Independent Researchers
Newberry staff can provide basic guidance for using the Newberry collection. If you're seeking more extensive assistance with your research, you may want to consider hiring an independent researcher.
Below is a list of researchers that our librarians have assembled. Other lists can be found via the Board for Certification of Genealogists and the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Hilary Mac Austin
2227 N. Sawyer #3F
Chicago, IL 60647
Phone: (773) 486-8195
Cell: (216) 956-6300
Email: mac@onehistory.org
Specialty: Midwest and African American history, genealogy, and photo research.
Tina Beaird
37 Hawthorne Dr.
Oswego, IL 60543
Phone: (630) 554-3883
Email: tinabeaird@yahoo.com
Specialty: Chicago area and collar counties, genealogical and historical research. Military record research.
Caldeen Benedict
48 Butternut Lane
Nauvoo, IL 62354
Phone: (360) 227-5249
Email: caldeenb@hotmail.com
Website: http://genealogyPro.com/cbenedict.html
Specialty: American research, LDS services, organization and data entry.
Jeanne Larzalere Bloom, CG
2666 E. 73rd Street, Apt. 11-W
Chicago, IL 60649
Phone: (773) 221-4545
Email: jl-bloom@mindspring.com
Specialty: Problem solving and compilation of family histories, particularly Chicago and Cook County.
Lynda Bloom-DeGroot
1850 W. Highland Ave. F205
Elgin, IL 60123
Phone: (847) 697-3444
Email: writeme4747@yahoo.com
Specialty: Cook, Kane and DuPage counties; Midwest, Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Chicago area newspapers and censuses in general.
Scott Burgh
4828 N. Bernard
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 655-6354
Email: sgburgh@ameritech.net
Specialty: Chicago and American historical, genealogical, newspaper, archival research; legal records: court, bankruptcy, probate, divorce, property, buildings.
Kevin Clutter
7440 Magoun Avenue
Hammond, IN 46324
Phone: (219) 844-8163
Email: cluttermk@aol.com
Specialty: Family history, historical research and building histories.
Madonna Davis
Madonna Genealogy
Phone: (630) 370-2675
Email: madonnagenealogy@gmail.com
Website: http://madonnagenealogy.com
Specialty: Midwest, English, and Irish research.
Todd Protzman Davis
1100 N. LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 618-4824
Email: todd@villaturicum.com
Specialty: Art and architecture history, Chicago history
Ginger Frere
Information Diggers
5739 W. Dakin
Chicago, IL 60634
Phone: (773) 458-3484
Email: gfrere@informationdiggers.com
Website: http://www.informationdiggers.com
Specialty: Family history, historical and bibliographical research, including archival and digital sources.
Nancy Grossman
499 Hillside Dr.
Highland Park, IL. 60035
Phone: (847) 433-0640
Email: msgnan@gmail.com
Specialty: German genealogy (all religions) both locally and abroad at the German archives. Historical and biographical research.
Kristen Gwinn, PhD
2447 Birchwood Ln
Wilmette, IL 60091
Phone: (847) 716-0030
Email: kristengwinn@mac.com
Specialty: Genealogical and archival research; database development; data entry and organization.
Harold Henderson
Research and Writing from Northwest Indiana
Phone: (219) 324-2620
Email: hhsh@earthlink.net
Website: http://www.midwestroots.net
Blog: http://midwesternmicrohistory.blogspot.com
Specialty: Writing & Editing; Chicago, Northern IL and IN; Southwestern MI, Southeastern WI.
Suzanne L. Hoffman
Genealogy Maven
1635 West Rosehill Drive
Chicago, IL 60660
Phone: (773) 789-7795
Email: TheGenealogyMaven@gmail.com
Specialty: Chicago and Illinois; Jewish; New England; lineage societies
Daniel Hubbard, PhD
Personal Past
814 Dobson St., Suite 3W
Evanston, IL 60202
Phone: (224) 856-9614
Email: dan@thePersonalPast.com
Website: http://www.thePersonalPast.com
Specialty: US, Canadian and Swedish family history research, writing, editing and book design.
Kathleen Kaldis
Ancestor Finder
Email: AncestorFinder1@gmail.com
Phone: (978) 424-7504
Specialty: New England, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, migration from New England, DAR, Mayflower SAR, Colonial Dames
Debbie Kroopkin
8452 N. Ozark Avenue
Niles, IL 60715
Phone: (847) 470-0329
Email: debbiekroopkin@gmail.com
Specialty: Jewish genealogy. Assembles family data, photographs and documents into database and books.
Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG
Lind Street Research
416 Lauder Lane
Inverness, IL 60067
Phone: (847) 338-0041
Email: teresa.mcmillin@lindstreet.com
Website: www.lindstreet.com
Specialty: Chicago and Cook County, German ancestry, German church records
Craig L. Pfannkuche
8612 Memory Trail
Wonder Lake, IL 60097-9442
Phone: (815) 653-9459
Email: craig@pfannkuche.com
Specialty: Chicago area genealogical and historical research, including probate and property records. Also Chicago and Northwestern Railroad history and personnel.
Christina A. Reynen
21 W. Goethe
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 335-0586
Email: kreynen@rcn.com
Specialty: Biographies, Court records, Chicago research only.
Laura Sklansky
3430 N. Lake Shore Drive, #6J
Chicago, IL 60657
Email: laurasklansky@sbcglobal.net
Specialty: Chicago history research
Karen Stanbary, CG
Phone (773) 742-9402
Email: karenstanbary@gmail.com
Specialty: Chicago, Midwestern, Southern US, Mexico, Hispanic, DNA analysis, brick wall analysis, land platting. Fluent and literate in Spanish.
Kathleen Thompson
3512 W. McLean
Chicago, IL 60647
Phone: (773) 235-2206
Cell: (773) 899-9195
Email: kathleen@onehistory.org
Specialty: Midwest and African American history, genealogy, and photo research.
Archival Image, LLC
5645 N. Rockwell Street
Chicago, IL 60659
Phone: (773) 852-8862
Email: leigh@archivalimage.com
Website: http://www.archivalimage.com
History Works, Inc.
Terry Fife
Phone: (312) 553-0300
Email: tfife@historyworks.net
Website: http://www.historyworks.net
Image Resources
Carol Parden
Phone: (312) 223-0660
Email: pardenc@sbcglobal.net
Information Diggers
Ginger Frere
Phone: (773) 458-3484
Email: gfrere@informationdiggers.com
Website: http://www.informationdiggers.com
Emily Kelley
Email: kelleyer@enteract.com
Kris Lipkowski
Phone: (773) 772-4110
Email: egonigo@earthlink.net
(Email preferred)
John Montes
Phone: (708) 442-0667
Email: bookcatman@juno.com
Rick Gersbach
Phone: (718) 689-3684
Email: r.gersbach@gmail.com
Robyn Mericle
Phone: (312) 223-0660
Email: rmericle@gmail.com
John Montes
Phone: (708) 442-0667
Email: bookcatman@juno.com