Collections in the Archives

Archdiocese of Milwaukee Collections Overview

The mission of the Archdiocesan Archives is to collect, preserve, organize and make available for research the permanently valuable records and artifacts of this archdiocese that reflect the work of the Church in southeastern Wisconsin, its people and institutions. Our collections include:

  • Administrative records of various archdiocesan offices
  • Records of merged or closed parishes
  • Pre-1921 sacramental records
  • The historic records of various Catholic individuals and organizations within the archdiocese
  • Parish histories
  • Historic Saint Francis de Sales Seminary Records
  • Photographs

Archives Researcher Policy

The Archdiocesan Archives is open to researchers by appointment only. Please contact us at [email protected] or 414-769-3407 to schedule a research appointment. 

If it is not feasible for you to come to the archives you can request a staff member to do the research on your behalf. Depending on the nature of your request, we may charge a fee for your research request. Staff time is very limited and we will agree to do research on a case-by-case basis. Our fees are as follows:

  • $10.00 per 30 minutes of research
  • $0.25 per scanned or photocopied document
  • $5.00 per scanned photographic image. Photographs present more copyright challenges, so consult an archivist for specific information regarding duplicating photographs.
     

 

List of Collections by Subject

The following is a list of collections available to researchers. Note that it is easier to view this list on a desktop/laptop than a mobile device. 

This list is arranged alphabetically into five major subject areas: Catholic Organizations and Events, Central Office Records, Parishes and Schools, Persons, and Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. Many collections have a link to a finding aid, but if a finding aid does not appear on this page for a particular collection then please contact the archives. A finding aid is a tool that archives use to describe the materials found within a collection. The collections at the Archdiocesan Archives are not available digitally; please contact the archives if you would like to view the materials.

Alternatively, advanced searches may be done using the online catalog at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary's Salzmann Library. While there is no way to limit your search to our archives, all of our collections will be have a location listed as "Pastoral Center Archives." 

 

 

Catholic Organizations and Events

Lay Organizations

Priest/Religious Organizations

 

 

Archdiocese of Milwaukee Central Office Records

Archbishop and Auxiliary Bishop's Office

General Archbishop Collections

  • Archbishop Office. Spiritual Times/To Live Is Christ Newsletters, 1999-2005 (AS 168)
  • Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee. Homilies, 1984-[ongoing] (MC 140)
  • Chancery Office. Circular Letters of the Archbishop, 1843-[ongoing] (AS 207)

Archbishop John Martin Henni (1843-1881)

Archbishop Michael Heiss (1881-1890)

Archbishop Frederick Katzer (1890-1903)

Archbishop Sebastian G. Messmer (1903-1930)

Archbishop Samuel A. Stritch (1930-1939)

Archbishop Moses E. Kiley (1940-1953)

Archbishop Albert G. Meyer (1953-1958)

Bishop Roman R. Atkielski (1947-1969)

Archbishop William E. Cousins (1959-1977)

 

Catechesis, Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Catholic Education and Education-Related Records

Administrative Records

Reports and Directories

Newsletters

Groups and Events

Catholic Social Teaching Records

Chancery Office Records

Clergy Office Records

Communications Office Records

Development Office Records

Ecumenical and Interfaith Records

Human Resources Office Records

Intercultural Ministry Records

Lay Ministerial Formation Records

Marriage & Family Ministries

Miscellaneous Office Records

Missionary Planning and Parish Councils Offices Records

Worship Office Records

 

Parish and School Records

This list represents the parish collections that are in the Archdiocesan Archives, however no sacramental records are in these collections. More information about obtaining sacramental records for the purposes of genealogy can be found here. The vast majority of these collections are of closed parishes, but there may be special circumstances why we have a small collection from a parish that is still open. Each parish is responsible for maintaining their own parish archives, so if a parish does not appear on this list, please contact them directly.

