Research in Wisconsin Archives, Libraries & Societies

It is smart to familiarize your self with just about any repository in Wisconsin that you choose to might visit by getting in touch with to the proper archive or library ahead of time.

The majority of, if not all, Wisconsin repositories have written and published materials that present its collections and research policy.

Wisconsin archives and historical agencies usually have Internet web sites that supply identical content. Quite a few even contain down-loadable lists for some or parts within their collections.

Wisconsin Archives

  • National Archives - Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.)
  • Wisconsin Area Research Center Network - Thirteen area research centers in Wisconsin hold public records transferred by counties, towns, cities, and other local governments and collections of papers and records from private individuals and organizations. The goal of each center is to build comprehensive collections documenting the history of its region. The collections include photographs, newspapers, maps, and family histories. Many of the centers are enhanced by the contributions and volunteer hours of local genealogy groups. Newspaper indexes to vital records, cemetery readings, and original local church records can be located in some of the centers. Centers vary considerably in their collections and, therefore, in their value to genealogists. Archival collections usually located at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin or at one of the centers may be transferred temporarily within the network to accommodate local researchers. All archive and manuscript materials at the centers are cataloged centrally at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Write or call the appropriate center before visiting since hours vary by center, the calendar, staffing, and university schedules. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin serves Columbia, Dane, and Sauk counties. The other Area Research Centers and the counties they serve are:
    • Ashland (counties covered are: Ashland, Bayfield, Forest, Iron, Oneida, Price, Sawyer, and Vilas counties.)
    • Eau Claire (counties covered are: Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, Rusk, and Taylor)
    • Green Bay (counties covered are: Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, and Shawano counties)
    • La Crosse (counties covered are: Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon)
    • Milwaukee (counties covered are: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, and Waukesha)
    • Oshkosh (counties covered are: Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, and Winnebago)
    • Parkside (Covered are Racine and Kenosha counties)
    • Platteville (Counties covered are Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, and Richland)
    • River Falls (counties covered are Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce counties. )
    • Stevens Point (Counties covered are Adams, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood)
    • Stout (counties covered are Barron, Dunn, and Pepin counties.)
    • Superior (Counties covered are Douglas County.)
    • Whitewater (Counties covered are Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties.)
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Wisconsin Museums

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Wisconsin Libraries

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Wisconsin Periodicals

Genealogical publications offer plenty of sources of information and facts, they might be dismissed by genealogy researchers and genealogist in researching for family history. The majority regional and county genealogical and/or historical societies issue periodicals that have records in relation to the region or vicinity they support. Quite often these publications offer articles concerning records which are not accessible anywhere else.

  • Wisconsin Magazine of History - published in Madison by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, is a quarterly publication with historical articles, book reviews, and listings of acquisitions of historical and genealogical material. There are published indexes to this periodical.
  • Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Newsletter (originally titled Wisconsin Families from 1940–41) is available quarterly through membership or at subscribing libraries (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies for address). The periodical contains pertinent state activities, queries, and recent publications acquired by the group. The majority of material is the publication of records from Wisconsin counties, including cemetery readings, church records, vital records, newspaper extractions, and other genealogically important items.
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Wisconsin Historical & Genealogical Societies

For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both. Together with their own work, Wisconsin groups from time to time help manage the efforts of local societies throughout the Wisconsin. Their particular publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those provided through the local area societies.

State or Regional Societies

County, City, Town or Township Societies

Ethnic Societies

Religious Societies

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