How do I search history of an old stock certificate dated 1945?

Question

I have stock certificates for "Fruit Distributors, Inc." for the state of Illinois and would like to know the vaule today.

Answer 1

In the UK there are a few books that would help, maybe there are similar in US. Books like Who owns Who, Defunct Companies, and Tollys Capital Gains Tax. Or maybe the tax office have records for tax purposes. Otherwise your down to framing it if it looks pretty. It may have been a private company.

Or maybe find out if there are some big fruit companies operating in Illinois and look at their corporate history to see if they swallowed (no pun intended) up smaller companies in the area.

Is Kraft foods in Illinois? Some of these big companies have research depts. that are very helpful in tracing old companies in their sector history

Answer 2

If you cant find it with a Google search then contact the Secretary of State for the state of Illinois.  They can tell you the status of the company now.  They may have a database on their website you can search.

Answer 3

Here is a link to the SEC page suggesting how to determine the value of an old certificate.

http://sec.gov/answers/oldcer.htm

Answer 4

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