Genealogy Research
The Mount Prospect Public Library maintains a genealogy collection to assist you with family history research. This collection in the Harold Weary Genealogy Room includes books, periodicals, microfilm, microfiche, pamphlets, and online resources covering a variety of genealogical topics. It focuses primarily on the Village of Mount Prospect and the immediate northwest suburban area of Chicago but other parts of Illinois and the United States are also represented.
Databases
Ancestry Library Edition 
use in library
1300 to present
A genealogy resource including census, vital, church, court and immigration records.
Chicago Tribune, Historical (Proquest) Click Here to use
1849 to 1985
Offers full page and article images with searchable full text back to the first issue.
Daily Herald Archives Library access only
This online database contains more than 1.9 million historical newspaper pages from the Daily Herald. The full-page newspapers, dating back to 1901, are searchable by keyword and date, making it easy for you to quickly explore historical content.
HeritageQuest Online (Proquest) 
use at home use in library
Search for genealogy data across a variety of databases, including census records, Revolutionary War documents, full-text books and articles, and Freedman's Bank.
Mount Prospect Public Library Obituary Index Click Here to use
The Mount Prospect Public Library is compiling a card index of obituaries of Mount Prospect residents. A searchable online index has also been prepared. The bulk of information is from 1994-present but there are some obituaries between the years 1932 to 1942 and 1966-1970.
To request copies of the obituaries, please contact the Reference Desk at 847-253-5675 or via email at reference@mppl.org.
Genealogy is well-represented on the Web. Listed below are links to some of the most well-respected and useful resources currently available.
General Resources
Castle Garden Database (Hosted by the Battery Conservancy in New York) more info » This database offers access to records of immigrants who entered the country through New York between 1830 and 1892.
Cyndi’s List more info » This is a list of over 260,000 links to genealogical websites arranged by subject categories.
Ellis Island Records more info » This database offers access to records of immigrants who entered through Ellis Island in New York between 1892 and 1924.
Family Search (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) more info » This website is prepared by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons).It includes general genealogical search information, a family tree database, and a catalog to books and microfilmed records owned by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Rootsweb more info » This is the oldest and largestfree genealogy website that offers general research guides, specialized search engines and databases, message boards, mailing lists, and family trees.
Social Security Death Index more info »
Name index to deaths recorded by the Social Security Administration beginning in 1962. Current as of October 31, 2011.
US GenWeb Project more info » This is a free website run by volunteers working to provide free genealogy websites in every county and state in the United States.Each county page offers unique resources and information for researchers interested in that area.
Local Resources
Mount Prospect
Mount Prospect Historical SocietyNorthwest Suburban Council of Genealogists
Illinois Digital Archives (Illinois State Library) more info » Includes images of photographs and other materials related to Mount Prospect.
Chicago
Chicago Genealogical SocietyNational Archives - Great Lakes Region
Newberry Library
Cook County
Cook County Clerk's OfficeCook County Genealogy Online
Illinois Resources
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library more info » Located in Springfield, this facility includes historical print and non-print materials related to Abraham Lincoln’s life and to Illinois history in general.Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) more info » A division of the Illinois State Archives, this organization offers access to county records.These records are housed in 7 locations throughout the state.
Illinois State Archives
Illinois State Genealogical Society
Illinois State Library
National Resources
Allen County Public Library— Genealogy CenterNational Archives and Records Administration
National Genealogical Society
Ethnic Resources
GENUKI – UK+Ireland GenealogyHispanic Genealogical Society
JewishGen (Jewish Genealogy)
Polish Genealogical Society of America
Research Guides
These guides were prepared by the MPPL genealogy staff.
A Genealogy Pathfinder more info » A journey through your family historyGrow Your Family Tree Online more info » Selected genealogy web sites
Harold Weary Genealogy Room
Microfiche Available at MPPL more info » Genealogical research microfiche in the Mount Prospect Public Library
Norwegian-American Genealogy more info » Materials in the Mount Prospect Public Library
Polish Genealogical Resources in MPPL
A Touch of the Green more info » Resources for Irish genealogical research in the Mount Prospect Public Library
