Genealogy Resources for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Public Library - Genealogy Resources

Milwaukee County was created in 1834 in Michigan Territory from Brown and Iowa Counties. The National Genealogy Examiner’s Top Sites for Milwaukee County resources are Wisconsin and Milwaukee County: Online Genealogy and Family History Library. See more resources linked below.

Archives

Search through this finding aid to learn about collections held in 19 different repositories across Wisconsin: Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids

Census

The following Wisconsin State Census records are searchable online:

• 1855
• 1865
• 1875
• 1885
• 1895
• 1905

Search the United States Census here.

Immigration and Naturalization

• See Wisconsin Emigration and Immigration and Immigration.
• See Wisconsin Naturalization and Citizenship.
• Wisconsin, Milwaukee Naturalization Index 1848-1948 (Learn more)

Library

Milwaukee Public Library Resources

• This PDF file will help you learn about the genealogical resources at the Milwaukee Public Library: Researching the Family Tree
• Genealogy: Obituary Resources for Milwaukee County will help you locate a death notice or obituary.
• Genealogy: Vital Records will help you understand what birth, marriage, divorce, and death indices are available and their scope.
• The African American Genealogy Pathfinder helps beginning researchers know how to start.

Family History Library Catalog resources

See Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Military

See Wisconsin Military Records. Also, search the following databases at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum:

• Civil War Database
• Spanish –American War Database
• World War I Database

Probate

Contact the Milwaukee County Probate Division to locate wills, estate records, and guardianships.

Societies

Milwaukee County Historical Society: Genealogy & Historical Research Collections

Vital Records

See Wisconsin Vital Records

Birth

• Wisconsin Birth Index, 1820-1907 (Learn more)
• Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826, 1926 (Learn more)

Marriage

• Wisconsin Marriage Index 1973-1977 (Learn more)
• Wisconsin Marriages 1836-1930 (Learn more)
• The Milwaukee County Marriage Certificates Collection from 1822 to 1876 is accessible online at the Milwaukee Public Library website.

Learn about other marriage record collections here.

Death

• Wisconsin Death Index, 1820-1907 (Learn more)
• Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997 (Learn more)
• Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968 (Learn more)

See also, Deaths and Obituaries

Divorce

Wisconsin Divorce Index, 1965-1984 (Learn more)