Visiting the Library and Archives | Wisconsin Historical Society (original) (raw)
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- Research Your Family History Begin or dive deeper into researching your family tree
- Discover Your Community History Learn about the spaces, places, & unique story of your community
- Explore Our Collections The largest North American Heritage collection after the Library of Congress
- Learn with the Historical Society Empower curiosity about the people, places, and stories of our past.
- Visit Wisconsin Museums & Historic Sites See and touch history at Historic Sites, Museums and special events
- Preserve Your Homes & Properties Restore your historic home or property, get tax credits, renovation tips
The Library and Archives
The Library-Archives Division collects, preserves, and makes available both published and unpublished materials about the history of Wisconsin, the United States and Canada. The Library and Archives also serves as the North American history research center for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and provides access to collections owned by the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research.
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Plan Your Visit
Visit the Archives
Collection strengths include Wisconsin history and the history of mass communications, social action, and organized labor. The archives is home to the Society's map and atlas collection as well as audio, film, and photographs.
816 State Street, 4th Floor
Area Research Centers
Use the Society's courier service to have Archives materials transferred to a research center near you. Learn More
Research Tools
The Society's library and archival holdings are cataloged in the University of Wisconsin-Madison's library catalog. Find books, newspapers, maps, government publications, manuscripts, photographs, government records, audio and more.
These finding aids (registers) describe archival resources held by 19 repositories throughout Wisconsin. Find collection guides and indexes.
Family History Research Use our online tools for your genealogy research or visit us and we can help.
**Explore Some of Our Genealogy Databases:
Access to these genealogy databases are available from any public computer or personal device inside the Society's Library.
- AncestryLibrary
- American Ancestors
- Fold3
- Newspapers.com
We are a FamilySearch Affiliate Library
Government Publications
The Library has a wide array of materials published by the governments of the United States, Canada, Wisconsin and most other states in the union. Some books, agency reports, statistical abstracts and legislative journals date back to the 1790s.
More on Government Publications
Government Records
The Archives has original historical records from schools and school districts, towns, counties, state government and agencies, the governor's office and the court system. Some records date back to 1821 when Wisconsin was still part of the Michigan Territory.
More on Local Government Records
More on State Government Records
Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (WCFTR)
Get access to records and moving images documenting the history of the American film industry, popular theater and television.