We have many online sources available here. You can also submit a research request form and we will be happy to assist you with your research.
Request FormWinnetka Property Research
View the presentation by Dr. Meagan McChesney “Your Winnetka Home” to learn more about researching your house, business, or land use.
Download or print our guide to Winnetka’s historic architecture, Winnetka Landmarks. Presented in partnership with the village of Winnetka Landmarks Commission.
Reference document with information on architects Ernest Alfred Mayo and Peter Brierley and their firm Mayo & Mayo Architects.
Online Collections Database
Telephone Directories & Other Address Resources
1900 – Village of Winnetka Directory
1902 – Village of Winnetka Directory
1904 – Village of Winnetka Directory
1909-1910 – Telephone Directory – Village of Winnetka section
1912 – Winnetka General Directory
1917, July – Telephone Directory – North Shore District, Chicago Telephone Company, Bell
1920-1921 – Village of Winnetka General Telephone Directory
1925, December – Telephone Directory of Winnetka
1926, December – Telephone Directory of Winnetka, Illinois Bell Telephone Company
1929 – Winnetka Directory
1933 – Winnetka Directory
1934 – Cook County Property Assessments for Winnetka (with addresses and owner names)
1935 – Polk’s Directory of Householders
1937 – Polk’s Directory of Householders
1939 – Polk’s Directory of Householders, Occupants of Office Buildings and Other Business Places, Including a Complete Street and Avenue Guide (includes reverse directory)
1942 – April 1942 directory
1944 – North Shore Telephone Directory (white pages only)
1954 – North Suburban Street Address Directory
1956 – North Suburban Street Address Directory
1969– Local Telephone Directory
1975 – North Shore Directory
Plan of Winnetka – 1921
Full copy of Edward Bennett’s 1921 Plan of Winnetka as well as the the two color maps included in the plan.
Plan of Winnetka
Lakefront Plan Map
Rail Plan Map
Exhibits
History of the Rail Line Exhibit part 1
History of the Rail Line Exhibit part 2
We will continually update this page with new sources as we scan important items in our collections. If you are interested in volunteering to help us digitize more of our most used resources, contact our curator at 847-446-0001 or curator@winnetkahistory.org.