Genealogy & Local History at Wisconsin Libraries (43 Verified)
Genealogy & Local History › Wisconsin
📜 Wisconsin · genealogy & local history
Genealogy & Local History at Libraries in Wisconsin
Looking to trace your family tree or explore local history in Wisconsin? These 43 public libraries have offering genealogy & local-history resources verified on their official pages — with genealogy databases, historical newspapers, local archives and staff who can help you get started.
43 librariesFamily history · Local archives
We have verified 43 public libraries in Wisconsin offering genealogy & local history, across 43 cities — including Abbotsford, Appleton, Antigo, Black River Falls, Brookfield. Each links to that library’s page with its address, hours and phone so you can confirm the service and any fees.
A few worth knowing in Wisconsin:
- Neenah Public Library · Neenah — Local History Collection with Fox Cities photographs, oral histories, city directories, and plat maps (in partnership with Menasha Public Library)
- West Allis Public Library · West Allis — Wisconsin's statewide BadgerLink provides cardholders free access to academic databases, genealogy records, and digital newspapers from home
- Brookfield Public Library · Brookfield — BadgerLink statewide access — free databases, genealogy resources and eContent from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
💡 Good to know: Ancestry Library Edition is free inside the library but not from home; HeritageQuest and many state databases do work remotely with your card — ask staff which resources you can access from home before you leave.
Wisconsin libraries with genealogy & local history — 43 verified
Abbotsford Public LibraryABBOTSFORD, Wisconsin · (715) 223-3920203 FIRST ST.Genealogy and local history research assistance →Appleton Public LibraryAPPLETON, Wisconsin · +1-920-832-6173200 N. Appleton StreetGenealogy and local history research →Antigo Public LibraryAntigo, Wisconsin · (715) 623-3724617 Clermont St.Genealogy room with local history archives →Black River Falls Public LibraryBlack River Falls, Wisconsin · (715) 284-4112222 Fillmore St.Jackson County History Room with Speltz Negative Collection and county land records →Brookfield Public LibraryBrookfield, Wisconsin · (262) 782-41401900 N. Calhoun RoadBadgerLink statewide access — free databases, genealogy resources and eContent from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction →Chilton Public LibraryChilton, Wisconsin · (920) 849-4414221 Park St.Local history digitized via Recollection Wisconsin — photos, diaries, newspapers searchable statewide →DeForest Area Public LibraryDeForest, Wisconsin · (608) 846-5482203 Library StreetGenealogy and local history research resources →Matheson Memorial LibraryElkhorn, Wisconsin · (262) 723-2678101 N. Wisconsin St.Genealogy research support: in-library Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest →Fond du Lac Public LibraryFond du Lac, Wisconsin · (920) 929-708032 Sheboygan StreetLocal history and genealogy research services →U.S.S. Liberty Memorial Public LibraryGrafton, Wisconsin · (262) 375-53151620 11th Ave.Community room featuring USS Liberty relics and Grafton local history artifacts →Brown County Central LibraryGreen Bay, Wisconsin · (920) 448-4400515 Pine StreetLocal History & Genealogy collection and research help →Jack Russell Memorial LibraryHartford, Wisconsin · (262) 673-8240100 Park AvenueHistory exploratorium for local and genealogy research →Hortonville Public LibraryHortonville, Wisconsin · (920) 779-4279531 N. Nash St.Hortonville Memory Project — digital local history collection →Hudson Area Public LibraryHudson, Wisconsin · (715) 386-3101700 First StreetHudson History Room for local-history and genealogy research →Hedberg Public LibraryJanesville, Wisconsin · (608) 758-6600316 South Main StreetYouth, teen & adult collections plus local history resources →Kaukauna Public LibraryKaukauna, Wisconsin · (920) 766-6340207 Thilmany Rd., Suite 200Local history archives (newspapers, obituaries, yearbooks, photographs) →Kimberly Public LibraryKimberly, Wisconsin · (920) 788-7515515 W. Kimberly Ave.Centennial Memory Project — digitized local history and genealogy for Kimberly and the Fox River Valley →La Crosse Public LibraryLa Crosse, Wisconsin · (608) 789-7100800 Main St.Local History & Genealogy Archive with regional photographs, maps, and documents →Lake Geneva Public LibraryLake Geneva, Wisconsin · (262) 249-5299918 W. Main St.Local history & genealogy collection →Elisha D. Smith Public LibraryMenasha, Wisconsin · (920) 967-3690440 First St.Local history and genealogy collection →Menomonee Falls Public LibraryMenomonee Falls, Wisconsin · (262) 532-8900W156N8436 Pilgrim RoadLocal History Room and Digital History Lab for genealogy and community research →Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon-ThiensvilleMequon, Wisconsin · (262) 242-259311345 N. Cedarburg Rd.Local History Room with scanner & dedicated research computer (up to 3 hrs/day) →T.B. Scott Free LibraryMerrill, Wisconsin · (715) 536-7191106 W. First St.Genealogy research assistance and local history resources →Middleton Public LibraryMiddleton, Wisconsin · (608) 831-55647425 Hubbard Ave.BadgerLink statewide databases: full-text