The work of the Diocesan Archives is guided by the Code of Canon Law, which emphasizes the importance of preserving Church records:

C. 482 - In every curia a chancellor is to be appointed whose principal function, unless particular law establishes otherwise, is to take care that acts of the curia are gathered, arranged, and safeguarded in the archive of the curia.

C. 486 - All documents which regard the diocese or parishes must be protected with the greatest care.
  S2 - In every curia there is to be erected in a safe place a diocesan archive, or record storage area, in which instruments and written documents which pertain to the spiritual and temporal affairs of the diocese are to be safeguarded after being properly filled and diligently secured.
  S3 - An inventory, or catalog, of the documents which are contained in the archive is to be kept with a brief synopsis of each written document.

C. 487 - Interested parties have the right to obtain personally or through a proxy an authentic written copy or photocopy of documents which by their nature are public and which pertain to their personal status.

C. 491 - A diocesan bishop is to take care that the acts and documents of the archives of cathedral, collegiate, parochial, and other churches in his territory are also diligently preserved and that inventories or catalogs are made in duplicate, one of which is to be preserved in the archive of the church and the other in the diocesan archive.
  S2 - A diocesan bishop is also to take care that there is an historical archive in the diocese and that documents having historical value are diligently protected and systematically ordered in it.

Parishioners seeking sacramental (baptism, confirmation, marriage) records, will be encouraged to contact the parish where they were baptized. If a parishioner is unsure which pastorate their former parish is in, please use the diocesan interactive map to find the correct parish and contact information. The archives can only issue certificates for parishes that have been suppressed or closed.  

Currently, the archives is engaged in a major undertaking to digitize all the Sacramental record books in every pastorate/parish in the Diocese of Madison. We are at approximately 25% completion as of March 2025. The archives continues to work with parishes and pastorates to convert their registers to a digitized format. This format not only preserves the register data, but it also serves as another medium to make searches easier.

Please note that most of the archives' resources are solely focused on this project, and will be for quite some time.

The archives recognizes the importance of genealogical research.  Due to the current digitization project, the archives is not able to assist directly with genealogical research requests at this time. 

Parishioners contacting the Archives Office will be encouraged to reach out to the pastorate/parish where they are seeking records and information.  

We are currently in the process of introducing pastorates/parishes to the volunteer role of parish research assistants who can help with requests related to genealogical research. As of March 2025, we are currently undertaking this process and appreciate your patience as this role is introduced to our parishes/pastorates.  If you have know of any volunteers who would be interested in assisting your parish/pastorate in this capacity, please speak with the parishioner and use the contact form below to notify the Archives Office.

Copies of school transcripts may be obtained by contacting the school directly.  For contact information, please visit our Office of Catholic Schools Interactive map.

If you attended one of the following schools located in the Diocese of Madison:
 

• Holy Name Seminary
• Beloit Catholic High School

The Office of Catholic Schools can assist you by completing a Transcript Request Form.

If you attended Queen of Apostles Seminary in Madison, please reach out to the Pallottine Fathers in Milwaukee through the following contact information:

Pallottine Fathers
Mother of God Province of Milwaukee  
5425 W. Blue Mound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53208

(414) 259-0688
https://www.pallottines.org/contact

If you are seeking information on an aspect of the history of the Diocese of Madison you can contact the Archives Office at [email protected]