Chicago Genealogy – Jewish Chicago Resources

Continuing my series of posts on Chicago research in anticipation of my presentation at the Southern California Genealogical Society's 2011 Jamboree in Burbank. I'm putting up supporting information that goes beyond the vital records and other sources in the session handout.
I've been working on the list of research resources for finding your Jewish ancestors in Chicago. Some of the other pages I’ve put up for Polish resources and German resources may also be useful. 

Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland by Mike Karsen

Mike Karsen’s Web site is an excellent resource:

http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/chicago/index.htm 

In addition to vital and property records, Karsen highlights information about Jewish institutions including organizations, Jewish newspapers & periodicals, synagogue records, personal collections & oral histories, and the "old" neighborhood.



Karsen also has excellent sections on specific Chicago resources:

• Jewish cemeteries:

http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/chicago/cemeteries.htm

• Jewish funeral home records:

http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/chicago/funeral_homes.htm

• Jewish records:

http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/chicago/types_of_records.htm 

1918 Chicago Jewish Community Directory

http://www.evendon.net/PGHLookups/ChicagoJewish1918M.htm 

The Asher Library of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, 618 S. Michigan Avenue (312-322-1749) has one of the best collections of Judaica in the Midwest, including the Chicago Jewish Archives, a collection of papers from individuals, families, Jewish organizations, and synagogues. 

Encyclopedia of Chicago – “Jews of Chicago”

http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/671.html 

Illinois Newspaper Project

http://www.library.illinois.edu/inp/database.php 

The Illinois Newspaper Project (INP) is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and administered by the Library of Congress as part of the U.S. Newspaper Program (USNP) and the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP). 

Under the USNP, the INP team traveled throughout Illinois inventorying and cataloging collections held by libraries and repositories, private organizations, and individuals. A Web-based searchable database of all newspapers discovered and preserved through the project is available. All microfilm produced for INP is made available through interlibrary loan. Note: “u” in dates in citations means the span of publication date is unknown. 

Search here by title or OCLC number for information on repository and holdings for the following titles:

http://www.library.illinois.edu/inp/database.php

Jewish Newspapers Published in Chicago

Chicago Jewish post & opinion, 1966-uuuu

Idisher kuryer (Chicago, Ill. : 1887), 1887-194u

Jewish advance, 1878-1uuu

National Jewish post and opinion (Chicago, Ill. : 1960), 19uu-1966

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI)

http://www.jewishgen.org/jgsi/

The JGSI is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping members collect, preserve, and perpetuate the records and history of their ancestors. They serve as a resource for the worldwide community to research their Chicago area Jewish roots. Call (847) 679-1995 for additional information.  

The Newberry Library – Jewish Genealogy

http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/jewish.html 

Waldheim Cemetery online database

http://www.waldheimcemetery.com/SiteContent/Locate-Family-Grave/

For a list of other posts on Chicago genealogy resources, click here.