Have you been searching for an elusive Irish ancestor? Are you a bit of a cartophile (lover of maps)? Then, perhaps you would have luck finding them using the surname maps of Ireland. There are several versions, each based upon different records and genealogical data, so depending upon when your ancestor emigrated from Ireland, you…
Do you have enslaved ancestors? Do you have a passion for cemeteries, their identification, and their ongoing preservation? Then, you may be interested in learning about a wonderful national cemetery network! As we know, cemeteries can be a great resource for genealogical research. Recently, NPR featured an article about a partnership between neighbors who were…
Do you enjoy reading or listening to memoirs and family histories? Sometimes, reading or listening to the stories of others can help you as you seek to write your own story. The act of listening can bring us closer to others as well as ourselves. Reading and listening to others’ ancestral and personal stories may…
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and for genealogists, they certainly can be. Do you have old family photos stored in your attic or basement? Perhaps you have albums, boxes, or hard drives filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of photos. These are invaluable resources for genealogy! Have you taken time to…
What if I told you that millions of genealogical articles are discoverable online? Believe it or not, you can find them using PERSI (the Periodical Source Index) provided by Allen County Public Library! Comprised of publications from genealogical societies across the world, this amazing search engine makes it possible to search by title, keyword, geographic…
Did you know that TikTok can be a great resource for learning more about genealogy? That’s right! The same place where you can watch fun, silly videos also provides excellent educational content. So, take time away from the cat videos and watch vintage footage or listen to family stories. You don’t even need a TikTok…
Are you looking for an enslaved ancestor? We know that this can be challenging, due to many factors; however, we have good news about a potentially helpful, free resource! Recently, we discovered the Slave Voyages website, which includes several databases that may be useful to those engaging in genealogical research that intersects with the slavery,…
It's the time of year that all Illinois genealogists look forward to: TryIt! Illinois time. Thanks to the Illinois State Library, we have free access for two months to hundreds of subscription databases above and beyond the ones available to Cook Memorial card holders. The initiative called TryIt! Illinois extends only until the the end…
Yippee! We will be able to continue accessing Ancestry Library Edition (ALE), our premier genealogy database, from home through December 31, 2020. ProQuest, the company that provides ALE to Cook Library, has graciously extended home access to Cook card holders through the end of the year. In the past, ALE was only available at the…
Arriving at Ellis Island, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Most immigrants to America came through New York City, either at Castle Garden or Ellis Island. But New York isn't the only port on our coast, nor were Castle Garden and Ellis Island the only places for immigrants to land. Port cities line up…
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