Research Requests
The Manitowoc County Historical Society Library Room, located in the McAllister House Welcome Center, is open to researchers by appointment only. A research request must be made prior to making an appointment. After our volunteer archivists receive your request and browse our files for related materials, our team will be in contact to set up an in-person research viewing appointment or send you digital copies of materials found.
Research results are unpredictable. Your ancestor may have left behind a wealth of interesting documents or he/she may have tread lightly across Manitowoc County, leaving few, or even no, records behind. You can expect your researcher to implement your research plan diligently and to spend your budgeted research dollars wisely. However, when you commission research, you are responsible for research fees regardless of results.
How to submit a research request
When you submit you research request, either with the online form or with a written request, narrow your request to an individual, one family, or one property. Let our researchers know as much as you can about them. Include with your request:
Full Name of Ancestor to be researched and Related Others (parents, siblings, spouse, children).
Your Ancestor’s Important Dates & Locations of birth, marriage, death, arrival, naturalization, etc.,
Information Sought – What do you hope to learn? Where they lived? See a historic photo? Property information?
Please allow 2 to 4 weeks to complete your research request. Requests are answered by our volunteer archivists in the order in which they are received.
Research fees
Research services are free for MCHS Members, students, media, and non-profits. Additional copy fees may apply.
1 hour minimum required for charged research fees*
Research at MCHS Archives: $15 per hour. With your research request you are able to let our researchers know what amount/time limitation you would like to set for research services.
Copy Costs at MCHS Archives: $1 per page (black & white) or $1.50 per page (color) in documents. Image reproduction fees also may apply.
Research Request Submission Forms
Please fill out the research request form in its entirety, providing the Manitowoc County Historical Society with as much information as possible to assist in your research request.
Students, Non-profits, and Complimentary Media Research: Please send an email to archives@ManitowocCountyHistory.org to receive a discount code for free research. In the body of the email, please state why student/complimentary media research is needed.
MCHS Members should be logged into their user registration portal to automatically receive free research services.
Make An Additional Monetary Donation
Donations are extremely important as we work to continue preserving our stories for generations to come.