Genealogy and local history

 

Research requests

Platteville Public Library staff are not able to conduct genealogical research on behalf of others.

Searchable newspapers

Link: Newspapers.com

Many historic Southwest Wisconsin newspapers have been digitized and can be searched for free using library computers.

These newspapers are searchable outside the library for individuals who have purchased their own subscription to Newspapers.com.

The Platteville newspapers included are

  • The Grant County Witness (1859-1906)
  • The Platteville Journal (1899-1963)
  • The Platteville Witness (1906-1937)

Microfilm

The Platteville Public Library has the following local newspapers on microfilm for visitors to use:

Platteville Independent American 01/11/1845 – 10/23/1857
Platteville Examiner 02/11/1858 – 05/27/1858
Grant County Witness 05/26/1859 – 02/14/1906
Platteville Witness 02/21/1906 – 12/29/1937
Platteville Journal 2/22/1901 – 12/2015

The Platteville Public Library has the following other items on microfilm:

  • Biographical Record of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette counties
  • Civil War Veterans, 1890 – 1900
  • Grant County Census 1850 – 1920, except 1890
  • State Census for Grant County, 1905
  • United Methodist Church of Platteville, 1841 – 1943 ministerial records
  • Wisconsin County Histories 1900, no. 85-86
  • Wisconsin Necrology, 1846 – 1944

The Platteville Journal back issues

Past issues of The Platteville Journal are available for the following years:

  • 1899 – 1963: Digitized and searchable through Newspapers.com. Anyone can read and search these issues for free while at the Platteville Public Library. Patrons can only read these issues from home if they have a personal, paid subscription to Newspapers.com
  • 1964 – 2004: Available on microfilm at the Platteville Public Library. These issues are not digitized and cannot be accessed from home. Patrons must manually search through these issues on the Library’s microfilm reader. There is no digital search option.
  • 2005 – 2 months prior to today’s date: Digitized and searchable for Wisconsin library cardholders through the Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers. The Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers contains full-text daily and weekly Wisconsin newspapers from 2005 to 60 days ago, plus selected newspapers from the 1800s and 1900s. This service is provided through BadgerLink by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in cooperation with the Wisconsin NewsMedia Association.
  • Previous two months: Available to read in print form at the Library.

Other digital resources

HeritageQuest is available to Wisconsin library cardholders through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Badgerlink. Badgerlink is a project that is supported and funded through the Wisconsin DPI’s Division for Libraries and Technology. Funding for some Badgerlink services is provided through the federal LSTA.

Southwest Wisconsin Archives at UW-Platteville

The Southwest Wisconsin Archives on the UW-Platteville campus is the area’s best resource for research on genealogy and local history. For more information on their holdings:

Getting to the Southwest Wisconsin Room from the library:

The Southwest Wisconsin Room is on the lower level of the Ullsvik Center. If you enter the Ullsvik Center from the south entrance (the terraced entrance next to the circle drive on Pine Street), you will walk straight ahead past the box office to the Southwest Wisconsin Room.

Other resources

The Grant County Historical Society is located in Lancaster, WI. They have manuscript, photograph, and object collections. They have material documenting small town and rural life in Grant County, Wisconsin, dating primarily from 1860 to 1960.

Other local historical societies include Lafayette County Historical Society and Iowa County Historical Society.

The Grant County Genealogical Society holds regular meetings and puts out a quarterly newsletter.

Historic Platteville Images is a public Facebook group for people interested in Platteville history.

Maps of the City-Owned Cemeteries (Greenwood and Hillside) are available on the City of Platteville’s website.

The History of Grant County, Wisconsin was written by Consul Willshire Butterfield in 1881 and is available in searchable text online.

FamilySearch is a free genealogy website with a searchable database. It is accessible to everyone, and is provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

All are welcome to visit the Platteville Public Library and use the library resources.