Matheson Memorial Library
🏢 SHARE Libraries (Walworth County) · Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Matheson Memorial Library
Named for William John Matheson — the prominent chemist who was born on this very site and donated his Elkhorn birthplace to the city for a public library — Matheson Memorial Library has anchored the Walworth County seat since 1931, growing from a 9,000-square-foot brick building to a 23,000-square-foot community center through expansions in 1990 and 2004.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 101 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn, WI 53121
Phone: (262) 723-2678
Website: elkhorn.lib.wi.us
Plus Code: 86JHMFF4+GH (Elkhorn, WI)
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📖 About Matheson Memorial Library
Matheson Memorial Library serves Elkhorn, Wisconsin, the Walworth County seat, from a landmark building at 101 N. Wisconsin Street that has occupied the same site since 1931. The library is named after William John Matheson (1856–1931), a prominent chemist born in Elkhorn who donated his birthplace land to the city expressly for a public library. The present building was designed by a respected New York architect hired by Matheson himself, though Matheson died before its completion. What began as a 9,000-square-foot brick building was expanded with a 4,500-square-foot addition in 1990, and then a major 14,000-square-foot expansion in 2004 that also created the Elkhorn Community Center. Today the library holds roughly 70,000 items and, through the SHARE Libraries consortium, connects patrons to over one million additional titles across Walworth County and beyond. A unique local resource is the Elkhorn Local History Database — digitized editions of the Elkhorn Independent newspaper from 1855 to 1949 and oral history interviews with longtime residents.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1931 and named for chemist William John Matheson, who donated his Elkhorn birthplace land for a public library
- Grew from 9,000 sq ft (1931) to 23,000 sq ft through additions in 1990 and 2004; shares building with Elkhorn Community Center
- Holds ~70,000 items with access to 1+ million more through the SHARE Libraries consortium
- Elkhorn Local History Database: digitized Elkhorn Independent newspapers 1855–1949 and oral history recordings
- Genealogy resources including in-library Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest access
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Matheson Memorial Library cardholders can read, watch, research, and learn for free with Wisconsin's statewide and local digital collections:
📚 Services
- Notary Public services
- Genealogy research support: in-library Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest
- Elkhorn Local History Database: searchable newspapers (1855–1949) and oral history recordings
- Exam proctoring services
- Public computers, printing, copying, scanning, and free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room reservations
- SHARE Libraries interlibrary loan to 1+ million titles across Walworth County
- Book-a-Librarian one-on-one reference appointments
🎸 Programs
- Youth and teen programming including seasonal story times
- Adult book clubs and reading groups
- Summer reading programs for youth and adults
- Community programs supported by the Friends of MML and the MML Foundation
- Technology and digital literacy assistance
📍 Nearby Libraries in Walworth County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was William John Matheson, and why is the library named after him?
William John Matheson (1856–1931) was a prominent chemist and industrialist who was born on the very site where the library now stands in Elkhorn. Though he moved east to build his fortune, he maintained ties to his hometown. Before his death, Matheson purchased his birthplace land and donated it to the City of Elkhorn for a public library, then hired a respected New York architect to design the building. He died before the library was completed in 1931, so the city named it in his honor.
What is the Elkhorn Local History Database?
It is a unique digital archive built by the library combining two collections: the Elkhorn Oral History Project — recorded interviews with longtime Elkhorn residents — and digitized, searchable editions of the Elkhorn Independent newspaper from 1855 to June 1949. Together they are an excellent tool for researching the history of Elkhorn and Walworth County.
Can I access Ancestry.com at Matheson Memorial Library?
Yes, Ancestry Library Edition is available for use inside the library. Because of licensing restrictions, it can only be accessed on library computers — not remotely. HeritageQuest, another family history database with census records and genealogy materials, is accessible both in the library and remotely with your card.
What hours is the library open, and does it offer notary services?
The library is open Monday through Thursday 9 am to 8 pm, Friday 9 am to 6 pm, and Saturday 9 am to 2 pm. It is closed on Sundays. Notary public services are available; call ahead at (262) 723-2678 to confirm availability and ask about any document restrictions.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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