The Chicago Genealogical Society issues Ancestor Certificates to direct descendants of early residents of Chicago and suburban Cook County, Illinois, U. S. A.
Why?
By documenting your ancestors, you’re honoring them and preserving your family’s records. You’ll receive a certificate acknowledging your ancestors’ contribution to shaping the Chicago1 area and its history. And beyond personal pride, by gifting and displaying CGS Ancestor Certificates, you’ll be on the road to easily generating conversation and maybe even helping mold your family’s young genealogists.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants need not be residents of Cook County or even members of CGS. You’ll need to verify the date that your Earliest Ancestor(s)2 settled in Cook County and prove your lineage back to them with accepted documentation.
Three Categories of Ancestor Certificates
Category One:
Pioneer Era Ancestor Certificates3 — 1833 through October 8, 1871
For your Earliest Ancestor (or ancestor couple) who settled in Chicago1 from the City’s founding in 1833 through October 8, 1871, the date of the Great Chicago Fire.
| Pioneer Traditional CGS Ancestor Certificate design
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Want to frame it?4 Purchase a Certificate Frame that holds a 11” x 8.5” certificate or measure + trim to fit a 10” x 8” frame. For PMS5color-matching: Red Ribbon PMS #186, Natural Card PMS #1205 |
| Pioneer Covered Wagon CGS Ancestor Certificate design
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Want to frame it?4 Measure + trim to fit a 10” x 8” frame. For PMS5 color-matching: Blue Sky PMS #2925, Red Wagon PMS #193, Green Grass PMS #363 |
| Pioneer Passenger Ships CGS Ancestor Certificate designon White #100-pound gloss card (11” x 8.5”)Our Pioneer Passenger Ships design honors your descent from Chicago pioneers on a bright and glossy card with a beautiful gold seal/gold ribbon depicting the passenger ships that brought them to this land of opportunity. An elegant reminder of the oceanic passage your ancestors took to make Chicago their new home. |
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Want to frame it?4 Measure + trim to fit a 10” x 8” frame. For PMS5color-matching: Dark Gray Sky PMS #430, Light Gray Sky PMS #427, Water PMS #428 and #429 |
| Pioneer Railroad Tracks CGS Ancestor Certificate designon White #100-pound gloss card (11” x 8.5”)Our Pioneer Railroad Tracks design honors your descent from Chicago pioneers on a bright and glossy card with a beautiful gold seal/gold ribbon depicting the railroad that brought so many pioneers to this land of opportunity. A gorgeous design that quietly shows your ancestors’ bravery to come to Chicago. |
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Want to frame it?4 Measure + trim to fit a 10” x 8” frame. For PMS5 color-matching: Dark Purple Sky PMS #2715, Light Purple Sky PMS #2716, Brown-Green Grass PMS #398, Green Grass PMS #377 |
Category Two:Rebuilder Era Ancestor Certificates3 — October 9,1871 through October31, 1893 For your Earliest Ancestor (or ancestor couple) who settled in Chicago1 from October 9, 1871 through October 31, 1893, the date of the ending of the World’s Columbian Exposition. |
| Rebuilder Traditional CGS Ancestor Certificate designon Blue #65-pound parchment card (11” x 8.5”)Our Rebuilder Traditional design honors your descent from Chicago Rebuilder Era ancestors on beautiful light blue parchment card with our silver seal/blue ribbon and a light watermark of the Grand Basin and Court of Honor at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. |
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Want to frame it?4 Purchase a Certificate Frame that holds a 11” x 8.5” certificate or measure + trim to fit a 10” x 8” frame. For PMS5 color-matching: Blue Ribbon PMS#293, Blue Card PMS#290 |
| Rebuilder Auditorium Theater Chicago CGS Ancestor Certificate designon White #100-pound gloss card (8.5” x 11”)Our Rebuilder Auditorium Theater Chicago design pays tribute to our ancestors’ theater-going experiences in this magnificent Chicago building. Architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler completed the Auditorium Theater in 1889 and today it is on the U. S. National Register of Historic Places. This vivid and glossy card is accented with a beautiful silver seal/silver ribbon. Such a fun conversation starter. |
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Want to frame it?4 Measure + trim to fit a 8” x 10” frame. For PMS5color-matching: Dark Tan Roof PMS#1385, Gold Lights PMS#142, Tan Seats PMS#146 |
| Rebuilder Columbian Exposition’s Exhibition Hall CGS AC designon White #100-pound gloss card (11” x 8.5”)Our Rebuilder Columbian Exposition’s Exhibition Hall design is taken from a Victorian trade card that was handed to visitors to the H. J. Smith, Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. This pixelated watercolor design depicts an impressive lakefront scene on a bright and glossy card with a beautiful silver seal/silver ribbon. Display this one with Chicago pride. |
