Cook County Burnt Records Act digitized?
During the Chicago Fire in 1871, the Cook County court house burned and along with it, all the property records. At that time, there were 3 abstracting companies whose records were saved and they consolidated their records into one. The Illinois legislature in April 1872 passed the Burnt Records Act which allowed individuals to use these private abstracts to establish authority for their property.
According to a monograph, Chicago & Cook County--A Guide to Research, p. 376, the author states that The Genealogical Society of Utah has microfilmed the Burnt Record book series 1871-1932, (created as a result of the Burnt Records Act) with indexes on 49 microfilm reels. This was written in the 1980s--where are these records accessed now? Have they been digitized? I have looked on the Family Search catalog to no avail--I found Burnt Record entries for other localities, but not Cook County. If these are not yet on Family Search, how is the microfilmed accessible and usable.
I am aware of the originals being in the Cook County Court Archives. The 150th anniversary of the Chicago Fire is coming up and this is for an article in a genealogical quarterly.
Thank you very much.
Scott Burgh
4828 N. Bernard
Chicago, IL 60625
773-655-6354
Answers
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They are catalogued as Burned record series books, 1871-1932
The microfilms have been digitised, but are NOT viewable digitally. They appear to be only available at the the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
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Is the availability at the the Family History Library in Salt Lake City via the digitized version or the microfilm version or both?
Thank you.
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I do not know. The Catalog shows a microfilm roll icon, suggesting a film viewing.
You could clarify with the Library as It appears that Library staff do not respond to this Forum. Fairly recently on another post I was advised to phone the Library to clarify a matter, and the telephone number quoted was 1-801-240-6996.
If you belong to Facebook you could also send a message through the Library Facebook page
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Scott
Welcome to this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patrons ...
As an aside ...
As the Records do not appear to be available 'on-line' ...
There are an option that you can avail yourself of ...
Can I humbly suggest that you try the FREE "Look-Up" Service provided by the "Family History Library" ( FHL ), in "Temple Square", Salt Lak City, Utah, USA ...
Here is a 'FamilySearch' "Blog" Article:
New Library Lookup Service—For When You Can’t Visit the Family History Library
https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/library-lookup-service-fhl/
Here is "Family History Library" (FHL) reference:
Family History Library Record Lookup Service
https://www.familysearch.org/family-history-library/family-history-library-records-look-up-service
Good Luck.
I hope this helps
Brett
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