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).

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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.)