Source:Cook County, Illinois Birth Certificates 1871-1922

About Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922

This database contains an index of details extracted from Cook County, Illinois, birth records.

What’s in the Index

This index was extracted from Cook County birth certificates and registers held by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Though legislation requiring that births and deaths be registered in Illinois was not passed until 1877, Cook County began recording births, marriages, and deaths after the Great Fire in 1871. Responsibility for registration was assigned to local registrars in 1915, which led to improved reporting.

While details may vary based on information required on the original and whether the form was filled out completely, entries in this index may list

•name

•birth date

•birthplace

•gender

•race/ethnicity

•father’s name, age, birthplace

•mother’s name, age, birthplace

•FHL film number