Microfilm is available for use whenever the library is open.

• Federal Census for Wisconsin, all counties, from 1820-1930 (1820 & 1830 are listed as Michigan Territory). 1890 Census Population Schedules destroyed in fire.
• 1940 Federal Census for Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Oconto, Outagamie and Shawano counties.
• 1890 Census is Special Schedule enumerating Union Veterans and Widows for Wisconsin
• State Census for 1855, 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1905. Only 1905 lists all members of households by name.
• Wisconsin Territorial Census for 1836, with index, and 1838, 1842, 1846, and 1847.
• Census Indexes pertaining to Wisconsin Federal Census for the years 1850, 1860, and 1870.
• Mortality, Agriculture, Manufacturing and Social Schedules for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 for Wisconsin. Only 1850 and 1860 have Social Schedules.
• Census Index for State Census of Brown County for 1905.
• Soundex Census Index for Wisconsin, 1880, 1900 and 1920.
• Indian Census for Oneida, Menominee, Stockbridge, Munsee, Chippewa, Winnebago and Potawatomi.

• The following items are in book form in the Local History & Genealogy department: 

  • Bound copies of other censuses and census indexes for Wisconsin and other areas of the country including; a complete 1790 census for the original states, the 1810-1830 Michigan Census Indexes, and 1836, 1838, 1840, 1842, 1850 and 1855 Wisconsin Census Indexes.
  • 1865 Wisconsin State Census: the Six Surviving Counties (Dunn, Green, Jackson, Kewaunee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan) transcription and index
  • Databases that include Federal and some State Census.

Brown County Library card holders have free access to a variety of newspaper and magazine content covering historical events and news stories from the past. Some subscriptions are funded by Brown County Library; others are provided by the State of Wisconsin through Badgerlink, “Wisconsin’s Online Library.”

For newspaper content covering current events and recent news stories, click here.

The list below describes which newspapers and magazines are available. Users should assume that the entry of a valid library card number will be required for remote access (i.e., access from outside of a Brown County Library building).

Historic Local Newspapers:

Green Bay Press-Gazette: The daily newspaper covering Green Bay and Brown County with the historically largest circulation, published since June 29, 1915. Full digital text and images for editions from January 29, 1915 to about one week ago may be found here:  Historical Newspapers: Wisconsin Collection on Proquest

Gazette: (Green Bay) (variously titled — Daily / Weekly / Semi-Weekly). Full digital text and images of editions dating from 1870 to June 28, 1915 found here: Historical Newspapers: Wisconsin Collection on Proquest

Advocate: (Green Bay) Full digital text and images for editions dating from 1877 to 1885 found here: Historical Newspapers: Wisconsin Collection on Proquest

De Pere Journal: Full digital text and images for editions dating from 3-10-2005 to 2-27-2014 found here: Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers on Badgerlink. A list of other newspapers available through this resource is available here.

The Compass: (Green Bay) Full digital text and images for editions dating from 3-4-2005 to 6-30-2023 found here: Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers on Badgerlink. A list of other newspapers available through this resource is available here.

In addition to a wide variety of genealogy and local history books relating to Wisconsin, the library also has an excellent collection of books for other states. The following subject areas include some sample titles and subjects:

• Federal Papers — Territorial Papers and American State Papers (Public Lands)
• Military Records — Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers (Civil War), Index to War of 1812 Pension Files for the U.S., Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files by Virgil D. White and other indexes.
• County Histories — Histories of most Wisconsin counties in book form or on microfilm
• Green Bay City and Brown County Directories, some dating from the 1870s
• D.A.R. Lineage Books (136 volumes owned, not a complete set)
• Passenger Lists & Indexes – Passenger and Immigration List Index, with supplements, P. William Filby, ed.;
• Germans to America, Ira A. Glazier & P. William Filby, eds.
• Famine Immigrants, Ira A. Glazier, ed.
• Genealogies in the Library of Congress and Local Histories in the Library of Congress
• Subject Catalog to the Library of The State Historical Society of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Blue Books, 1859 to the present.
• High School Annuals of various schools in Brown County (incomplete runs – donated collection)
• French Canadian Collection — over 400 volumes (some in French) including many marriage records from parishes in Quebec.  The Loiselle Quebec Marriage Index is the largest index of marriages in Quebec Province.

