Wisconsin Compiled Genealogies

Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections and indexes of genealogical value. For a helpful list of these organizations, see:


 * Ryan, Carol W. Searching for Your Wisconsin Ancestors in the Wisconsin Libraries. Green Bay, Wisconsin: C. W. Ryan, 1988. (FHL book 977.5 D27r 1988.)

The Wisconsin State Historical Society Library has one of the largest genealogical collections in the United States. Their subject card catalog indexes many genealogical sources. You may wish to write to them to request a search of the catalog for the name of a specific ancestor in whom you are interested. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope with any request. They are not able to do extensive searches for an entire surname.

There are many family genealogies contained in county history books. The Wisconsin State Genealogical Society is publishing book indexes to these county histories. The Family History Library has about fifty of these indexes. They are listed under WISCONSIN - [COUNTY] - HISTORY. You can write to the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society to order these indexes. The address is given above in the "Archives and Libraries" section of this outline.

Especially helpful sources are:

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection. This collection is listed in the Author/Title Search of the catalog and consists of transcripts of Bible records, cemetery records, church records, marriage records, death records, obituaries, and wills. It was microfilmed in 1971 at the DAR Library in Washington, D.C., and is available on microfilm at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and at the Family History Library (FHL films 848695-701 and 858651). Generally there is an index at the beginning of each volume.

Wisconsin Pioneer and Century Certificate Project. The Wisconsin State Genealogical Society issues pioneer certificates to anyone whose ancestors settled in Wisconsin by 1850 and century certificates to those who can document pre-1876 Wisconsin ancestry. The applications contain detailed family history information.

The applications are at the Historical Society of Wisconsin and are filed by county. You can request a search and photocopies of information in this file.

The following index to the applications gives brief genealogical information for more than 7,000 ancestors and includes the names and addresses of the applicants:


 * Patterson, Betty. Some Pioneer Families of Wisconsin: An Index. Madison: State Genealogical Society, 1977. (FHL book 977.5 D22s.)

An additional index has been published which lists over 2,000 more pioneers:


 * Some Pioneer Families of Wisconsin: An Index, Volume 2. Madison: State Genealogical Society, 1987.(FHL book 977.5 D22s.)

Gene-A-Rama. Another source for family trees in Wisconsin is:


 * Wisconsin Genealogical Council. Gene-A-Rama. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Genealogical Council, 1987–. (FHL book 977.5 D2w 1993.) There are several editions from 1987. They list over 1,000 ancestors of members and give the place where ancestors lived and the date.

French-Canadian Families. A helpful source for French-Canadian ancestors who emigrated to Wisconsin is Paul J. Lareau and Elmer Courteau, French-Canadian Families of the North Central States: A Genealogical Dictionary, 8 vols. (St. Paul, Minnesota: Northwest Territory French and Canadian Heritage Institute, 1980; FHL book 973 D2la; fiche 6010503-11).

See the "Biography" section in this outline for additional sources for family genealogies.