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RIPON HISTORICAL SOCIETY RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH: GENEALOGY AND RIPON HISTORY
Archival Collection at the Ripon Historical Society The Society archives are able to support a variety of types of research, including genealogy, local history, and social history of Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. We strive to maintain a balance between careful preservation of primary sources and purposeful access to those resources. Documents in the archives are available for use on the Ripon Historical Society premises by appointment and under the guidance of a curator. Student research projects may be arranged through a teacher or professor, who would collaborate with the Society curator to oversee and support the student's efforts. If you are interested in using the archives for education or research, contact George Miller, Curator of Archives, at (920) 748-5354 weekdays between 9:00 and 11:00 AM to make arrangements.
Genealogy Research
Obituaries and Cemetery Records	The Ripon Public Library has worked with the Ripon Historical Society to digitize the Pedrick Historical Collection for both preservation and online accessibility. The collection consists of numerous historical and genealogical records kept by local historian Samuel Pedrick, a long-time Ripon resident and prominent figure in the city's history. For more information on the collection left by Samuel Pedrick, please visit the Pedrick Collection Guide at Ripon College. Biographical information on Samuel Pedrick is also available from the Ripon College website. Samuel Pedrick's documents are the best source of information from 1857 to 1962. The Ripon Historical Society maintains a current obituary database that is complete for all the years from 1960 to the present. This data is hosted on the Ripon Public Library server and is accessible on the library's website at http://www.riponlibrary.org/localhistory.asp In addition to the Obituary Database showing basic data, the Historical Society currently clips all obituaries in the Ripon Commonwealth Press and all those in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern that contain the word "Ripon" in the text. Copies of obituaries after 2000 may be obtained by calling the Society at 920-748-5354. The Ripon Public Library website also offers digitized copies of the records of several area cemeteries at http://www.riponlibrary.org/localhistory.asp. Local funeral homes, WACHHOLZ FAMILY FUNERAL HOME and BUTZIN-MARCHANT FUNERAL HOME, INC. also have obituary files. Full text obituaries since 1995 for Butzin-Marchant clients may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.butzinmarchant.com/butzinmarchant/page.asp?p=obitview.
Wisconsin State Genealogical Society http://home.wi.rr.com/mrieder/wsgs_ecd.htm.	This organization provides a list, by county, of organizations with their snail mail and e-mail addresses. Their site also has Web page links that would be of use to genealogists. The contact person is Mary Rieder, East Central District Representative (Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington Counties) mrieder@wi.rr.com.
Fond du Lac Public Library Digitized directories of early Fond du Lac County may be read by clicking on the Local History Digital Collection button at the Library's website, http://www.fdlpl.org/	Resources include Brigham & Co.'s Fond du Lac City Directory and Business Advertiser of 1856-57 Fond du Lac County Gazetteer: Containing Directories of Fond du Lac, Ripon and Waupun Historical and Descriptive Sketches of the Several Townships of the County, published in 1868, lists residents with their addresses and occupations as well as advertising for local businesses. Ruth Shaw Worthings' book, The History of Fond du Lac County, as Told by its Place Names is an encyclopedic dictionary of Fond du Lac County. It brings together information about places, streets, churches, schools, etc., including those no longer existing.
Wisconsin Historical Society	The Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at www.wisconsinhistory.org/vitalrecords includes a digitized version of a 1970s microfiche birth index--tens of thousands of delayed birth registrations, or births that were filed many years after the event--that were previously indexed separately, and Wisconsin death records. The index provides free public access to more than a million Wisconsin births and nearly 400,000 deaths, dating from the 1840s through 1907.
Ripon History Links
Some of the primary sources available include the papers and letters of Samuel Pedrick, papers related to the Wisconsin Phalanx, files on historic Ripon buildings, city directories, county histories, telephone directories, Ripon High School Yearbooks, Ripon houses, family files, obituaries, family files, public utility records, Rush Lake archeological information and artifacts, and maps and surveys from different periods in Ripon's history. To see an index of some of the subjects, follow these links.
