Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
These records begin as early as 1833 and go through 1899.

Record Description
The collection contains the folowing records:


 * Births/Christenings (1833-1899)
 * Deaths/Burials (1845-1899)
 * Marriages (1833-1899)

The Archdiocese of Chicago covers parishes in Cook and Lake. The records are 95% in English with the remaining 5% distributed in Czech, Latin, and German.

Record Content


The baptism records include:


 * Child's name
 * Birth date and place
 * Christening date
 * Names of parents
 * Birth place of parents



The death and burial records include:


 * Name of deceased
 * Death date
 * Burial dates and places
 * Age
 * Cause of death
 * Residence



The marriage records include:


 * Names of bride and groom
 * Residences
 * Marriage date
 * Birth date and place
 * Names of parents
 * Witnesses

How to Use the Record
Church records have research based on the event they record:


 * Use christening and birth records of christenings (baptisms) to identify a person’s birth date and place. They are an excellent substitute for civil birth information.
 * Use church records of confirmations to identify a person’s birth date and place or his or her age. If only the age is given, use it to calculate the person’s death date.
 * Use church records of deaths or burials to identify a person’s birth date and place. Use age at death or burial to calculate the person’s birth date. They are an excellent substitute for civil death information.
 * Use church records of marriages to identify a couple, the marriage date and place, and to begin compiling a family group. They are an excellent substitute for civil marriage information.
 * Use church records in general to identify other family members who may have served as witnesses to the event.

Record History
Church records in the United States began in the early 1600s. They can be found in the churches, church archives, or university archives. They normally record christenings, confirmations, marriages, and deaths.

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian church in the world. Traditionally Catholic records have been kept at the parish level, so a majority of records will be found at the church where the event transpired. Older Catholic records and records of defunct Catholic parishes have often been moved to archives, historical archives, or university libraries.

Why This Record Was Created
To know who were members, churches were required to record the date a person was baptized in the Christian religion. Many churches also recorded the date of birth along with the date of baptism. Churches were also required to record the burial and marriage dates of the members of the local congregation. Only some churches performed confirmations and were required to record the names of those that were confirmed members of the church.

Record Reliability
Church records are considered a primary source. They are usually reliable because they are kept by the priest or a clerk appointed by the priest, who usually recorded an event at or very near the time it occurred.

Related Websites
Archdiocese of Chicago's Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives &amp; Records Center

Related Wiki Articles
Illinois Catholic Records Illinois Belleville Catholic Church Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * “Delaware Marriage Records,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 March 2011), entry for William Anderson and Elizabeth Baynard Henry, married 23 November 1913; citing marriage certificate no. 859; FHL microfilm 2,025,063; Delaware Bureau of Archives and Records Management, Dover.
 * “El Salvador Civil Registration,” index and images, FamilySearch ([https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 March 2011), entry for Jose Maria Antonio del Carmen, born 9 April 1880; citing La Libertad, San Juan Opico, Nacimientos 1879-1893, image 50; Ministerio Archivo Civil de la Alcaldia Municipal de San Salvador.

Sources of information for This Collection
"Illinois, Chicago Catholic Church Records, 1833-1900," database, FamilySearch; (http://familysearch.org); from the Catholic Bishop of Chicago, Illinois. FHL microfilm, 203 rolls, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The suggested format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections is found in the following article: How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections