City of Milwaukee Archives
Tax rolls, aldermen’s records and correspondence,
1862-1911.
City
of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.
- 4:45 p.m.
Phone (414) 286-2295
Fax (414) 286-3004
City Hall, Room B-11
200 E. Wells St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202-3567
For more information contact:
Barry Zalben, Manager
bzalbe@ci.mil.wi.us
(414) 286-2267
The library services section serves government officials, city employees and citizens. Specializes in urban/governmental affairs. Has a collection of 50,000 books, 200 journals, and hundreds of City of Milwaukee reports. Most library resources are available for use by the public.
Research Areas (From LRB Web Site)
Reference Services
Provides answers to inquiries regarding City
issues, local ordinances, or other governmental topics.
Database Services
Search Dialog, Mayor's Forum, Data Times,
Dow Jones and the Internet to provide access to periodical or newspaper
articles, reports, books, bulletin boards and a wide array of electronic
services for city-related questions for City employees.
Code Histories
Assists patrons in researching City of Milwaukee
legislative histories, as well as obtaining copies of individual ordinances
and resolutions.
Interlibrary Loan
Obtains copies of journal articles, books
or reports that are not available in the collection for city-related questions
for City of Milwaukee employees.
Census Depository
Maintains a collection of City of Milwaukee
decennial census reports from 1940 to the present, as well as other specialized
U.S. Census Bureau reports.
Newspaper Clippings
Provides access to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
newspaper clippings from the turn of the century to present, arranged by
subject.
Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Family History Center
Provides assistance in local genealogical
research through its extensive collections, and the massive collections
of the LDS Family Search in Utah.
Milwaukee Family History Center
9600 W. Grange Avenue
Hales Corners, WI 53130-1640
Phone: (414) 425-4182
Director: Earl Capps
Hours: Tue.-Thurs., 8:30 - 3:30 & 6:30 - 9:00
Fri., 8:30 - 3:30
Sat., 9:00 - 1:00
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Urban Archives in the Golda Meir Library
Extensive collections of local government records, naturalization records, maps, photographs, oral histories, and manuscript collections. Some collections described below under “Unpublished Sources.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, American
Geographical Society Collection in the Golda Meir Library
Some maps of Milwaukee, and Sanborn Fire Insurance
Maps.
Milwaukee
County Historical Society
910 North 3rd Street
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414) 273-8288
Library Hours:
Monday through Friday: 9:30 a.m.
to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to noon and
1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(Milwaukee County Historical Society, cont.)
The Research Library
The Research Library of the Milwaukee County
Historical Society has a wide variety of information about the history
of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. All materials are for reference use
in the library only (materials are non-circulating).
Research Areas(copied from MCHS Web Site)
Assessment and Taxation Records (1839-1887)
Scattered volumes for Bay View(village), Milwaukee
(city) and Towns of Franklin, Granville, Greenfield, Lake, Milwaukee, Oak
Creek, and Wauwatosa.
Business Index:
Alphabetical card index by firm name.
Includes published business information and pamphlet files.
Census Records
The 1836, '40, '42, '46, & '47 Territorial
Censuses, indexed. Federal Censuses of 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910,
& 1920. Note: Only 1850 is indexed. Wisconsin State Census of
1905. To find names in later censuses, a ward number must be determined.
Church Records & Pamphlet Files:
Microfilm baptisms, burials, marriages,
confirmations, for the following churches:
Episcopal: St. James (Milwaukee), St.
John Chrysostom (Delafield), St. Luke (Racine, St. Peter's (West Allis),
St. Paul's (Watertown, Columbus, and Ashippun), St. Mark's (Beaver Dam),
St. Edmund's (Elm Grove); Our Saviour's Lutheran (Milwaukee); Ascension
Lutheran (Milwaukee); St. Peter's Lutheran (River Hills); West Granville
Presbyterian; St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church (Milwaukee). Also, records
of the Milwaukee Episcopal Archdiocese.
City Directories: (1847-1990)
Contain addresses and occupations for
heads of households; business subject listings.
Coroner’s Inquests: (1873-1935)
Full alphabetical name index, which
includes cause of death for years 1873-1890. Files contain death certificates
and inquest testimony.
Civil Court Records: (1837-April 2,
1931)
Divorce and civil suits against individuals
and companies.
Criminal Court Records (1938-1879)
Dockets and other court books (not case
files).
Incorporation Records: (1872-1960)
Bound name indexes. Business and organizational
articles of incorporation, amendments, and dissolutions.
(Milwaukee County Historical Society, cont.)
Jail Registers: Sheriff’s Dept. (1855-1869, 1881 [name index only], 1889-1926, 1929-1960, 1964).
Maps:
City, county, suburban, and state maps,
various dates.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (1927, 1929,
1930, and 1937).
