
- Probate Administrator's Bonds and Letters With Will Annexed1877–1931
- Probate Grants of Administration Record1877–1922
- Probate Grants of Guardianship Record1877–1923
- Probate Guardian's Account Record1877–1923
- Probate Guardian's Bonds and Letters1877–1923
- Probate Executor's Bonds and Letters1879–1923
- Probate Will Record1879–1928
- Probate Inventory Record, Guardians1880–1923
- Probate Proof of Will Record1882
- and 2 more series in the full listing
Naturalization
- Naturalization Record Index, County Court1867–1906
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent Index, Circuit Court1871–1929
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent Index, Criminal Court1871–1903
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Criminal Court1871–1903
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Superior Court1871–1929
- Naturalization Petition Record Index, Superior Court1871–1906
- Naturalization Record Index of Minors, Circuit Court1871–1906
- Naturalization Record Index of Soldiers and Minors, Criminal Court1871–1903
- Naturalization Record Index, Circuit Court1871–1906
- Naturalization Record Index, Criminal Court1871–1903
- Naturalization Record, Final, Circuit Court1871–1906
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers, Circuit Court1872–1902
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent Index, County Court1874–1906
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1874–1929
- and 13 more series in the full listing
Tax records
- Assessor's Record (Lake)1853–1871
- Assessment Order Books (Chicago)1872–1878
- Collector's Books (Chicago)1873–1874
Court records
- School Inspectors' Minutes (Chicago)1840–1856
- Highway Commissioners' Minutes (Jefferson Twp.)1850–1876
- Highway Commissioners' Minutes (Hyde Park)1861–1865
- County Insane Asylum Admission and Discharge Record1863–1904
- School Board Minutes (Chicago)1865–1928
- Board of Health Minutes (Chicago)1871–1891
- Circuit Court Case Files Index1871–1921
- Circuit Court Index, Burnt Records1871–1922
- Circuit Court Order Books, Burnt Records1871–1904
- Probate Guardian's and Conservator's Record Index1871–1921
- Circuit Court Case Files, Burnt Records1872–1904
- Circuit Court Petition Dockets, Burnt Records1872–1936
- Coroner's Inquest Record1872–1911
- Insanity Record, County Hospital1877–1887
- and 5 more series in the full listing
Schools
- School Inspectors' Expense Journal (Chicago)1841–1856
Elections and voters
- Election Ward Precinct Maps (Chicago)1897–1984
Town and city records
- City Council Proceedings Files (Chicago)1833–1944
- City Council Proceedings Files Index (Chicago)1833–1998
- City Ordinance Record (Chicago)1837–1911
- City Council Minutes (Chicago)1853–1907
- City Council Proceedings Files (Lakeview)1855–1889
- City Council Minutes (Lakeview)1857–1889
- City Council Minutes Index (Lakeview)1857–1889
- City Treasurer's Cash Books (Chicago)1865–1872
- City Council Order Record (Chicago)1867–1878
- City Council Proceedings Files Index (Lakeview)1867–1889
- City Council Resolution Record (Chicago)1867–1878
- License Record (Chicago)1867–1899
- Local Improvements Fund Ledgers (Hyde Park)1869–1885
- Police Department Homicide Record (Chicago)1870–1930
- and 54 more series in the full listing
County government
- Highway Commissioners' Account Books (Northfield Twp.)1935–1953
Other records
- County Hospital Warden's Registers1872–1938
- County Hospital Ward Registers1906–1939
- County Hospital Admission Record, Psychopathic Hospital1920–1935
Search the IRAD database for this county
Source: Illinois State Archives, Local Government Records Database (choose the county to see every series and its accession number). Contact the depository before you visit. Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916.
Where to find the records
- Cook County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court, and any online record search the county offers.
- The county clerk
Births, deaths and marriages registered in the county.
- The recorder of deeds
Deeds, mortgages and other land records (in some counties the county clerk is also the recorder).
- The clerk of the circuit court
Probate (wills and estates), divorces and civil and criminal cases.
- The Illinois State Archives
In Springfield, with older county records at its regional depositories (IRAD) on university campuses.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) systemfree
The State Archives' regional depositories, which hold older county, township and city records; search its Local Government Records Database by county.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Illinois, Cook" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Putnam County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Putnam County
Later formed partly from Cook County: DuPage County, McHenry County, Will County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1831, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916; counties kept registers earlier, often from 1877 or 1878. The Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, from the State Archives, covers many marriages from 1763 to 1900.