Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths - FamilySearch Historical Records
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| This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org. | |
| Illinois, United States | |
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| Flag of Illinois | |
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| Location of Illinois | |
| Record Description | |
| Record Type | Deaths and Stillbirths |
| Collection years | 1916-1947 |
| FamilySearch Resources | |
| Related Websites | |
| Archive | |
| Public Board of Health Archives, Springfield | |
What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]
This collection includes death and stillbirth records for the state of Illinois from 1916 to 1947. The collection contains one page pre-printed death certificate forms filled in by hand or typed. Deaths were not generally recorded at the county level until 1877, although the practice was not universal before 1916. Some records existed in cities prior to 1877. A 1915 statute provided for the first effective system of registration of deaths and stillbirths in Illinois. It required the State Board of Health and county clerks to record these events. In 1919 the Illinois Department of Public Health was established as the successor agency to the State Board of Health. Deaths that were recorded prior to 1 January 1916 can be found at the county clerk’s office. Death records beginning 1916, with a statewide index from 1916 to the present, are available from the Illinois Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.
Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.
Index and Image Visibility[edit | edit source]
Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.
What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]
The following information may be found in these records:
- Deceased’s full name
- County and city in which death took place
- Address where death occurred
- Sometimes the voting ward of that place
- Gender
- Marital status
- Birth date
- Age at death
- Date of death
- Occupation
- Employer
- City and state of birthplace
- Name of the informant providing the above information
- Filing date
- Name of the registrar
How Do I Search This Collection?[edit | edit source]
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
- The name of your ancestor
- The approximate date of death
- The place where the death occurred
- The names of family members and their relationships
Search the Index[edit | edit source]
Search by name on the Collection Details Page.- Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
- Click Search to show possible matches
How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.
What Do I Do Next?[edit | edit source]
When you have located your ancestor’s death record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family.
I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- Add any new information to your records
- Use the death date or age to calculate an approximate birth year
- Use the birth date to search for a birth record
- Search for the family in census records
- Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
- Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the deceased who may have died or been buried in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent Repeat this process for each new generation you identify
I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking for, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
- Check for a different index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume
- Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
Research Helps[edit | edit source]
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Illinois.
- Illinois Guided Research
- Illinois Record Finder
- Illinois Research Tips and Strategies
- Step-by-Step Illinois Research, 1880-Present
Other FamilySearch Collections[edit | edit source]
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.
FamilySearch Historical Records[edit | edit source]
- Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999
- Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880
- Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998
- Illinois, Cook County, Obituaries, ca. 1970-1990
FamilySearch Digital Library[edit | edit source]
Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
| Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection. |
| Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information. |