 

Fond du Lac County Parishes

Kenosha County Parishes

Milwaukee (City of) Parishes

Milwaukee County Parishes

Racine County Parishes

Sheboygan County Parishes

Washington County Parishes

Schools (non parish-affiliated)

 

Personal Manuscript Collections

Priests Who Served in the Archdiocese

Lay Individuals

 

Saint Francis de Sales Seminary Records

Seminary Records

  • Liturgical Movement Conference of the Seminary of St. Francis de Sales. Records, 1931-1955 (AS 20)
  • St. Francis de Sales College. Yearbooks, 1973-1981 (AS 60)
  • St. Francis de Sales College. Records, 1965-1980 (AS 85)
  • St. Francis Seminary Bookstore. Financial Records, 1882-1952 (AS 80)
  • St. Francis Seminary Cemetery. Record Book, 1934-1936 (AS 45)
  • St. Francis Seminary Choir. Records, 1941-1978 (AS 79)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Annals, 1856-1970 (AS 53)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Architectural Specifications, 1949-1955 (AS 72)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Athletic Association, 1925-1958 (AS 67)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Histories, 1906-1981 (AS 84)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Legal Records, 1918-1952 (AS 101)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Major Department.  Yearbook, 1969 (AS 57)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Mass Intention and Church Announcement Books, 1938-1964 (AS 81)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Museum, 1894-1910 (AS 78)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Photograph Albums, 1860s-1951 (AS 70)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Programs, 1888-(ongoing) (AS 83)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Salzmann Library.  Records, 1876-1963 (AS 46)
  • St. Francis Seminary. School of Pastoral Ministry.  Catalogues, 1878-1982 (AS 64)
  • St. Francis Seminary. School of Pastoral Ministry.  Self-Study Reports, 1962-1974 (AS 69)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Stage committee records, 1912-1941 (AS 19)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Student Publications, 1910-1980 (AS 4)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Speech unit records, 1907-1941 (bulk 1927-1941) (AS 10)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Seminary Billiard department records, 1926-1949 (AS 15)

Student Association Records

  • Albertus Verein. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1873-1949 (AS 16)
  • Confraternitas Servorum Spiritus Sancti. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1883-1921 (AS 26)
  • Die Republik.  St. Francis Seminary, Records, 1883-1885 (AS 17)
  • Faber Chorus.  St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1909-1920 (AS 18)
  • League of the Sacred Heart. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1926-1966 (AS 40)
  • Pope Leo XIII Latin Society. St. Francis Seminary. Minute Book, 1939-1941 (AS 25)
  • Societe St. Jean Baptiste. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1904-1935 (AS 56)
  • Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1864-1968 (AS 24)
  • St. Bonifatius Verein. St. Francis Seminary, Records, 1878-1924 (AS 8)
  • St. Francis de Sales Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Minutes, 1916-1951 (bulk 1916-1927) (AS 22)
  • St. James Literary Society. St. Francis Seminary, Records, 1885-1961 (AS 11)
  • St. Joseph Debating and Literary Society. St. Francis Seminary. Minute books, 1873-1877 (AS 14)
  • St. Joseph’s Lyceum. St. Francis Seminary, Records, 1885-1961 (AS 12)
  • St. Michael’s Lyceum. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1863-1866 (AS 13)
  • St. Philip Neri Mission Society. St. Francis Seminary, Records, 1922-1968 (AS 9)
  • St. Stanislaus Kostka Literary and Debating Society. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1882-1963 (AS 29)
  • St. Thomas Literary and Debating Society. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1873-1965 (AS 23)
  • Third Order of St. Francis. St. Francis Seminary. Records, 1887-1967 (AS 21)

Seminary High School Records

  • De Sales Preparatory Seminary High School. Catalogues, 1962-1974 (AS 62)
  • De Sales Preparatory Seminary High School. Library. The Bibliophile, 1954-1969 (AS 61)
  • De Sales Preparatory Seminary High School. Sports Booklets, 1959-1976 (AS 66)
  • De Sales Preparatory Seminary High School. Records, 1941-1979 (AS 88)
  • De Sales Preparatory Seminary High School. The Rector’s Bulletin, 1954-1973 (AS 65)
  • De Sales Preparatory Seminary High School. Yearbooks, 1955-1979 (AS 59)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Call to Ministry High School Program. Records, 1979-1991 (AS 114)
  • St. Francis Seminary. High School Department. Yearbooks, 1926-1930 (AS 58)
  • St. Francis Seminary. Minor Department. Catalogues, 1941-1962 (AS 63)

Do you have questions about searching records of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee? Please send us a message!
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