Naturalization Papers: (1836-May 25, 1941)
Ordination Papers: (1836-1934)
Papers include Catholic, Protestant,
and other denominational certificates of credentials as ordained clergy.
Photographic Collections:
Extensive
Probate Records, Originals (1835-1889
not inclusive and scattered later files).
All cases also on film at the Milwaukee
County Courthouse.
Milwaukee County Register of Deeds
Milwaukee County Courthouse, Room
103
Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday - Friday;
(414) 278-4005
(Following from Web Site)
The Register of Deeds office keeps track of
over 275,000 parcels of land in Milwaukee County. Each year the office
records more than 140,000 real estate documents, and 35,000 birth, death
and marriage records. Records date to the 1840's. Other important
documents kept in this office include Federal Tax Liens, Uniform Commercial
Code documents, Military Discharges, Subdivision Plats, Certified Survey
Maps and Condominium declarations.
Genealogical Research
Researchers must make an appointment between the hours of 8:00 AM -12:00 PM or 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Seven appointments are scheduled per day. For greater accessibility, appointments should be scheduled 2 - 3 weeks in advance To make an appointment call 414-278-4003. If research is requested without an appointment, we allow public access for 15 minutes only and access to only the indexes.
Birth records begin in 1850, marriage records in the 1830's, and death records in 1872.
Milwaukee
County Clerk of Courts
Milwaukee County Courthouse
901 N. 9th Street, Room 106
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: 414-278-4468
Fax: 414-223-1819
Case files can be viewed at each division office of the Clerk of Circuit Court.
Children’s case files: Children’s Court Center, 10201 W. Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226, Phone: 414-257-7700 HOURS: M-F 8:00am-noon, 1pm-5pm.
Civil court case files: Milwaukee County Courthouse, Room G-9, 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, Phone: 414-278-4120 HOURS: M-F 8am-5pm.
Criminal & Traffic case files: Milwaukee County Safety Building, 821 W. State Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, Phone: 414-278-4538 HOURS: M-F 8am-5pm.
Milwaukee County Register in Probate
No URL
Milwaukee County Courthouse, Room 207. (414)
278-4444.
The Register in Probate Office provides records
management services for probate of wills and administration of estates,
trusts, guardianships, protective placements, and involuntary commitments.
Estate proceedings may be conducted in the Circuit Courts assigned probate
jurisdiction or in the Office of the Register in Probate through Informal
Administration of Estates.
Published Sources and Locations
City Histories
Aderman, Ralph, ed. Trading Post to
Metropolis : Milwaukee County's First 150 Years.
Milwaukee: Milwaukee County
Historical Society, 1987.
Archives (Non-Circulating) F587 M6 T73x
1987
Reference (Non-Circulating) F587
M6 T73x 1987
Stacks F587 M6 T73x 1987
Anderson, Harry H., and Frederick I. Olson,
Milwaukee:
At the Gathering of the Waters.
Tulsa: Continental Heritage
Press, 1981.
Archives (Non-Circulating) F589 M6 A54x
Reference (Non-Circulating) F589 M6
A54x
Special Collections - Hohlweck Collection
F589 M6 A54x
Stacks F589 M6 A54x
(City Histories, cont.)
Bruce, William George, Milwaukee's Century
of Progress.
Milwaukee: Milwaukee Association
of Commerce, 1918(?).
Archives (Non-Circulating) F589.M6 B779x 1918
Bruce, William George, ed. History
of Milwaukee, City and County.
Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing
Co., 1922.
Reference F589 M6 B775
Stacks
F589 M6 B775
Buck, James Smith, Pioneer History
of Milwaukee. Milwaukee: Swain & Tate, 1890.
Archives (Non-Circulating) F589
M6 B9 1890
Gurda, John. The Making of Milwaukee.
Milwaukee: Milwaukee County Historical Society, 1999.
American Geographical Society Collection
F589.M64 G87x 1999
Archives (Non-Circulating)
F589.M64 G87x 1999
Reference (Non-Circulating) F589.M6
G882x 1999
Still, Bayrd, Milwaukee; the history of
a city. Madison, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1965.
Reference (Non-Circulating)
F589 M6 S8 1965
Stacks F589 M6 S8 1965
Wheeler, Andrew Carpenter, The Chronicles
of Milwaukee: Being a Narrative History of
the Town from Its Earliest Period
to the Present. Milwaukee: Jermain & Brightman, 1861.
