Genealogy and Local History

Tell Your Story

The library wants to help you tell your family story.

For quick questions, or to arrange a tour of our genealogy materials, call the library at (608) 643-8346.

For detailed requests, please complete the form at the bottom of this page. Include as much information as possible, including name variations and birth and death dates.

• Ask a Librarian request form.

Our Genealogical and Local History Collection

Local History Collection in Library:

• Books on Wisconsin History
• Obituary Files:
  • English language (1929-1953)
  • German language (1859-1929)
• Local Newspapers on Microfilm (1859-2005)
  • Pioneer Press
  • Sauk County News
  • Sauk City Star
• Cemetery Inscriptions of Sauk County (11 Volumes)
• Historic Photographs  – Courtesy Sauk County Historical Society
• Plat Books
• Vertical Files on Subjects of Local Interest

Digital Collections:

Some of our local history materials are now digitized. You can search Myrtle Cushing’s property record notes and her translations of the Pionier Presse.
The collections can be found here:

• • DPLA -Digital Public Library of American
  • Recollection Wisconsin

Genealogical Databases

We also subscribe to two Genealogical Databases:

• Ancestry Library (available for in-library use only) 
• HeritageQuest (available at home with your library card)

Online Resources

• Tripp Heritage Museum
• Wisconsin Vital Records
  • Page includes info on cost and application forms, which can be printed out. See link labeled “genealogical research.”
• Wisconsin Historical Society Library
  • Local History and Biography Articles (1860-1940)
• Wisconsin Hometown Stories
• Roots Web
  • Columbia County Roots Web
  • Dane County Roots Web
  • Sauk County Roots Web
• Cemeteries of Sauk County
• National Archive

Additional Institutional Resources

• Sauk Prairie Historical Society
  Tripp Heritage Museum
  Jack Berndt, Museum Manager
  565 Water Street
  Prairie du Sac, WI 53578
  (608) 644-8444
  spahs@frontier.com
  www.saukprairiehistory.org                                                                        Historical photos posted daily on Facebook at:
  “Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society.”
• Wisconsin Historical Society
  816 State Street
  Madison, WI 53706
  www.wisconsinhistory.org
  General: 608) 264-6400
  Archives: (608) 264-6460
  Genealogy: (608)264-6535
• Sauk County Historical Society
  531 Fourth Ave.
  Baraboo, WI 53913
  (608) 356-1001
  www.saukcountyhistory.org

If you’d like some help from a librarian fill out the form below.