Wisconsin Vital Records

Birth and Death Records Before 1907

A few counties began keeping birth and death records in the 1850s, but most records date from the 1870s or later. These documents often give excellent genealogical information. Search the Wisconsin Genealogy Index for pre 1907 birth marriage and death references.

Microfilms of the records through 1907 have been deposited at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin at http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/libraryarchives/ and the area research centers (listed in the "Archives and Libraries" section).

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of the Registrations of Births, ca. 1852 to 1907 (on 160 FHL films beginning with film 1306420) and the Registration of Deaths, ca. 1862–1907 (on 68 films beginning with film 1310171). Most counties begin in the 1870s. These are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under WISCONSIN - VITAL RECORDS. The birth certificates generally give both parents' names and their places of birth. Death certificates usually give birth date and place, death date and place, name of spouse, names of the person's parents, burial place, and residence. After mid-July, 1897, they also give the birth place of the person's father and mother.

There are three indexes to these records. Copies of these indexes are at the State Historical Society in Wisconsin, the area research centers, and the Family History Library. These are:

Unedited Index to Registrations of Births, 1852–1907, arranged alphabetically by surname (on 38 microfiche, FHL fiche 6331478). This gives the date of birth, the county, and the volume and page number of the original record.

Index to Registrations of Births, 1852–1907, arranged chronologically by the date of birth (on 41 fiche, FHL fiche 6331476). Use this if you know the approximate date of birth or if the name is not found in the alphabetical index mentioned above.

The Pre-1907 Death Index by Name, alphabetically arranged for the entire state (on 29 fiche, FHL fiche 6331472). Be sure to search for spelling variations of the surname. Also available is the Death Records Index, 1959–1984 (FHL fiche 6334350–51).

The Family History Library also has a large set of birth and death records from the Register of Deeds in Milwaukee County. In the Family History Library Catalog these are listed under WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE COUNTY, MILWAUKEE - VITAL RECORDS:

• Births, 1854–1911 and index, 1854–1932 (on 194 films beginning with film 1011972).
• Deaths, 1852–1912, and index, 1872–1916 (on 109 films beginning with film 1013185).

Delayed registrations of births began in 1937. These are listed in the Family History Library Catalog as Delayed Births, ca. 1937–1941; Affidavit Delayed Births, ca. 1940–1942 (on 26 FHL films beginning with film 1305612 item 2). The records to 1942 are located at the Bureau for Health Statistics (see address below). Later records are at the county courthouses.

Many of the delayed registrations have been included in the Unedited Pre-1907 birth index because the births occurred before statewide registration began.

Records of Births and Deaths Since 1907

Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1907. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records, although it does have several indexes. You can obtain copies by writing to:

Vital Records
1 West Wilson St.
P. O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701-0309
Telephone:  608-266-1372
Internet: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/VitalRecords/index.htm

State your relationship to the individual for whom you want information and the reason you want the information.

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces (Hyattsville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March, 1993; FHL 973 V24wv). This booklet can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9328. Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and many Family History Centers.

Marriage Records

Before statewide registration, individual counties recorded marriages. You can obtain copies by writing to the register of deeds or the Bureau of Health Statistics (see address above). Some records, particularly those from Brown, Crawford, Dodge, and Jefferson counties, begin as early as the 1820's.

Search the Wisconsin Genealogy Index for pre 1907 birth marriage and death references.

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of many of the existing pre-1907 marriage records. Some counties have early marriage records which are not on microfilm. For example, Crawford County has marriage records that begin in 1816. The marriage records are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under the name of the county. Copies are also available at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and the area research centers. Beginning about 1852, the marriage records generally give the names of the parents of the bride and groom. By 1881 the form asked for the parents' places of birth.

The index to these records is the Index to Registrations of Marriages, 1852–1907, which list one million names that are alphabetically arranged for counties Adams through Racine. Counties Richland through Wood are not included in the index (on 77 microfiche, FHL fiche 6331479). Search for variations of the surname when using the index. The State Historical Society in Wisconsin also has this index. Also available is Indexes for Wisconsin Marriage Records, 1973–1984 (FHL fiche 6334468–9).

The Family History Library has three sets of marriage records for Milwaukee County:

• Register of Deeds marriages 1838-1911 and index 1838-1918 (on 83 FHL films beginning with film 1013949). Record come from the Milwaukee County courthouse.
• Register of Deeds marriage certificates 1836-1876 (on 14 FHL films beginning with film 1032378). Records also come from the Milwaukee County courthouse.
• Marriages 1837-1907 and index 1852-1907 (on 63 FHL films beginning with film 1275674 items 2–3). Records come from the Bureau for Health Statistics (see address above).

After 1907, marriage records from all counties can be obtained from the Bureau for Health Statistics (address above) or from the register of deeds of the appropriate county.

Divorce Records

Divorce proceedings are usually kept by the county clerks and circuit judges. You should contact the county courthouse for information. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records. It does have:

Wisconsin Center for Health Statistics. Indexes for Wisconsin Divorces, 1965–1984. Madison, Wisconsin: State Microfilm Laboratory, ca. 1984. (On 36 FHL fiche beginning with 6334470.)

Inventory of Vital Records

You can learn more about the history and availability of the records in Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin: Historical Records Survey, 1941; FHL book 977.5 V23h; film 1036237 item 3).