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 Local Catholic Church History and Catholic Ancestors

of
Illinois

      The geographic area of Illinois are in the ecclesiastical province of Chicago  which includes the Archdiocese of Chicago (Illinois) and Dioceses of Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield (Illinois).  See MAP.

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[ General History & GENEALOGY Links to Maps & Aids *]
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Genealogical Research of Catholic Ancestors
Illinois

  The map shows the counties encompassed by the present dioceses. 
Select from the list below to see web sites and information for the diocese area of interest.

Archdiocese of Chicago (Illinois)

Diocese of Rockford  (Illinois)
Diocese of Joliet  (Illinois)
Diocese of Peoria  (Illinois) 
Diocese of Springfield  (Illinois) 
Diocese of Belleville  (Illinois)

Statewide
 [ Local Catholic Church History ]
[ Catholic Biographies ]
[ General Illinois History, Genealogy and Directory Links ]

 

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Historical Research of Catholic Churches & Ancestors

Illinois
     In 1673, the Jesuit priest, Jacques Marquette, accompanied Joliet, preaching to the Indians.  The following year, he set up a cabin to say the first mass in what became Chicago, and, in 1675, he established The Mission of the Immaculate Conception among the Kaskaskia Indians near Utica, Illinois.
    Despite hardships and dangers, Catholic missionary activity continued.  In 1827, St. Patrick's Parish at Ruma was founded.  It is now the oldest English-speaking Catholic congregation in Illinois.  Just 16 years later, in 1843, the Diocese of Chicago was established, and in 1880 was made an Archdiocese.1
 

Catholic Biographies

If you know of a web site for a biography of a Catholic with an Illinois connection, please let me know.

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    General Illinois History, Genealogy and Directories.

  1. The French in Illinois

  2. Early Colonial History - from History of Illinois 1778 to 1833

  3. Early Maps of the New World and New France.

  4. State of Illinois (Official State Site Online).

  5. Illinois State Government: http://www.state.il.us/

  6. Illinois Department of Public Health.

  7. Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900, An Ongoing Project of the Illinois State Archives &
    the Illinois State Genealogical Society.

  8. Illinois List of Counties and County Seats (.pdf file) - marriage records would be requested from the County Clerk.

  9. Illinois State Archives : Online Databases

  10. Cook County Information Center.

  11. County Clerk's Vital Records Office
       118 N. Clark Street - Chicago, IL 60602
       Phone: (312) 443-7790 or E-mail:  dorr@cookctyclerk.com  for more information.

  12. Chicago Public Library - includes Metro History Fair with research guides, history links, and more.

  13. Chicago History Museum

  14. Chicago Historical Society has an informative web site with exhibitions, such as "The Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory", "Illinois and Michigan Canal Tour", "Neighborhoods: Keepers of Culture" and "Go West! Chicago and American Expansion" and History Links.

  15. Illinois History and Genealogy, by Carol Dean and Susan Cook.

  16. How to obtain birth, marriage and death records in Illinois.

  17. St. Clair County (Illinois) Genealogical Society (SCCGS)

  18. Tina's Adoption Reform and Search Pages (all states).

  19. Official Cities for Illinois, by Tammi and Kevin Hyde.

  20. Yahoo Get Local for Illinois  - Directory for locating local churches, cemeteries, addresses and information.


    Contact:  Webmaster

    I am voluntarily authoring this site as a helpful guide to researching the history of the local Catholic Churches and to help genealogists who are researching Catholic ancestors in this geographic area.
    Though links to this page for Catholic Church, genealogical, historical research and non-profit use are encouraged, please do not download the page without requesting permission since it contains copyright protected material.
    If you have a suggestion, or a site that you believe will be helpful, please let me know.  --Ann Mensch

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This page last updated: Sept. 2008.
Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002-2007 by Ann Mensch.  All Rights Reserved.

References used include:

  1. 11990 Catholic Almanac.  Felician A. Foy, O.F. M. (Editor), Rose M. Avato (Associate Editor).  Huntington: Our Sunday Visitory Publishing Division, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.
    and

  2. 1998 Catholic Almanac.  Felician A. Foy, O.F. M. and Rose M. Avato (Editors and Compilers).  Huntington: Our Sunday Visitory Publishing Division, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.

  3. 2New Advent, Inc.  From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright © 1913 by the Encyclopedia Press, Inc. Electronic version copyright © 1997 by New Advent, Inc.  (A Catholic Web Site transcribing The Catholic Encyclopedia: an International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline and History of the Catholic Church.  Herbermann, Pace, et al. (Editors). Imprint:  Appleton (New York) 1907-1912.) Volunteer to help?

  4. This is Washington County:  Its First 150 Years, 1818-1968. published by the Sesquicentennial Committee of the Historical Society of Washington County, Illinois, ca. 1968.

  5. History of Washington County, Illinois, With Illustrations Descriptive of Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.  Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough & Co., 1879.

  6. A History of the Parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Published in Observance of Centenary of the Archdiocese 1980 Sponsored by His Eminence, John Cardinal Cody.  Rev. Msgr. Harry C. Koenig, S.T.D.  (Editor).  Chicago : The Archdiocese of Chicago, 1980.

  7. Information learned from the web sites for the Archdioceses, Dioceses, and Catholic Churches.

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