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Want to frame it?4 Measure + trim to fit a 10” x 8” frame. For PMS5 color-matching: Gray-Beige Sky PMS#435, Aqua Roof PMS#3272, Peach Sail PMS#1485, Water PMS#434 |
Category Three:Progressive Era Ancestor Certificates3 — November 1893 through March 1933For your Earliest Ancestor (or ancestor couple) who settled in Chicago1 from November 1, 1893 through March 1933, the date of the Century of Progress International Exposition |
| Progressive Traditional CGS Ancestor Certificate designon Gold #65-pound parchment card (11” x 8.5”)Our Progressive Traditional design honors your descent from these Chicago ancestors on gold parchment card with a bronze seal/ribbon. The prominent watermark consists of three silhouettes — a classic 1930’s sedan, a propeller plane and a sleek passenger train. |
Want to frame it?4 Purchase a Certificate Frame that holds a 11” x 8.5” certificate or measure + trim to fit a 10” x 8” frame. For PMS5 color-matching: Bronze Ribbon PMS#4635, Gold Card PMS#136 |
| Progressive Night Street Scene CGS Ancestor Certificate designon White #100-pound gloss card (8.5” x 11”)Our Progressive Night Street Scene design is called “1920's Chicago night street scene - gangsters - Van Gogh style” with our special thanks to South of the Border Gringo on Flickr. This image is on a glossy card with a beautiful bronze seal/bronze ribbon and is particularly striking due to its crisp, sharp resolution. This striking design can add artful intrigue to any room. |
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Want to frame it?4 Measure + trim to fit an 8” x 10” frame. For PMS5 color-matching: Bronze Ribbon PMS#4635, Dark Blue Sky PMS#2945, Gold Building PMS#102 and #137 |
| Progressive Aeroplane CGS Ancestor Certificate designon White #100-pound gloss card (11” x 8.5”)Our Progressive Aeroplane design harkens back to the beginning of aviation with this colorized photo of a 1916 U. S. Army propeller plane. This image is on a bright and glossy card with a tasteful bronze seal/bronze ribbon that has the feel of a watercolor since it has a hazy, beautiful, pixelated low resolution. |
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Want to frame it?4 Measure + trim to fit a 10” x 8” frame (Please Note: The background image measures 10” x 7”). For PMS5 color-matching: Bronze Ribbon PMS#4635, Light Blue Sky PMS#2975, and Green Grass PMS#356. |
How To ApplyDownload both our CGS Ancestor Certificates Application Guide and Application Form. Follow the instructions in the Application Guide to research for and print all required documents. Then complete and print the Application Form. The first certificate is $25.00 plus domestic shipping $4.00 U. S. Postal Service Ground AdvantageTM service with tracking.Each subsequent copy of the same ancestor to various descendants is $15.00. (For international applicants, please email for the costs before applying.) Mail your Application Package (Application Form, paper documentation, and a check or money order for the total number of certificates) to our post office box exclusively for CGS Ancestor Certificates:
Consider Writing An Article For “The Chicago Genealogist”Either now or in the future, consider writing an article about any of the ancestors in your application. How did they arrived in the Chicago area (by wagon, train, or water) . . . or describe their first residence/occupations . . . or their experiences during and after the Great Fire. We would love to publish it in our quarterly journal “The Chicago Genealogist.” Some recent example articles are:
Will You Share A Pic Of Your CGS Ancestor Certificate?Take a digital pic of your CGS Ancestor Certificate surrounded by your family . . . or show us how you’ve displayed it on the wall . . . or place it next to some of your ancestors’ keepsakes. Then e-mail it to us so we can share it on our CGS Social Media platforms and maybe even in our monthly CGS E-NEWS or “The Chicago Genealogist” journal. _________________ 1 Our use of the term “Chicago1 ” in this Application Guide encompasses “Chicago and suburban Cook County, Illinois, U.S.A.” 2Our use of the term “Earliest Ancestor” is your first ancestor (or ancestor couple) to settle in Cook County. The Earliest Ancestor’s name(s) + settlement date will be printed on your certificate and published in our quarterly journal “The Chicago Genealogist.” 3All background images used are in the public domain with no known copyright issues. 4All of our Traditional certificates been designed to be displayed in a 11” x 8.5” Certificate Frame or trimmed to fit in a 10” x 8” frame. All colored background certificates have been designed to be displayed in an 8” x 10” frame. Any size irregularities have been noted in each colored background certificate’s description. 5Find the color on this PMS Color Chart https://www.calculatemate.com/calculators/colors/pms-color-chart |