The Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871 destroyed all Cook County vital records prior to that date. Record keeping resumed in 1872. The Cook County' Clerks's Office has a website with an index to birth, marriage and death records, starting in 1872. Records are still being added so you may need to check back if you don't find the information you need.
Note: The death indexes for Cook County are also available on-line.
Cook County births, 1871-1916
If you provide the full name for an individual and a match is found, the Newberry staff will send you a copy of the index entry for that person. Index entries include the full date of birth. If a precise match is not found, we will mail to you all the entries for that surname (up to 3 pages). If you do not know the full name of an individual and/or are interested in all of the entries for a given surname (up to 3 pages), you need only specify the surname on the form below.
Please note that this service does not include a copy of the birth certificate itself.
Please send a check or money order made out to the Newberry Library ($7 for each index searched), together with the completed form to:
Quick Search
Local and Family History
The Newberry Library
60 West Walton
Chicago, IL 60610-3305
Cook County births, 1871-1916
Full name of individual name
(or single surname up to three pages)
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