Archives (Non-Circulating)
F589 M6 W5
Stacks F589 M6 W5
Milwaukee Newspapers
Milwaukee Sentinel UWM Microforms
AN05
Milwaukee Journal UWM Microforms
AN06
Milwaukee Daily News, 1855-1919 Milwaukee
Public Library
Milwaukee Free Press, 1901-1918 Milwaukee
Public Library
Political Action, 1910-1912 State
Historical Society of Wisconsin Microfilm P28887 N6215
Social-Democratic Herald, 1898-1913 Center
for Research Libraries
Milwaukee Leader, 1911-1938 Milwaukee
Public Library
City Directories
Wright’s Directory of Milwaukee, 1900-1913
UWM Stacks F589.M6 A18
Maps
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, City of Milwaukee
American Geographical Society Collection
(Northern, Central, Southern and Western)…..1910,
paper map
Wright's Map of Milwaukee, 1898 American
Geographical Society Collection
Call Number:
893-d M54 A-1898
Caspar's Guide and Map of the City of
Milwaukee Public Library Ref 912.77595 C34G
Milwaukee: Directory of Streets, House
Numbers and Electric Car Lines ... 1912
Milwaukee, : C.N. Caspar Co., 1912.
Unpublished Sources
Census Schedules
United States Bureau of the Census, 12th Census,
1900 Population [schedules] : Wisconsin.
State Historical Society of Wisconsin,
Microforms Room.
Milwaukee (EDs 1-26, sheet 1) County
P72-381
Milwaukee (EDs 26, sheet 2-end, 27-54)
County P72-382
Milwaukee (EDs 55-81) County P72-383
Milwaukee (EDs 82-109) County P72-384
Milwaukee (EDs 110-136, sheet 9) County
P72-385
Milwaukee (EDs 137, sheet 10-end, 137-171)
County P72-386
Milwaukee (EDs 172-190) County P72-387
Milwaukee (EDs 191-end)
United States Bureau of the Census, 13th Census,
1910 Population [schedules] : Wisconsin.
State Historical Society of Wisconsin,
Microforms Room.
Milwaukee (EDs 153-164, 277-296, 299)
P91-834
Milwaukee (EDs 14-28, 51-59, 178-193,
308, 311) P91-835
Milwaukee (EDs 29-41, 74-83, 166-177,
297, 298, 305, 310) P91-836
Milwaukee (EDs 42-50, 60-65, 84-95,
213-223, 302, 303) P91-837
Milwaukee (EDs 66-73, 96-111, 116-123,
307) P91-838
Milwaukee (EDs 112-115, 124-148, 300,
301) P91-839
Milwaukee (EDs 149-152, 194-212, 224-239,
304-306) P91-840
Milwaukee (EDs 240-273) P91-841
Note: Both years also in Milwaukee Public
Library.
Vital Records (Birth, Death,
Divorce, Marriage)
For copies of these records, contact:
Wisconsin Center for Health Statistics,
Dept. of Health and Social Services, Room 158,
1 West Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-1371.
Web Site: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/VitalRecords/
Local Milwaukee Government Records at UW-Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Treasurer, Tax Rolls, 1868-1970.
Milwaukee County Treasurer, Tax Sale Books,
1888-1904.
General Genealogical Records
For information of the following records housed
in the UWM Milwaukee Urban Archives, please see the Archives Web site:
http://www.uwm.edu/Library/arch/genie.htm#Materials
Records includes:
birth cemetery
church census
civil and criminal court case files
death
fire and police jail
marriage
mortgage & misc. property records
name-change
naturalization probate
school synagogue
tax assessment
United States Census: Historical Census Data Browser.
Vital Records Information: United States. (A Guide.)
Maps
Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970.
Library of Congress, Map Collections, 1500-1999. (Home Page)
History of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Using Sanborn Maps to Research Old Buildings in Wisconsin
Library of Congress. American Memory: Historical Collections for the National Digital Library.
Library of Congress, Georgraphy and Map Division.
American
Memory Project: Cities and Towns.
(Bird's Eye View Maps of Wisconsin Cities
and Towns)
Library of Congress, Rare Books and Special
Collections Division. An
American Time Capsule:
Three Centuries of Broadsides
and Other Printed Ephemera.
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. FamilySearch. (Geneaology)
Wisconsin Historical Library. Wisconsin Historical Images.
Wisconsin Historical Society. Wisconsin
Local History and Biography Articles.
Historical and biographical
articles preserved in scrapbooks at the Wisconsin Historical
Society in the late 19th
and 20th centuries. About 15,500 are currently available.
16,000 articles on 50,000
pages, about one half of which are currently accessible. The
entire collection should
be available by Spring, 2002.
Vanished:
A Comprehensive Genealogy, History, and Family Index.
Includes Genealogy by State
(pages of the key historical societies, Genealogy
societies,and Archives and map collections);
U.S.
Civil War (photographs, battles, biographies,
histories, army and navy data, military
unit information); Family Photographs; Church Records
by State; Surnames;
Family
Papers; Railroad Employee Database.
City of Milwaukee, Legislative Reference Bureau.