• Plat maps of Brown County for the years; 1889, 1900, 1928, 1936 and a wall map for 1875, plus the 20^th century
• Plat maps from other Wisconsin Counties in book form and on microfilm, both 19^th and 20^th centuries
• Current and historic maps of the United States and the world including the Poland Historical Atlas, Atlas of the German Empire 1892, Atlas of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1892. and many other European countries.
• Sanborn Map Company Fire Insurance maps, many in bound editions, for Green Bay and De Pere. A collection on microfilm from the 1880’s to the 1960’s includes Green Bay, De Pere, Denmark, and Pulaski.

The Local History area has many regional and state genealogy, history, and historic preservation periodicals including:

• Gems of Genealogy
• Lost in Canada (complete)
• National Genealogical Society Quarterly
• New England Historical & Genealogical Register (complete — from 1847, vol. 1 – to date)
• Voyageur Magazine (complete — from Summer 1984, vol. 1 to date)
• Wisconsin Magazine of History (complete — from 1917, vol. 1 – to date)
• Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Newsletter (from 1962 – to date)
• Many newsletters from county genealogical societies throughout Wisconsin.

• Complete listing of Brown County cemeteries, with surname card index
• Listings for other county cemetery records including Door, Kewaunee and Oconto Counties, plus many other county cemetery listings from around the state
• Pre – 1907 Index to Registered Wisconsin Deaths, Marriages, and Births (microfiche)
• Index to Wisconsin Vital Health Records, including: Deaths from 1959-1967, 1969-1979, 1979-1997; Divorces from 1965-1978 (1966 missing), 1979-1983, 1984 (husband only); Marriages from 1973-1978, 1979-1984. (microfiche)
• Index to Marriage and Death Records of the Green Bay Health Department from 1920-Aug.1, 1986. (card file)
• Wisconsin Necrology, compiled by the Wisconsin Historical Society, of prominent Wisconsinites from 1836-1968. (microfilm)
• International Genealogical Index from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Online, CD-ROM, and microfiche, 1988 edition).
• Jean Nicolet Certificates. As part of the 1984 celebration of the 350th anniversary of Jean Nicolet’s landing, certificates were awarded to persons who could prove their family had lived in Northeastern Wisconsin for at least 100 years. Applications and proofs are kept on file and indexed. This was a project of the Bay Area Genealogical Society.
• Extensive pamphlet files are kept of newspaper clippings and pamphlets about Brown County. Files include people, businesses, ethnic groups, history, local government, clubs, churches and events. The pamphlet file also includes information on other regional communities.

Ancestry Library
(In-library use only)
Research your family history by searching census, vital, immigration and military records.

American Ancestors
(in library-use only)
Search records spanning the United States, the British Isles, continental Europe, and beyond, including early American genealogical records, the largest searchable collection of published genealogical research journals and magazines, and records from Boston’s Catholic Archdiocese. Click SEARCH to get started. (You do not need to log in).

fold3
Library card number required. A premier collection of original military records.

HeritageQuest Online
Library card number required. A comprehensive treasury of American genealogical and historical sources. Includes US Federal Censuses, books, cemetery records, city directories, military records and more. Provided by BadgerLink.

See more information about accessing the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Recollection Wisconsin
Discover photos, maps, books, artifacts, oral histories and more from dozens of Wisconsin communities.

Wisconsin Historical Society
Bringing Wisconsin history to life online.

Cyndi’s List
A categorized and cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the internet with more than 190, 500 links.

Nationwide Gravesite Finder
Search for burial locations of veterans and their dependents in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, and various other Department of Interior and military cemeteries.

History News Network
Useful background information on the issues of the day.