Archival Subject Boxes	Archival Subject Folders	Historic Homes and Buildings
	Index of Samuel Pedrick Documents
Ripon College Archives	Because Ripon College has its own archives and its own museum, the Ripon Historical Society does not collect items more appropriate for the College’s collections. For research related to Ripon College, please contact their archivist at http://www.ripon.edu/library/archives.
Ripon College Oral History Project	In the summer of 2003, the Ripon College Archives began asking Ripon alumni to share their stories about life at Ripon. The result of this ongoing project is a wonderful collection of memories that will enhance future generations' understanding of the history of Ripon College. You can view the following interview transcripts online at http://www.ripon.edu/library/archives/oralhistories/oralhistory.html or come to the Archives to listen to the interviews.
Account of Ripon in 1870	D. P. Mapes' Account of Early Ripon, 1870, From The History of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880, pp. 355-56 is Reproduced at this website: http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/ripon_mapes.htm
The Little White Schoolhouse (Birthplace of the Republican Party)	Information is on the Ripon Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.ripon-wi.com/ripon-wi/whiteschoolhouse.htm
Wisconsin and the Republican Party	Through its Turning Points project, the Wisconsin Historical Society provides digitized copies of many original documents related to the founding of the Republican Party, as well as accounts of celebrations commemorating the party's founding, political philosophies of the time, and even a 1906 first-hand account of one of the participants in the meeting in the Little White Schoolhouse. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-022/.
Historic Ripon Main Street website	Information and pictures are at the Historic Ripon Main Street website at http://www.riponmainst.com/riponmainst/hist.html. This site shows an excellent collection of photographs and picture postcards of early Ripon, including:
Historic Main Street Photographs of early Ripon	HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS The Square (horse & buggy) The Square (winter) 1919 Band Concert Grandview Hotel 1898 Patriotism Liberty Street 1916 "Living Flag" 1916 "Living Flag" Chicago Northwestern Depot Ice Storm 200 Block of Watson 1908 Parade Public Fountain Haas Brewery Beer Wagon 300 Block of Watson Schoolhouse (house)	COLOR POST CARDS Carnegie Library The Square High School The Old Mill Pond C. M. & St. Paul Depot Bartlett Hall
Carrie Chapman Catt (Born in Ripon; played a major role in the suffrage movement that led to the 19th amendment; founded the League of Women Voters)	Pictures at University of Wisconsin-Madison website at http://www.library.wisc.edu/etext/WIReader/Galleries/Catt.html Biographical information at http://www.catt.org/ccabout.html
Brief History of Ripon	City of Ripon website at http://www.cityofripon.com/#Some%20History%20of%20the%20City
Ripon Sites on the National Register of Historic Places	Ripon Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.ripon-wi.com/ripon-wi/historic.htm
Cultural Sites in Ripon	Ripon Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.ripon-wi.com/ripon-wi/culture.htm
Ripon Historic Preservation Commission	Ripon is part of a statewide historic preservation effort. For information, visit this website: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/hp/handouts/local_landmarks_commissions.pdf
Wisconsin Historical Society	This Dictionary explains more than 8,000 terms (people, places, things, and events) used in writings about Wisconsin history. Dictionary of Wisconsin History
Wisconsin Historical Society	This site contains hundreds of eyewitness accounts, pictures, and museum objects, dozens of essays, lesson plans and reference tools. You can browse by topic. Ripon is featured in some of these accounts. Turning Points in Wisconsin History Early Native Peoples Early Explorers, Traders & Settlers Territory to Statehood Immigration & Settlement Civil War Era Mining, Lumber & Agriculture Progressive Era 20th -c Wars & Conflicts Prosperity, Depression, Industrialization & Urbanization Response to 20th -c. Change
Ripon Public Library	The Ripon Public Library has access, through interlibrary loan, to the holdings of the entire Winnefox Library Consortium. Their online catalogue can be accessed at http://www.riponlibrary.org/.
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Wisconsin Historical Society

This site contains hundreds of eyewitness accounts, pictures, and museum objects, dozens of essays, lesson plans and reference tools. You can browse by topic. Ripon is featured in some of these accounts. Turning Points in Wisconsin History

This site contains hundreds of eyewitness accounts, pictures, and museum objects, dozens of essays, lesson plans and reference tools. You can browse by topic. Ripon is featured in some of these accounts.

Turning Points in Wisconsin History