The Milwaukee County Genealogical Society, Inc., is interested in helping you research and preserve the history of your family in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Our volunteer researchers will do basic research of Milwaukee County area sources. Since we have not been doing in person research during the pandemic, the research fee of $15 per request has been waived, for the present time.

When in person research resumes, the bill will be sent separately by the researcher for reimbursement of the actual costs of such items as photocopies, mileage, parking, etc. This additional amount is usually in the $5 to $15 range.

Specific names, places and dates are required for this process; please be as concise and informative as possible. If you have done some research and hit a brick wall - duplicated names from different time periods, etc. please share that information. The sources searched are Milwaukee County only.

*Note* Currently the research load of our volunteer is fairly high and depending on the complexity of the request, there may be a wait for the research to be completed and returned to you.

Many places in Milwaukee County remain closed to in person genealogy research. As of 2023, the Milwaukee County Courthouse is now open to in person research. Many online resources are now available to assist you in doing research in Milwaukee County. Many of these resources are listed in this link list on our website.

MCGS Researcher

RESEARCHERS NEEDED

Please contact MCGS if interested.

Assistance is always welcome, from additional volunteer researcher(s) who would like to try their hand at doing research for people who do not live in the Milwaukee area and to respond to Research Requests received by the Society through the mail. For a donation, MCGS offers to search one or more of 11 record groups. Most research can be accomplished at the Milwaukee Public Library (Central) and/or the Milwaukee County Court House. All donations received are placed in our Special Projects Fund which is used to purchase genealogical materials for the Milwaukee Public Library where they can be used by all interested persons.

Job Description

Researcher - Prepared by Robert J. Felber - March 2012

Duties not indicated in MCGS Constitution

Respond to requests received by the society for research within Milwaukee County. Notify requester that the request has been received. Research may consist of the following items: Milwaukee City Directories, Index to Milwaukee Sentinel 1837-1890, U.S. Census, Naturalization Records, Vital Records before 1931, Probate Records, Obituaries, Gravestone Inscriptions and other records located at the Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Historical Society, Milwaukee County Courthouse, and UWM Library.

Some of the sources used are on the internet such as, Ancestry, Wisconsin Historical Society, Milwaukee Catholic Cemeteries, Wood National Cemetery, Social Security Death Index, Milwaukee Public Library, MCGS web site, etc. In addition research in various history books of Milwaukee.

Analyze the findings and data found in the census etc. and make suggestions for additional research. Also suggest other research societies for research located outside of Milwaukee County which may be of benefit to the requester.

Retain copies of research items sent for at least a one year period.

Attend Board Meetings and give a detailed report. Number of requests, items requested, items found and sent, number of hours, etc. for the last month.

Assist in the MCGS Workshop.