Raymond W. Johnson
Former Criminal Investigator, Historian, writer, lecturer specializing in the Chicago Area
Johnson Research Services
Owner
Currently accepting clients for...
- Family History Research
- Speaking / Presenting
- Writing /Publishing
Family History Research
- Document Retrieval / Record Agent
- Dual Citizenship
- Family History Research
- Heraldry / Lineage Societies
- Immigration / Naturalization
- Military
Speaking/Presenting
- Family History Research
- Methodology & Resources
- Available for in-person events
- Available for virtual events
Writing/Publishing
- Author/Writer
Other Speciality
- Dual Citizenship
- Heir & Probate Search
- House Historian / Local History
- Oral Historian
Ray is a veteran and former criminal investigator turned historian, author, researcher, and lecturer.
He was a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army serving for four years in “The Old Guard” the U.S. Army Honor Guard and Official Escort to the President.
After serving in the U.S. Army, he became a criminal investigator in DuPage County, Illinois finishing as a Gang/Narcotics Investigator.
After his career in law enforcement, he used his investigative skills to delve into the forgotten aspects of Chicago history.
In 2005, he started Johnson Research Services and conducts research for other authors, businesses, television production companies, attorneys, and family historians. He also conducts lectures and classes on the topics of forgotten Chicago history and genealogical research. Currently the website for that business and his history blog is http://www.Historycop.com
He has written three books on Chicago history to date; Chicago’s Haunt Detective, Schiffer Publishing, 2011, Chicago History The Stranger Side, Schiffer, 2014 and The Great Chicago Fire, Arcadia, 2017. He likes to look at history as a criminal investigator would, separating the facts from the fiction and debunking many things once thought to be historical fact.
Ray’s work has been featured on Discovery ID’s Cold Valley and A Crime to Remember, History Channel’s, American Ripper, Travel Channel’s Mysteries at the Museum, Rich Hall’s BBC series, The American Experience, Unsolved Mysteries Digital, and WTTW’s documentary Czechs in Chicago – A Home in the Heartland as well as local television and print media.
He was a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army serving for four years in “The Old Guard” the U.S. Army Honor Guard and Official Escort to the President.
After serving in the U.S. Army, he became a criminal investigator in DuPage County, Illinois finishing as a Gang/Narcotics Investigator.
After his career in law enforcement, he used his investigative skills to delve into the forgotten aspects of Chicago history.
In 2005, he started Johnson Research Services and conducts research for other authors, businesses, television production companies, attorneys, and family historians. He also conducts lectures and classes on the topics of forgotten Chicago history and genealogical research. Currently the website for that business and his history blog is http://www.Historycop.com
He has written three books on Chicago history to date; Chicago’s Haunt Detective, Schiffer Publishing, 2011, Chicago History The Stranger Side, Schiffer, 2014 and The Great Chicago Fire, Arcadia, 2017. He likes to look at history as a criminal investigator would, separating the facts from the fiction and debunking many things once thought to be historical fact.
Ray’s work has been featured on Discovery ID’s Cold Valley and A Crime to Remember, History Channel’s, American Ripper, Travel Channel’s Mysteries at the Museum, Rich Hall’s BBC series, The American Experience, Unsolved Mysteries Digital, and WTTW’s documentary Czechs in Chicago – A Home in the Heartland as well as local television and print media.
Publications/Media
Chicago's Haunt Detective, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2011
Chicago History The Stranger Side, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 2013
The Great Chicago Fire, Arcadia Publishing, 2017
Chicago's Haunt Detective, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2011
Chicago History The Stranger Side, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 2013
The Great Chicago Fire, Arcadia Publishing, 2017
Lectures
Investigating your Family History 101
Tips, Tricks, and Little Known Sources
Navigating the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Archives
Investigating your Family History 101
Tips, Tricks, and Little Known Sources
Navigating the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Archives
Repositories
Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Archives
Newberry Library
Chicago History Museum
National Archives Great Lakes Region
University of Chicago
DePaul University
Harold Washington Library
Polish Genealogical Society of America
Museum of Broadcast Communications
University of Illinois at Chicago
Northwestern University
Northeastern Illinois University Illinois Regional Archives Depository
Department of Veterans Affairs - Chicago
Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Archives
Newberry Library
Chicago History Museum
National Archives Great Lakes Region
University of Chicago
DePaul University
Harold Washington Library
Polish Genealogical Society of America
Museum of Broadcast Communications
University of Illinois at Chicago
Northwestern University
Northeastern Illinois University Illinois Regional Archives Depository
Department of Veterans Affairs - Chicago
Research Time Periods
- 21st Century
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
- 18th Century
- 17th Century
Degrees
Bachelors of Science Business Administration / Marketing/ Entrepreneurship
Bachelors of Science Business Administration / Marketing/ Entrepreneurship