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Archiver > ROOTS > 1996-07 > 1615


From:
Subject: Chicago orphanage
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 19:17:45 -0400


My neighbor's father said he was born in 1895 "in Chicago" and after his
parents died he and 2 or 3 younger siblings were placed in the "Angles of
Heaven" orphanage, about 1891. He lived there until he was 15, although the
younger children were adopted out. He was a life-long Catholic and this was a
Catholic orphanage. Supposedly the orphanage burned and all the records. But
what I wondered is, wouldn't a Catholic orphanage also have been associated
with a Catholic parish nearby? (Which might conceivably have a record of
where he was christened?) Were there City Directories for Chicago that early?
Who would have them? Would think the church would have been near the
orphanage. Or would there have been something like a Catholic directory or
something that might help us pin this down?

My neighbor has wondered about her paternal grand-parents all her life, and
as she says, she is not getting any younger. I feel if we could get even one
small clue as to the actual place of her father's birth, we might make some
progress. I have checked the Chicago birth index but he isn't listed.


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