articles, newspapers, genealogy & more →Muskego Public LibraryMuskego, Wisconsin · (262) 971-2100S73 W16663 Janesville Rd.BadgerLink statewide databases free with any Wisconsin library card — news, business, academic & genealogy resources →Neenah Public LibraryNeenah, Wisconsin · (920) 886-6315240 E. Wisconsin Ave.Local History Collection with Fox Cities photographs, oral histories, city directories, and plat maps (in partnership with Menasha Public Library) →Park Falls Public LibraryPark Falls, Wisconsin · (715) 762-3121121 N 4th AvenueAncestry Library Edition genealogy database (in-library or remote) →Platteville Public LibraryPlatteville, Wisconsin · (608) 348-7441225 W. Main St.Genealogy and local history research assistance →Plymouth Public LibraryPlymouth, Wisconsin · (920) 892-4416130 Division St.Monarch Digital Collection for local history and genealogy research →Portage Public LibraryPortage, Wisconsin · (608) 742-4959253 W. Edgewater StreetLocal history and genealogy collection with digitized Portage newspapers from 1855 →Reedsburg Public LibraryReedsburg, Wisconsin · (608) 768-7323370 Vine St.Local history resources and genealogy research assistance →Rhinelander District LibraryRhinelander, Wisconsin · (715) 365-1070106 N. Stevens St.Genealogy research resources via BadgerLink databases →Brewer Public LibraryRichland Center, Wisconsin · (608) 647-6444325 N. Central Ave.Richland County History Room — photographs, manuscripts, genealogical records (Mon/Wed/Fri 9am–4pm) →River Falls Public LibraryRiver Falls, Wisconsin · (715) 425-0905140 Union St.Genealogy collection and research assistance →Mead Public LibrarySheboygan, Wisconsin · (920) 459-3400710 N. 8th StreetGenealogy databases including Ancestry Library Edition and the Warschau Holocaust Collection →South Milwaukee Public LibrarySouth Milwaukee, Wisconsin · (414) 768-81951907 10th Ave.Local History Collection with scrapbooks (1930–1992) and city government publications →Stoughton Public LibraryStoughton, Wisconsin · (608) 873-6281304 S. 4Th St.Kvamme Local History Collection & genealogy research →Superior Public LibrarySuperior, Wisconsin · (715) 394-88601530 Tower Ave.Reference and genealogy research assistance →Pauline Haass Public LibrarySussex, Wisconsin · (262) 246-5180N64W23820 Main St.Research databases (genealogy, health, business) →Lester Public LibraryTwo Rivers, Wisconsin · (920) 793-88881001 Adams St.Genealogy research with Ancestry Library Edition (in-library) and Newspapers.com archive access →Waterford Public LibraryWaterford, Wisconsin · (262) 534-3988101 N. River StreetLocal history and genealogy research collection →West Allis Public LibraryWest Allis, Wisconsin · (414) 302-85037421 W. National AvenueWisconsin's statewide BadgerLink provides cardholders free access to academic databases, genealogy records, and digital newspapers from home →West Bend Community Memorial LibraryWest Bend, Wisconsin · (262) 335-5151630 Poplar StreetYouth, teen & adult collections plus local history resources →
📝 How to research genealogy & local history in Wisconsin
- Start with what you already know. Write down names, dates and places for yourself and older relatives — that is your roadmap before you open any database.
- Use the library’s genealogy databases. Ancestry Library Edition is free but in-library only; HeritageQuest and many {state} state databases work from home with your library card.
- Search local archives & newspapers. Ask for the local-history room: city directories, microfilmed newspapers, obituaries, cemetery and church records, maps and photographs.
- Ask a librarian or local-history staff. Many {state} libraries offer one-on-one appointments, classes or genealogy-society partnerships — a big shortcut when you hit a brick wall.
- Save and cite your sources. Record where each fact came from so your tree holds up and you can find it again later.
New to this? See the national guide on how library genealogy research works.
Frequently asked questions
Which Wisconsin cities have libraries with genealogy & local history?
We have verified 43 across 43 cities in Wisconsin: Abbotsford, Appleton, Antigo, Black River Falls, Brookfield, Chilton, DeForest, Elkhorn and 35 more. Open any library’s page above for its address, hours and phone.
How many Wisconsin libraries offer genealogy & local history?
We have confirmed 43 Wisconsin public libraries with genealogy & local history, each verified from its official information. We add more as we confirm them, so the count can grow — or browse the full national list.
What makes Neenah Public Library in Neenah notable for genealogy & local history?
Local History Collection with Fox Cities photographs, oral histories, city directories, and plat maps (in partnership with Menasha Public Library). See its full page for hours, address and phone.
Is genealogy & local history available at West Allis Public Library in West Allis?
Wisconsin's statewide BadgerLink provides cardholders free access to academic databases, genealogy records, and digital newspapers from home. See its full page for hours, address and phone.
Keep exploring
Services verified from each library’s official information during our 2026 review. Fees and availability can change — confirm on the library’s page before visiting.