Searching by Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is one efficient way to retrieve lists of relevant materials. Here are some sample searches:
--African Americans –- Illinois -– Chicago (OR German Americans, Hispanic Americans, Irish Americans, etc.)
--Chicago (Ill) --Historical Geography
--Regional Planning -- Illinois -- Chicago Metropolitan Area.
From the library's homepage, select the catalog's SUBJECT index from the drop-down menu. Here are some sample searches: