Local Vital Records Index About this project

This index began as a joint project of the Carter Memorial Library in Omro, Wisconsin and the Winnefox Library System in Oshkosh. When Berlin Public Library became interested in developing a vital records index of their own, it was discovered that the records that Omro had been indexing came from a shared section that was distributed in multiple newspapers. This section, entitled the "Feature Section", is published every Thursday by Berlin Journal Newspapers from the Central Printing Plant in Berlin, Wisconsin and inserted into the Berlin Journal, the Green Lake County Reporter, the Markesan Regional Reporter, the Omro Herald and the Princeton Times-Republic. Additional libraries from within the Winnefox System (Caestecker Public Library in Green Lake, Mill Pond Public Library in Kingston, Markesan Public Library and Princeton Public Library) joined in the indexing.

Newspapers were read and names and dates recorded. While every attempt has been made to index accurately, there is a possibility of error in transcription, index entry or on the part of the newspaper.

Search Tips

Name Tips
Some obituaries use initials rather than the person's name spelled out. The obituary may be listed under "G. Smith" rather than "George Smith". This would need to be searched using the last name "Smith" and the letter "G" as the first name.

Capitalization is not required. Names may be typed in either upper or lower case.

Omit punctuation marks such as a period "." Type last name "Smith" first name "G" rather than "G."

If you are uncertain of the exact name or spelling, type in as much of the name as you know. For example, type dicken for the last name if you do know if the name is dickenson or dickensen. You might then find it useful to Resort the search results.

Date Tips
Remember that only the years 1977 - June 1980 and 2002 to recent issues are indexed. Indexing of the interim between July 1980 and 2002 is in progress.

Search Results
Results are displayed alphabetically by name and include all variations of the name you enter. If you enter "smith" you will see results displayed alphabetically as "Coppersmith, Goldsmith, Hammersmith, Hoffsmith" and then "Smith." If you enter "lee" as the last name, you will see "Bleecker, Colee, Conlee, Decleene, Fleener, Gleed, Killeen, Kirkfleet, Kleeber, Kleeman, Klees" and then "Lee." This search result format does allow genealogists to search for name and spelling variations.

No attempt has been made to cross index or correct misspellings in the newspaper's printing. There is no legal requirement for weddings, anniversaries, deaths or obituaries to be printed in the newspaper so there may not be any information published even if you have an exact date to search.

Highlighted Names
Click on these names for additional information about the record. This information will usually contain the spouse's name, birthdate, marriage dates, etc. when applicable.

Resort
The Resort function allows the search results to be displayed in order by date or first name rather than by surname. A date sort can be used when the first name is uncertain but you have an approximate date, such as “Uncle Bud was killed in a car crash when I was small.” The first name sort allows you to easily search a truncated last name such as “Anders...“ and then sort to group all Andersons and Andersens by first name.

Help/Feedback
To obtain help, report problems or make suggestions, please contact us.

Requesting photocopies of obituaries
Requests for photocopies must be made by mail with payment enclosed. Please enclose $3.00 for each item requested (one anniversary notice, one marrige notice and one obituary, for example, would be $9.00). Requests made by email will be filled when the above listed fees are received in the mail. Please make checks payable to the Berlin Public Library, and allow time for the check to clear. Requests should be sent to:

Berlin Public Library
Vital Records
121 West Park Avenue
Berlin, WI 54923

All requests will be filled as time permits.

For all time periods be aware that there is no legal requirement for records to be printed in the newspaper. There may be other sources for information including the county seat, local municipal records, other area libraries or the State Historical Society in Madison. For articles that could have appeared in the Oshkosh newspapers, check the Oshkosh Public Library website.

Return to the vital records index home page

Wisconsin libraries involved in this project:					Princeton, WI
Berlin Public Library Berlin, WI	Green Lake, WI	Kingston, WI	Markesan, WI	Omro, WI