| When searching for genealogical information at the Milwaukee
Public Library the best place to start is CountyCat, a computerized listing
of all cataloged materials located at the Central and Neighborhood Libraries
and all Milwaukee County suburban libraries. CountyCat is a very user-friendly
system with a powerful keyword search capability, so researchers do not
need to know an exact subject heading.
Try to be as specific as possible when using search terms. The broader
the search term, the longer it will take to get results. Any librarian
will be happy to provide assistance using CountyCat. Some subject headings
of use to the genealogy researcher are listed below.
Genealogy
Genealogy and Registers of Births, etc. are probably the most useful
subject headings for genealogists and can be described as “catch-all” headings.
The subject heading Genealogy is subdivided geographically
by name of country, state or province, county and city (i.e. Genealogy-United
States-Wisconsin,
Genealogy-Scotland) and by family name (i.e. Genealogy-Smith Family).
One may also search in reverse (i.e. Wisconsin-Genealogy, Scotland-Genealogy).
Genealogy is also a subdivision for ethic subject headings (i.e. African
Americans-Genealogy, Genealogy-Irish Americans) and country subject
headings (i.e. Genealogy-Germany).
Registers of Births, etc. covers a wide variety of published records
including cemetery, census, naturalization, marriage, etc.
Military Rosters
Military Rosters or Regimental Histories can
be found by looking under the subject heading for individual wars,
such
as “United States-History-Civil War, 1861-1865-Registers.” Some
of these materials may also be found under the name of a state with the
subdivision “-Militia.” For
example: “Wisconsin-Militia.”
Plat Books/Maps
Plat Books or Maps showing land ownership
may be found with the subdivision “-Maps” under
a place name. Plat books recently added to the collection may also be
found under the heading “Real Property” with a subdivision
by place.
Census Records
Census Records are frequently consulted by genealogists.
The easiest way to determine if the library has a census record or index
for a place
in book or microfilm is to look under the name of that place for the
subdivision “-Censuses.” For example, G. Lundberg’s
Surname
Index to the 1850 Federal Census of Chicago has been assigned the
subject heading of “Chicago (IL) - Census, 1850 - Indexes.” An
additional heading would be “Illinois - Census, 1850 -Indexes.” It
could also be found with patience, using the Author index under “U.S.
Census, Bureau of, 7th Census, 1850.”
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