We Recommend
Death in the Haymarket : a story of Chicago, the first labor movement, and the bombing that divided
Green, James R., 1944-
Upcoming Events
Museum Education Talks -- They Seek a City: Chicago and the Art of Migration »
Sat, May 11, 11:00 am
The History of Midway Airport »
Wed, Jun 19, 6:00 pm
WiFi @ the Library
Bring your laptop! Visit any of our branches for free WiFi!
View Details »
Featured Resource
Chicago Tribune Historical Archive »
Search the entire text of the Chicago Tribune, including classified and display advertisements, from 1849 to 1988. (For articles appearing in the paper after 1988, use Chicago Tribune (1985-present).)
Note that a Chicago Public Library card is required to use this resource unless using a Chicago Public Library computer.
Related Databases
Use these resources on any Chicago Public Library computer or on non-Library computers with your Chicago Public Library card.
Chicago Defender Historical Archive »
Search a digital archive of one of the most significant African American newspapers in the country. Find articles, classified ads, display ads, death notices and other content that appeared in the paper between 1910 and 1975. (For articles from 1999 to the present, use Black Newspapers or Illinois Newsstand.)
Chicago Examiner (Chicago Public Library Digital Collections) »
Search the Chicago Examiner (1908–1918) by keyword or browse collections on selected subjects. Hint: On the search page, under “Select specific collections,” unselect all collections except those for the Chicago Examiner to exclude non-Examiner content from your search.
HeritageQuest Online »
Search dozens of Chicago histories, biographies and directories from the 19th and early 20th centuries in the “Search Books” section of this genealogical resource. Of particular note is A.T. Andreas’s History of Chicago (1884).
Illinois Sanborn Maps »
Illinois Sanborn Maps offers digitized versions of a huge number of fire insurance maps for the state of Illinois, including over a hundred volumes for the city of Chicago. TIP: If looking for a location in Chicago or a nearby suburb, start with the Index to Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Chicago and take note of the series (1894-1897 or 1905-1951) and volumes for the neighborhood or suburb you’re looking for.
Search in the Library
About Chicago
Step inside Chicago and learn about the City’s history.
 Archival Collections » Discover the rich archival holdings of the Chicago Public Library. |
 Chicago Facts » Get the statistics. |
 Deaths, Disturbances, Disasters and Disorders » An exclusive look at tragedies that have struck Chicago. | ||
 Chicago Timeline » A chronological listing of events in Chicago history. |
 Chicago’s Mayors » Did you know there have been 46 mayors of the City of Chicago? |
 Chicago Symbols » Learn about Chicago’s flag, flower, motto and more. | ||
 Chicago Metro History Fair » Visit the Harold Washington Library Center for books, maps and more. |
 Chicago Newspapers » Search newspapers old and new at the Chicago Public Library. |
 Digital Collections » Browse images documenting Chicago’s history. |
Helpful Websites
- Encyclopedia of Chicago »
A project of the Chicago History Museum, the Newberry Library and Northwestern University, this online version of the award-winning print encyclopedia is a first stop for research into any topic on Chicago's past.
- Photographs from the Chicago Daily News, 1902-1933 »
This American Memory collection from the collections of the Chicago History Museum comprises over 55,000 photographs taken by the photographers of the Chicago Daily News. Additional material relating to Chicago can also be found in other collections of the Library of Congress's American Memory project.
- Chicago History Museum »
In addition to information on the museum, visitors to this website will find online exhibits on the Great Chicago Fire (1871) and Haymarket bombing (1886) among other topics.
- Your House Has a History »
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks offers this step-by-step guide to researching your property's history.
- Urban Experience in Chicago: Hull House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963 »
Co-sponsored by the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, this extensive site offers a large number of photographs and other historical sources with scholarly commentary.