Archives | Access and Services
Contact us:
Chancery Building
1825 Riverside Drive
P.O. Box 23825
Green Bay, WI 54305-3825
Olivia Wendt | Archivist, (920) 272-8185 | Click here to send a message to Olivia
Brother Steve Herro, O. Praem. | Assistant Archivist, (920) 272-8187 | Click here to send a message to Brother Steve
Phone: (920) 272-8195 | Fax: (920) 435-1330
Are you:
- Working on your family tree?
- In need of a copy of your sacramental records?
- Writing the history of your parish?
- Doing research on the Diocese of Green Bay?
Help is as close as the Archives of the Diocese of Green Bay.
What do the Archives Do?
The Archives collect, preserve, survey, appraise, arrange, describe, store, and provide access (when feasible) to records and papers about the Diocese and the Catholic community of northeast Wisconsin. These records date from the roughly 1850 to the present.
While the Archives mainly serve the Diocese’s administration, staff, and parishes, Archives also assist scholars and family genealogists in accord with church, state, and federal laws and accepted archival practices.
What records are in the Archives?
- most sacramental records of all parish churches in the Diocese (all pre-1930 microfiched sacramental records are open to the general public); sacramental records of baptisms, weddings, and deaths are more complete than sacramental records of First Communions and confirmations
- handwritten, typed, and printed documents
- photographs, negatives, and slides, including photographs of Bishops, priests, diocesan staff, parish staffs, parishes, and various Catholic personnel and institutions
- motion picture film, audio and video tape on the Diocese of Green Bay
- architectural plans and blueprints
- oral history tapes and transcripts
- publications
- scrapbooks
- electronic records
- information on former Bishops of the Diocese of Green Bay
- records of Diocesan departments, agencies, institutions (including Sacred Heart Seminary and St. Joseph’s Home), programs, and committees
- parish administrative, financial, legal, and historical files
- the diocesan newspaper (bound and on microfilm)
- basic local history and genealogy reference sources and indexes
- library with reference books on scripture and theology
- other books on Church history, history of religious orders, religious biography, papal documents, ecumenical councils, and prayer books
What records are not open to the public
- Marriage tribunal and adoption records; adoptions researchers are advised to consult the Adoption Records Search Program, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, (608) 422-6928
- sacramental records since 1930
- access to some other records may be restricted for a certain number of years under civil or Church law or because of the wishes of donor
General policies
- requests are made through an online request form; if a patron does not have access to the Internet, he or she may phone the Archives (920-272-8195).
- individuals may do their own research, also for a fee, by appointment during certain hours on Tuesdays
- genealogical inquiries usually take one to two weeks to complete
Hours and fees
- Researchers may schedule an appointment on any Tuesday, 9 am-noon and 1 pm-4 pm. It is also possible that a non Tuesday appointment may be requested. Independent research in the Archives is $10 (half day or less) and $15 (all day).
- genealogy research conducted by the Archives staff -- $25 (up to six sacramental records on two ancestors).
- .25 per sacramental record retrieved or photocopied.