Details on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee genealogy records policy, cemetery records and adoption records.
Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives 3501 S. Lake Drive PO Box 070912 Milwaukee, WI 53207
Each baptism, marriage, and death recorded was done in hand-written chronological parish registers. There is no master database or alphabetical index to search for records; each record is searched for in parish registers page by page. In order for our staff to begin a search we ask that you provide the name of the church where the sacrament took place.
If you do not know which church the sacrament took place please provide information about where your ancestors lived. This type of information can often be found in census records, city directories, or civil records. Remember, we can only search for records within our current archdiocesan boundaries which include the counties: Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha.
To help your research a list of parishes within our archdiocese that were in existence prior to 1920 and other resources can be found in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Genealogy Research Resource Guide.
If you would like to speak with someone prior to submitting you request, you may contact Amy Lisinski, (414)769-3431 or lisinskia@archmil.org.
We have compiled a listing of Orphanages and Protective Insitutions that have existed in the Archdiocese. The Archdiocesan Archives does not maintain the records for the majority of these institutions; contact information for the last known location of records is included with the historical brief of each institution. Historical information may also be found in the archives of the specific religious order in charge of each institution.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives does not have legal authority to release any adoption information. For information regarding adopted persons please contact the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
Shelly Taylor, MA, MLIS Director of Archives and Records Management 414-769-3407 taylors@archmil.org
Amy Lisinski, MLIS Associate Director of Archives and Records Management 414-769-3431 lisinskia@archmil.org
Cindy Yungwirth, MLIS Archives Assistant
3501 South Lake Drive PO Box 070912 Milwaukee, WI 53207-0912