Cook County, Illinois Online Historical Directories

Cook County, Illinois Online Historical Directories

Expand your research by checking out the Illinois Online Historical Newspapers here.

Links to directories at Fold3 are to the images themselves, which are browsable.  Non-subscribers will not be able to view these. Non-subscribers can, however, use the search engine and see a listing of possible results (but no images or further details).  To search by name, directory, year, or keyword, go to Fold3's Browse page, choose News and Town Records, then City Directories or Misc City Directories.  Choose the state, city, and year. At any time, use the search engine at the bottom of the page to search the entire collection, the state, the city, or just that year's directory.

Links to directories at GenealogyToday are to the search engine for that particular directory, which is searchable without a subscription. Non-subscribers can use the search engine and see a listing of possible results (but no images or further details).

Links to directories at New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) are to the images themselves, which are browsable.  Non-subscribers will not be able to view these. Non-subscribers can, however, use the search engine and see a listing of possible results (but no images or further details).  To search by keyword, go to the Digital Archive & Library search engine on this page (it is the second search box).

For more information on how to access subscription websites, read Number 5 on my FAQs page.

Chicago Directories, unknown (probably various), various years - $ (Fold3)

 - appears to be several miscellaneous directories from various publishers and years, microfilmed in one sitting (very likely these are loose pages that were filmed at the end of the filming of the whole books).  Check this listing if you cannot find your ancestors in the pages of the books linked below at Fold3.

 - appears to contain the 1917 Chicago Directory at the end

1840s

Chicago City Directory, Norris, Ellis & Fergus, 1843 - Free (All Ancestors)

 - transcribed

 - reprinted in 1896 by Fergus with Chicago deaths added

Chicago City Directory, Griswold, 1843 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, unknown, 1844 - Free (Distant Cousin)

 - transcribed

Chicago City Diretory, Norris, Ellis & Fergus, 1844 - Free (Don's List)

 - reprinted in 1903 by Bohan

Chicago City Directory, Norris, Ellis & Fergus, 1844 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Norris, Ellis & Fergus, 1844 - Free (Google Books)

 - reprinted in 1902 by Bohan

Chicago City Directory, Norris, Ellis & Fergus, 1844 - Free (Internet Archive)

 - reprinted in 1902 by Bohan

Chicago City Directory, Norris, Ellis & Fergus, 1844 - Free (Internet Archive) - another copy

 - reprinted in 1902 by Bohan

Chicago City Directory, Norris, Ellis & Fergus, 1844 - $ (NEHGS)

  - reprinted in 1902 by Bohan

Chicago City Directory, Campbell, 1845 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Norris, Eastman & Davidson, 1846 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Norris & Kedzie, 1847-8 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Hatheway & Taylor, 1849-50 - $ (Fold3)

1850s

Chicago City Directory, Danenhower, 1851  - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Udall & Hopkins, 1852-3 $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Hall & Smith, 1853-4 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Hall, 1854-5 - $ (Fold3)

Illinois and Missouri Business Directory, Montague, 1854 - Free (Don's List)

 - appended with Saint Louis Business Directory

Chicago City Directory, unknown (probably Fergus) 1855-6 - Free (DistantCousin)

Chicago City Directory, Fergus, 1855  - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Fergus, 1855 - Free (Google Books)

Chicago City Directory, Fergus, 1855 - Free (Internet Archive)

Chicago City Directory, Gager, 1856  - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory Supplement, Fergus, 1856 - Free (Google Books)

Chicago City Directory Supplement, Fergus, 1856 - Free (Internet Archive)

Chicago City Directory, Gager, 1857 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Cooke 1858 - $ (NEHGS)

 - Part I (Aargaard-Glendy); Part II (Glenn-Parsons); Part III (Parsons-Zuttmeister)

Chicago City Directory, Gager, 1858 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Cooke, 1859 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Cooke, 1859 - $ (NEHGS)

 - Part I (Aargaard-Carroll); Part II (Carroll-Gendreau); Part III (Genen-Kuyson); Part IV (Kydland-Parker); Part V (Parker-Stosskoph); Part VI (Stotler-Zwoll); Part VII (business directory, government listings): Part VIII (railroads, churches, lodges, schools, etc.)

