Local History & Genealogy
Seefeld Local History Room
On the second floor of the Main Library downtown, this collection of more than 2,600 items is composed of materials related to the history of the City of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County and nearby areas. Some of the items available include Fond du Lac area newspapers and index, area plat maps, cemetery records, Fond du Lac City and County directories, and various family histories Contact us with questions at (920) 322-3930 or reference@fdlpl.org.
Recommended Resources
Just starting your local history and genealogy journey? Here are some resources that the library has or recommends to guide you in your research
Wisconsin and Fond du Lac have long and diverse histories to learn about. Use the following resources to get started learning about both!
From the shores of Lake Michigan to the banks of the Mississippi, the Wisconsin Local Histories collection showcases the awesome resources of public libraries and historical societies from across the state.
Early Fond du Lac People and Places is a collection of 13 Fond du Lac historical books that have been digitized and made available online. This project was made possible by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants.
Source of the Lake: 150 years in Fond du Lac. A collection of historical essays written by students at Marian College under the supervision of Clarence B. Davis. This book is reproduced with the permission of the editor.
Wisconsin Historical Society offers history, current museum exhibits and historic Wisconsin places.
The State of Wisconsin Collection brings together, in digital form, two categories of primary and secondary materials: writings about the State of Wisconsin and unique or valuable materials that relate to its history and ongoing development.
Fond du Lac Public Library’s monthly History at Home programs focus on local and state history. Most are video recorded and available
History by the Lake: Studies in the history of Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago region. This is a collection of historical essays written by students at Marian College under the supervision of Clarence B. Davis. Reproduced with the permission of the editor.
The Seefeld Local History Room is on the second floor of the Main Library downtown, this collection of more than 2,600 items is composed of materials related to the history of the City of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County and nearby areas. Contact us with questions at (920) 322-3930 or reference@fdlpl.org.
At the Fond du Lac Public Library we provide access to a number of resources to help you get started or continue with researching your family tree.
Genealogy Research Request
If you are unable to visit the library in person, fill out the genealogy request form and we will reply within 4-6 weeks.
Heritage Quest includes U.S. Census information, family and place histories, Revolutionary War information and Periodical Source Index. Available for use inside the Fond du Lac Public Library and remotely to FDLPL cardholders.
Database from FamilySearch a name index to deaths recorded by the Social Security Administration beginning in 1962.
This Birth and Marriage Index is a vital records index for genealogists.
This website is a directory of links to websites with online death indexes, listed by state and county. Included are death records, death certificate indexes, death notices and registers, obituaries, wills and probate records, and cemetery burials.
The US GenWeb Project has links to state genealogy websites and helpful information for researchers such as caring for, repairing and preserving old documents, books and photographs.
This page will help you trace your American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry and provide you with information about tribal services, tribal contacts, and genealogical research. Some frequently asked and common ancestral search questions will also be answered within this page.
Ancestry includes U.S. Census information, passenger lists, birth, death, marriage and military records, family and local history collections and more.
Family Search is a free comprehensive genealogy resource from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Find a Grave has information on “Where everybody who was anybody is buried.” Searchable by name, location, birth dates/death dates and “claim to fame.” Includes photos.
Cyndi’s List has nearly 300,000 links related to genealogy, organized by category. Continually updated and expanded.
Hosted by the Bureau of Land Management , there are more than two million images of land patent records from 1820-1908.
Resources for the genealogist from U.S. National Archives, which oversees the management of all federal records.
Glossary of Medical Terms used in the 18th and 19th Centuries
The Family History Guide is a free website that represents a best-in-class learning environment for family history. Its scope is broad, but its focus is narrow enough to help you achieve your goals, step by step.
Search the Fond du Lac Newspapers from 1965-present as well as several other Wisconsin papers.
Cover-to-cover access to 235 of Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s daily and weekly member newspapers from April 2005 to present (with a two-month embargo period).
Wisconsin Newspaper Archive is the largest historical newspaper database online, contains tens of millions of newspaper pages from 1607 to present.
This page is your gateway to searching vital records as reported in newspapers in 5 Wisconsin counties:
Fond du Lac
Green Lake
Marquette
Waushara
Winnebago
Historical newspapers archive from the 1700s – 2000s containing thousands of well-known regional, state, and small local newspapers in the United States and other countries
U.S. Newsstream U.S. Newsstream enables users to search the most recent premium U.S. news content, as well as archives which stretch back into the 1980s featuring newspapers, newswires, blogs, and news sites in active full-text format. View the list of publications and dates.
Looking to do some reading on Local History and Genealogy? Here are some books that we recommend!
For Those Who Like Genealogy
Wisconsin History
Book a Local History Librarian
The Book a Local History Librarian service provides up to 1 hour of 1:1 support for assistance locating basic information and/or resources for local history and genealogy research, including library databases and materials.