Research Tools

AncestryLibrary
Available in-library only.
Genealogy, family trees and family history records online.
Help:
Paid for by the Menasha Public Library.

Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers
Access to Wisconsin Newspaper Association's daily and weekly member-newspapers from 2005 to present (with a 60 day embargo).
Help: Tutorial on YouTube
Resource provided by Badgerlink.

HeritageQuest Online
Census records 1790-1930, family and local histories, Freedman's Bank and more.
Help:
Resource provided by Badgerlink.

NewspaperARCHIVE
Wisconsin newspaper titles (including Menasha-specific titles) dating back as far as the 1800s, with search results presented in original format/context.
Resource provided by the Winnefox Library System.

Newspapers.com Library Edition - World Collection
Historical newspapers archive from the 1700s-2000s containing thousands of well-known regional, state, and small local newspapers in the United States and other countries.
Resource provided by Badgerlink.

Wisconsin Historical Society Family History Records
1820-1907 birth, marriage & death records (& more!) made available for free through the Ancestry / Wisconsin Historical Society partnership.
Resource provided by Badgerlink.

Recommended Websites

Oshkosh Public Library City Directories
Includes coverage of Winnebago County areas including Menasha, Neenah, Omro and Winneconne, 1857 to 1922!
Joint project of Oshkosh Public Library and the Winnefox Library System.

University of Wisconsin Digital Collections
Digitized letters, diaries, reminiscences, speeches, photographs, oral history tapes, manuscripts and maps.
Collections of local interest:
- Menasha History, Change Over Time
- Menasha Local History Collection
- Neenah Public Library Local History Collection
- Oshkosh, Omro, and Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Atlases and Histories

Winnefox Digital Collections
Digitized newspapers, yearbooks, photos, city directories, family histories, local history books, postcards, and scrapbooks covering local history around the five county (Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago) Winnefox area in Wisconsin.

Winnefox Vital Records
Search vital records as reported in newspapers in 5 Wisconsin counties: Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago.
Joint project of the Winnefox Library System and its member libraries.

Ancestry Free Index Collections
Ancestry's best kept secret is that they have over 1,300 always-free databases. You just need a free account to view these records.

Chronicling America
Search selected historic American newspaper pages from 1789-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present.

Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
The first stop on the Web for many family researchers with over a quarter million links on genealogy.

Digital Public Library of America
Explore millions of photographs, manuscripts, books, sounds, moving images, and more from libraries, archives, and museums across America.

Ellis Island
Passenger lists and ship information for more than 22 million passengers and crew who entered the United States between 1892-1924.

FamilySearch Historical Records
We're a FamilySearch Affiliate, get expanded access in the library!
Search for a deceased ancestor in historical records to uncover vital information from their life.

Find a Grave
Locate the final resting place of family, friends, and famous individuals.

Linkpendium: Winnebago Couty, Wisconsin
Extensive collection of county-specific links to assist with your genealogy / family history search.

Naturalization & Court Records Index
Various records dating between the 1830s and 1970s for Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, and Winnebago court systems.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
Stephen P. Morse's "One Step" search allows a variety of search options via multiple engines (Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsWeb and more).

Wisconsin Historical Society Genealogy Tools
Online access to some of the books, vital records, and archival material held by the Wisconsin Historical Society.