1860s

Chicago City Directory, Cooke, 1860 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Halpin & Bailey, 1861 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Halpin & Bailey, 1862 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Halpin & Bailey, 1863 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Halpin & Bailey, 1863-4 - $ (Internet Archive)

Chicago City Directory, Spencer, 1864 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Halpin, 1865-6 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Halpin, 1865-6 - $ (Godfrey Memorial Library)

 - free access here for a limited time

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1866  - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Greenough & Deved, 1866 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Greenough & Deved, 1866 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago Business Directory, Bailey, 1867 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Bailey, 1867 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1868 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1869-70 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1869 - $ (Fold3)

1870s

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1870  - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1870 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1870 - $ (Fold3)

Edward's Census of Chicago, 1871 - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1871 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1871 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1872 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago Business and Street Directory, Southard & Cullaton, 1873 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Edwards, 1873 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly & Company, 1874 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, Lloyd & Company, 1875 - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, Lloyd & Company, 1875-6 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, Lloyd & Company, 1875-6 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, Lloyd & Company, 1875-6 - Free (Google Books)

Maywood City Directory, 1875 - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Fergus, 1876 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, Lloyd & Company, 1877 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, Lloyd & Company, 1878 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, Gassette & Lloyd, 1879 - $ (Fold3)

1880s

Chicago City Directory, Hutchinson, 1880  - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1880 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, Gassette & Lloyd, 1880 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago  Directory Company, 1881 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1882 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1883 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1884 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Hutchinson, 1885 - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1885 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1886 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1887 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1888 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1889 - $ (Fold3)

1890s

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1890 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly & Sons, 1891 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly & Sons, 1892  - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1892 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1892 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1893 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1894 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1895 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1896 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1897 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1898 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1899 - $ (Fold3)

1900s

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1900 - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1900 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1900 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1901 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1902 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1903 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1904 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1905 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, 1905 - Free (RootsWeb)

    transcribed surnames Zakrzewski through Zander only

Chicago Public Schools Directory, Board of Education, 1905 - Free (Google Books)

Chicago Public Schools Directory, Board of Education, 1905 - Free (Internet Archive)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1906 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, 1906 - Free (RootsWeb)

    transcribed surnames Zalen through Zanzow only

Chicago Business Directors Directory, Audit Company of New York, 1906 - Free (Internet Archive)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1907 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Association of Commerce, 1908 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Association of Commerce, 1909 - $ (Fold3)

 - includes information of renumbering of home addresses that took place in June 1908

University of Chicago Alumni Directory, University of Chicago Press, 1910 - Free (Internet Archive)

1910s & 1920s

Chicago City Directory, Donnelly, 1910  - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1911 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, unknown (probably Chicago Directory Company), 1912 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1913 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago Railway Directory and Street Guide, Rand, McNally, and Company, 1913 - Free (Don's List)

Chicago Railway Directory and Street Guide, Rand, McNally, and Company, 1913 - Free (Google Books)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1914 - $ (Fold3)

Parkside Methodist Episcopal Church Directory, Parkside Methodist Episcopal Church, 1914 - $ (GenealogyToday)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1915 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago City Directory, Chicago Directory Company, 1916 - $ (Fold3)

Chicago Directories, unknown (probably various), various years - $ (Fold3)

 - appears to contain the 1917 Chicago Directory at the end

Chicago Social Service Directory, Burmeister, 1918 - Free (Google Books)

Chicago Social Service Directory, Burmeister, 1918 - Free (Internet Archive)

DuPage and Northern Cook Counties Farmer's Directory, Prairie Farmer Publishing Co., 1918 - Free (Internet Archive)

Will and Southern Cook Counties Farmer's Directory, Prairie Farmer Publishing Co., 1918 - Free (Internet Archive)

Rogers Park Community Directory, Frisbee, 1919 - Free (Internet Archive)

Chicago City Directory, Polk, 1923   - Free (ChicagoAncestors)

Chicago City Directory, Polk, 1923 - $ (Fold3)

Midwest Musicians' and Allied Artists' Directory, Mid-West Concert Management, 1925-6 - Free (Internet Archive)

Warren Avenue Congregational Church Directory (Chicago), Warren Avenue Congregational Church, 1925 - $ (GenealogyToday)

Chicago Street Directory, Polk, 1928-9 - Free (Chicago Historical Society)

Last updated 4 July 2019.

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