Search Tips

Try these 7 tips to get the most from this search engine.

1. Search last name only.  Don't limit your search to one person. Cast a wide net. Begin by searching the last name only, leaving the First Name box empty (if the last name you are researching isn't too common).  First names were sometimes simplified to initials or nicknames on historic documents and could be missed from search results.


2. Try alternate name spellings and/or the "Sounds Like" option.  The last name (and sometimes first name) you are searching may have been recorded differently than how you spell it now. Be sure to try all possible spelling variations.  Or, check the “Sounds Like” box to include results from similar sounding names.
    
3. Use wildcards for alternate spellings.  If not using "exact" or "sounds like" options you can use ? to substitute for any single character and * to substitute for any number of characters in a name.
    
4. Search first initial only.  Many historic records used abbreviations or initials for first names instead of spelling out the whole name. For example, "William" was often recorded as "W.," "Wm.," or "Will." Other names may be recorded in a different language for the same person on two different records. For example, "William" may be "Wilhelm;" "Henry" may be "Heinrich." Search using the first initial only or you may miss records.
    
5. Know what you are searching.  This site contains several indexes and abstracts of resources from our research library. Not everything is indexed. Just because you cannot find something on this website doesn't mean it doesn't exist. To learn more about these indexes, such as what exactly is indexed, years covered, etc., click on the "Index Description" buttons in the Search Results or click HERE. 
    
6. Search the Photo Collection.  There are thousands of historic images searchable on this website, so it's worth searching your ancestor's last name in the Photo Index. Even if you do not find a picture of your ancestor, you can search for images of the churches, schools, and villages associated with your ancestors to include in your family history.
    
7. Contact us.  If you can't find the obituaries or vital records you're looking for, email us with a list of wants. This online index is a work in progress and our volunteers are indexing more items daily. Email us at history@co.monroe.wi.us if you can't find what you are looking for using this website.