• Polish Genealogical Society of America
• South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society
• National Archives at Chicago
  Resources and events open to the public (for a nominal fee) which may be of interest to genealogy buffs.
• Newberry Library

Illinois Websites

• A Look at Cook
• Family History Research in Illinois
• Illinois State Archives Databases
• Illinois State Genealogical Society Listings of Genealogical, Historical or Lineage Societies in Illinois.
• Illinois Digital Newspaper Project
• Illinois Newspaper Project

National Websites

• American Family Immigration History Center of the Ellis Island Foundation Search Ellis Island passenger records!
• Civil War Era Genealogy Research Links to several sites.
• Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet by Cyndi Howells. One-stop shopping for genealogy sites on the Web! If you only go to one site, this should be it!
• Ellis Island Resources
• Family History Library (The LDS Church) FamilySearch
  • FamilySearch Tutorial
• Genealogy.com Search for ancestors, learn how to research, and more!
• Genealogy.org Many links for information and other sources.
• Genealogy Toolbox Many links for information.
• Linkpendium
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): Genealogy
  Look here for information on NARA's three most important genealogical holdings--census, military, immigration and passenger records--and NARA's 12 regional archives.
• One Great Family A shared Internet database to help you connect with other genealogists' findings!
• U.S. Bureau of the Census Genealogy F.A.Q.  from the Census Bureau. Frequently asked questions about finding historical census data for genealogical and/or historical research. Unfortunately, the kind of data requested by genealogists about individuals is not currently available on the Internet and the Census Bureau has no plans to scan the data into files to be put online, but here's the U.S. Bureau of the Census for you to see what they do have!
• U.S. Gen Web Project Includes state pages, tombstone archives and more!
• The Valley Forge Muster Roll  About 30,000 men spent all or part of the winter of 1777-1778 with General Washington at the Valley Forge encampment. This database from the National Park Service attempts to list all those men. In addition to the searchable Muster Roll, this site contains an organizational chart of the Continental Army at Valley Forge and brief biographical information on Washington, his generals, and his aides-de-camp.

Government Records: Genealogy and Vital Records

• Birth Certificates - Illinois
• Birth Certificates - Indiana
• Where to Write for Vital Records tells you where to send (and how much to pay) for birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates in every state.
• Genealogical research guides from the National Archives and Records Administration. There are currently few online records, but these guides give expert tips on how to use traditional paper and microform documents available at the Archives and many libraries.
• Social Security Death Index by Ancestry Inc. This free unofficial site offers the Social Security Death Master File for genealogical research. Since the SSDI contains mostly deaths that have occurred since 1962 (recent memory for most families), its usefulness has been exaggerated by commercial vendors.
• Illinois Public Records - Statewide
  An impressive compilation of databases, under the "Illinois" link one can access public records dealing with real estate home values, missing children, liquor licenses, court decisions, etc.
• Illinois State Archives Databases include:
  • Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales
    Search this database of public land sales by name, county, price and more.
  • Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
    This database is a work in progress. Cook County's listings are incomplete but are being updated by volunteers on an ongoing basis.
  • Illinois' Research Databases from the Illinois State Archives. Includes Illinois veterans databases and others.
  • Other Genealogical Resources from the Illinois State Archives