To accommodate the growing number of patrons seeking the history of their homes or buildings, CHS offers fee-based research to locate extant records documenting the age, original owner, architect, or other pertinent data relating to structures within the city of Chicago. For buildings dating from 1913 through 1953, the permits often include the name of the architect, building cost, and a chronology of construction progress.
Patrons using the service receive the research report within three weeks.
If you would like additional research beyond the City of Chicago Department of Buildings permit search, Research Center staff will provide assistance on a per-hour basis. Additional research can include determining the name of the architect when not indicated in the permit data, research on early property owners, and research into the Chicago Historical Society's holdings of archival architectural drawings, photographs, and maps.