Local History & Genealogy

Serving as a public library since 1903, we play a critical role in archiving and supporting local history. Librarians are dedicated to Special Collections, and we regularly partner with community organizations who are also preserving the past.

Train with passengers at the 40th Street Station (corner of Madison); terminal connecting with horse cars to Chicago on Madison St., 1885
Cicero Fire Department Station #2 with horse drawn fire engine and firefighters, 1895
Oak Park High School on Lake St. and East Ave., 1902

Genealogy

Support your local history and genealogy research, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced researcher. A sampling of popular tools is listed on this page.

All genealogy & local history resources

Oak Park Oral History Project

Stories connect us and help build community. The Oak Park Oral History Project is an anthology of oral histories, shared stories, conversations, and interviews featuring members of the Oak Park community.

Browse the Oak Park Oral History collection

Submit a story

  • Anyone can submit a story (or stories!) at any time.
  • As your public library, our goal is to build a wide range of experiences that reflect Oak Park’s uniqueness, connectedness, and diversity.
  • Personal anecdotes featuring collective cultural wisdom and treasured local experiences are most welcome.
  • Before you submit your story, please be sure it is an MP3 audio file and an original work to which you own the rights.
  • Not sure what to ask? We’ve pulled together some suggestions to help open up conversation. Try these prompts.
Submit an oral history recording

This digital library initiative was funded in part by a grant from AgeOptions.

Steiner Index

Research your Oak Park home’s history, as well as that of more buildings in Oak Park and River Forest.

References to the Architecture of Oak Park & River Forest, compiled by Frances H. Steiner, 1999

The Steiner Index provides information about houses and buildings in Oak Park and River Forest. You can find names of original owners, architects, building dates, and addresses.

View the Steiner Index (Google Sheet)

“The references included in this volume were collected over a period of almost thirty years. I began researching Oak Park in preparation for my Masters’ Thesis at the University of Chicago. My first intention was to study the architecture of Oak Park to determine how Frank Lloyd Wright’s style and presence in the village affected the other architectural activity there. Soon I learned that such a project was much too ambitious for the time restrictions, so I curbed the thesis to focus only on Oak Park’s most prolific architect, Eben E. Roberts. In the meanwhile, I had collected architectural references from all the local newspapers between 1896 and 1916. Over the years, I have expanded this file, but since the material was gathered for my own use, it focused on my own interests, and therefore, it has not been carried out with the discipline, thoroughness and consistency that an unbiased librarian would have brought to the project. Nevertheless, it is hoped that this index will benefit the residents of Oak Park and River Forest as well as architectural historians in pursuit of information on local structures.”

—Frances H. Steiner

Community organizations

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