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About
Indexes
Offline Resources
Publications
Services
- Cemetery Photo Service
- Research Assistance
Calendar
Get Involved
Blog
Contact

Volunteer

Here's how you can help promote family history in the Chicago Southland.

When we put out a call for volunteers for a society project, we’ll post it here!

Latest SSGHS Newsletter

October 2023 September 25, 2023

Upcoming Events

Oct 4

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7p Central Time: Websites: New and Interesting (members-only Special Interest Group on Zoom – new!)

Oct 14

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Saturday, October 14, 2023: Debra Dudek presents “Mixers & Shakers” (Bartenders/Saloon Keepers)

Oct 19

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Thursday, Oct. 19 from 1-3p: Writers’ Group (members-only Special Interest Group)

View Calendar

Blog Posts

Meet Carole.August 8, 2023
Our Field Trip to PullmanJuly 21, 2023
What’s New?April 27, 2023
Help us win!March 15, 2023
Show your SSGHS Pride with a T-shirt!March 13, 2023

Support SSGHS

Our Mission

To collect, preserve, and publish genealogical and historical materials and records of southern Cook County and eastern Will county, Illinois.

To encourage the research and study of genealogy and local history.

To develop and maintain a genealogical and historical research library.

Special Thanks

We appreciate the support of our sponsor, the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors

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We appreciate the time, talent and teaching provided by our wonderful web designer Connie Nassios Webworks

Become a Member

Member benefits:

Special Members-Only website content
Biannual Journal, Where the Trails Cross
Discounts on most publications
Reduced charge for photocopies, Blue Island obituaries and Pullman file copies

What People Say…

Thank you very much for locating the obituary for Jane and her brother. The information was very helpful. I have found “Cook County” a very difficult resource to work with.

Again, many thanks.

Susan, Florida

…you have some unexpected surprises. I was more than thrilled to receive a copy of a thank you letter
(WWII Harvey Letters) my father wrote from the south pacific during World War II. He said he was really happy to get the Christmas package from the Harvey committee which included a real American candy bar. I’ve been wondering what kind it was. I also found a history of the Methodist church on Lexington Ave. which mentioned my great grandparents. I hope to be able to explore your shelves again in the near future. Thanks for being there.

Jan

Thanks for all your service with the SSGHS. This organization is a godsend for the genealogy of the south suburban area and then some. The records they’ve kept from the trash dump are pure gold. Those not presently into genealogy might consider supporting now, because family members down the road will certainly appreciate.

Carl, Illinois

As a long time member, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and all the other volunteers who make SSGHS so important to those of us who live far away. I live in New Hampshire and although we have been to IL researching, many years ago, we can hardly wait to see your readings of First Lutheran. On our brief visit there, we found dozens of graves of our family members. Please take an extra photo of the tombstone of Christoph and Therese, my husband’s g g grandparents, as we lost the one that we took. Once again, thanks to all of you.

Louella, New Hampshire

Received the photos yesterday. I was very impressed by the details and quantity of pictures, which made it feel as though I had taken the trip myself. Besides the excitement of finally seeing the family headstone, the dates on the tombstones have helped my research a great deal and brought me that much closer to my family that was scattered during the Depression.

Although I did not recognize any names on the other headstones you photographed, it still made the place more real for me. I expect that I may need your services again as I uncover more family history down the road. In fact if you are able to take photos of actual landmarks like houses or churches, I’m almost certain I will need your help again.

Thank you again!

Jason, California

I received the photos back from Ray Bergman this week and he did a fantastic job. I’m quite happy with the extras he did. In addition to many wonderful photos, Ray and his wife gave a wonderfully detailed information paper on all the people and dates found on the headstones and even those people without headstones. He further detailed a map on the location of each of the headstones at the cemetery. I will order another group of photos at Cedar Park Cemetery in Chicago.

Thank you again for all the help provided and thank you to Ray Bergman.

Harry, Kentucky

Thank you very much for the photos! They came out great. I appreciate you taking time to help me with a nice addition to my genealogy.

Sincerely,

Jody, Kentucky

Ray: (Ray Bergman) Info received! It is the next best thing to going there myself! You did a marvelous job! Thanks muchly. I do have another request after seeing your pix, I spied a small stone in the tall grass that said WILLIAM DUBREUIL. Wm. & Mattie’s family were my father’s second cousins and I would like pictures of all of the DuBreuil stones that you can find. I will put a check in the mail for you when I get back from the library today.

Yvonne, Michigan

I have received the cemetery photos that you did for me. You (Joe Staackmann) did a great job!!! I was hoping for more information and although some cemeteries are full of new facts for me, others are just NOT. It was not a total bust however, and I am sure when I get all the info it will be a correct and complete picture.

I hope to be able to send another request for the Mt. Olivet Cemetery soon.

I wanted to thank you for your organizations representation for me in the Chicago area and for the important work you do in providing family history data to people like me.
Have a wonderful summer.

Nancie, Texas

They were extremely helpful in guiding me to find information, even bookmarking some articles for me to review.

M. G., Minnesota

Contact

3000 W. 170th Place Hazel Crest IL 60429-1174

(708) 335-3340

info@ssghs.org

South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Library Hours

Monday: 10AM-4PM
Tuesday: 1PM-5PM
Wednesday: 10AM-4PM
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 10PM-4PM
Sat.: 1st & 2nd of the month: 11:30AM-4PM*
Sunday: Closed

* The library is open only the first 2 Saturdays of each month

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