Wisconsin, Fond du Lac Public Library Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
The records cover the years 1848 to 1980.

Record Description
The collection consists of images of card files from the Fond du Lac Public Library. The records include the following:


 * Cemetery file (1900-1980)
 * Marriage application file (1899-1930)
 * Divorce file (1848-1950)

County officials began keeping records from the time the county was formed.

Why the Record Was Created
Each type of record within the county was created for a different purpose, but most were created to keep track of the vital events happening in the lives of the citizens and to safeguard their legal interests and the legal interests of their heirs.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Information about creating source citations for FamilySearch Historical Collections is listed in the wiki article Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts in the Wisconsin, Fond du Lac Public Library records may include the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Event date
 * Event place
 * Residence
 * Age
 * Gender
 * Names of parents
 * Biographical information about parents such as date and place of birth
 * Names of relatives or friends
 * Names of witnesses
 * Dates the documents were written and recorded
 * Occupation

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know the following:


 * The place where the event occurred
 * The approximate date the event occurred
 * The name of the individual or individuals such as the names of the bride and groom

Compare the information in the records to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.

When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family.

For example:


 * Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth to find the family in census records.
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church and land records.
 * Occupations listed can lead you to other types of records such as employment or military records.
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.
 * The name of the officiator may be a clue to their religion or area of residence in the county.
 * The name of the undertaker, mortuary, or cemetery could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been born, married, or died in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Keep in mind:


 * The information in the records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the informant.
 * Earlier records may not contain as much information as more recent records.
 * There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another record.

If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, try the following:


 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Check for an index. There are often indexes created by local genealogical and historical societies.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.

Record Reliability
The information is generally reliable. However it depends on the reliability of the informant on the original documents. In addition, there may be transcription errors.

Related Websites

 * Fond du Lac Public Library
 * Wisconsin Heritage OnLine
 * Wisconsin Historical Society
 * Fond du Lac County People and Places

Related Wiki Articles

 * Wisconsin
 * Wisconsin Archives and Libraries
 * Wisconsin Vital Records
 * Wisconsin Cemeteries

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Wisconsin, Fond du Lac Public Library Records 1848-1980," digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 28 March 2012), Divorce Index (1848 - 1950) &gt; Divorce Index, A - Z, Image 650 of 1106, Donald McKay and Sarah McKay, divorced 6 June 1910; citing Library Records; Fond du Lac Public Library, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States.