Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives

3501 S. Lake Drive
PO Box 070912
Milwaukee, WI 53207
http://www.archmil.org/aboutus/dept.asp?ID=469

Shelly Solberg
Associate Director of Archives
Tel: (414) 769-3407
Email: solbergs[at]archmil.org

In accordance with Canon 482 of the Code of Canon Law, the mission of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives is to collect, preserve, organize, and make available for research the appropriate records and artifacts that represent the history of the Catholic Church in southeastern Wisconsin. The Archives works to promote an understanding of the history of the Archdiocese through its records and artifacts and those of related entities. By preserving and managing the records that reflect the work of the Church, its people, and its institutions, the Archives participates in the strengthening of Catholic faith in Southeastern Wisconsin, the United States and throughout the Church Universal.

Collections
The Archives' collections date back to the 1820s when Catholics began settling in Southeastern Wisconsin. Their strongest collections document the various offices within the Archdiocese and St. Francis Seminary – the oldest seminary in the United States still in existence today. This includes the papers of the Archbishops and Auxiliary Bishops of Milwaukee, as well as papers of a few individual priests. The Archives also has historical information on all the parishes within the Archdiocese, including more substantial records from several churches that have merged or closed over the years. In addition there is a strong collection of photographs. Of particular interest to genealogists are pre-1921 sacramental records which include baptism, marriage and death records.


Diary of Fr. Martin Kundig, one of the first priests in Wisconsin, 1828.


Baptismal record from Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish, Franklin, 1862.


Sacred Heart parish, Milwaukee.


Sisters participating in a Civil Rights march.

Images courtesy of Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives.

Entry compiled by Katie Scanlan