Genealogical Research
The Holly History and Genealogy Center has many resources to assist in genealogy research, from family files and binders to cemetery records and obituaries. We also now have past Waupaca newspapers on microfilm (through 1996), which are viewable at the Holly Center (no printing capabilities available).
The Waupaca Area Genealogical Society and the Waupaca Historical Society are happy to assist you with your genealogy research! The Waupaca Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) is a separate nonprofit organization dedicated to family and genealogical research. The Holly History & Genealogy Center (321 S. Main St., Waupaca) houses the collections of both the Waupaca Historical Society and the Waupaca Area Genealogical Society. Included in these collections are plat maps, family history files, cemetery records, obituaries, pre-1907 marriage indexes, naturalization indexes, Waupaca High School yearbooks, the Civil War Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, and numerous other sources of information on early settlers to the Waupaca area and Waupaca County, Wisconsin.
Volunteers and staff are here to give you an overview of the research area and help you as needed. The director of the Waupaca Historical Society staffs the building on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Volunteers from WAGS staff the building on Wednesdays (10 am to 2 pm) year-round and on the second Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) during the months of June, July, and August. If you are new to family research or have not visited the Holly History & Genealogy Center before, we recommend that you arrange for assistance with one of the genealogy volunteers. Please contact us two weeks in advance of your visit to Waupaca.
There are also numerous resources available online on the "Waupaca County History and Genealogy Website" (www.wigenweb.org/waupaca), which is part of the statewide Wisconsin Genealogy Web Project.
Contact the Waupaca Area Genealogical Society by calling (715) 256-9980 or email director@waupacahistoricalsociety.org for assistance in setting up an appointment. All genealogy and family history inquiries that are received through the Waupaca Historical Society's website will be forwarded to the Waupaca Area Genealogical Society. For more information about the Holly History & Genealogy Center, including open hours, please click on "Our Historic Buildings" and "Holly Center" on our main menu on the left.
Genealogy Links and Resources:
Military Records for Genealogy
Genealogy Explained: The Ultimate Guide to Military Records for Genealogy focuses on the major U.S. wars from 1776-1945, and provides an overview to resources available to genealogists for each war.
Genealogy & Local History Web Sites
- Standard History of Waupaca County Wisconsin by John Ware
- RootsWeb: Waupaca
- Waupaca County Genealogy Homepage with cemetery records.
- Outagamie County GenWeb
- Waushara County GenWeb
- Portage County GenWeb
- Stevens Point Area Obituary Index
- LDS Family Search
- Wisconsin Historical Society
- Ellis Island Family History Center
- Ancestry.com
- Access Genealogy
- National Archives
- Native American Ancestry
- Big List of Genealogy Links
- Interment.net - Cemetery records
- DNA Testing Guide
- What is Genealogy and How to Start
Wisconsin Vital Records Services - The Wisconsin Vital Records Office is responsible for filing, preserving, protecting, changing, and issuing copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events that occur in Wisconsin. This Web site provides information on obtaining copies of vital records, searching our records in person, and other available resources.
Wisconsin Genealogy Index - Search for pre-1907 Vital Records (VR), including birth, death, and marriage records as well as for 150,000 Wisconsin Name Index (WNI) records, including biographical sketches, obituaries, and newspaper articles published before 2000.
Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 - Alphabetical and regimental lists of soldiers who served in Wisconsin units during the Civil War.
Wisconsin Historical Images - Historical images from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Wisconsin Local History & Biography Articles - 16,000 historical and biographical articles. Search by name, location, or article subject(s).
Wisconsin Genealogical Research Service - These are fee-based services offered by the Wisconsin Historical Society. They have the following records available to them:
- Wisconsin Birth Records (1850-1907)
- Wisconsin Marriage Records (1836-1907)
- Wisconsin Death Records (1850-1907)
- Wisconsin Civil War Service Records
- Wisconsin Name Index Records
Thank you for donating to the Waupaca Historical Society and helping us preserve Waupaca and Chain O'Lakes history!
Come visit us at the Holly Center at 321 S. Main Street during our open hours on
Wednesday through Friday,
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.!
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What's Happening at the Waupaca Historical Society!
(all programs are at the Holly History and Genealogy Center unless otherwise noted)
2025 HOLLY CENTER HOURS: Wednesday-Friday,
10 am-2 pm
- Thurs., February 20, 6 pm: "Cranberries: How Wisconsin Became Best" with Allison Jonjak (Badger Talks)
- Sun., March 2, 3-5 pm at the Waupaca Depot: Self-Guided Winter Hike (program with the City of Waupaca Parks & Rec and the Waupaca Area Public Library); stop at the Depot for a hot beverage and tour!
- Thurs., March 20, 6 pm: "Brownie the War Dog: Veterans' Best Friend" with author Kelly Nelson
- Mon., April 14, 6:30 pm at the Waupaca Area Public Library (a Winchester Academy program):"Waupaca’s Sesquicentennial: A Look Back at the City of Waupaca’s Early Years" with Tracy Behrendt
- Thurs., April 17, 6 pm: "Transportation History in Wisconsin" with Jim Willaert, Wade House Historic Site
Appointments outside of open hours at any WHS buildings can be made at least two weeks in advance by calling the Holly History and Genealogy Center at (715) 256-9980 or emailing
Tracy Behrendt at
