Resources Available in the RC Collection

• Clio Digital Library Shelf – The LACS RC is one of a handful of research centers in the US to offer the Clio Digital Library Shelf.  “Clio” offers 500 digitized, historic books including county and state histories, directories, and atlases that can be electronically searched.  The RC’s Clio collection includes historic books from New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.  Digitized pages can be photocopied and include the citation of the resource printed on the bottom of the copied page.  Clio uses the latest in digital technology and is a resource like none other for genealogical/historic research.

• Internet Access,  Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker – Two public access computers are available for use by RC visitors.  The Internet, Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker are available for your use on these computers.  

• Surname Files – View Index of Surname Files   The RC collection contains over 4,000 surname files for families of Luxembourg ancestry throughout the US and families of all ethnicities from northern Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.  Surname files include a variety of data including obituaries, news clippings, memorial cards from funerals, family group sheets, etc.  Be aware of variations in spelling of surnames and consult other files of variant spellings. 

• Luxemburger Gazette newspaper – The Luxemburger Gazette was published by Nicholas Gonner in Dubuque, Iowa from 1871 – 1918.  It was the most thoroughly Luxembourgish newspaper in the US and featured extensive news about Luxembourg immigrants and their families.  The newspaper is on microfilm at the RC and was indexed by Luxembourg researcher/genealogist Jean Ensch.  Published in German, the Gazette’s news articles are easily translated.  The RC offers a translation service for a nominal fee.

• Luxembourgers In The New World – Written by Nicholas Gonner and originally published in German in 1889, the book Luxembourgers in the New World was translated into English in 1987.  Luxembourgers in the New World is one of the finest resources for Luxembourgian genealogists.  The book offers extensive information about Luxembourg immigration to the US and chapter long histories describing Luxembourg settlement by State.  Some immigrants are mentioned in the book. 

• Sacramental, Burial and Cemetery Records – View Index of Sacramental, Burial and Cemetery Records   The RC Collection includes a variety of sacramental records (baptisms, marriage, burials) as well as cemetery records and plats from select Luxembourgian churches throughout the United States.  Sacramental records are often in Latin but are easily translated.  The RC offers a translation service for a nominal fee.  Be aware of variations in spelling of surnames and inconsistencies of dates when using these records.

• Immigration/Ship Passenger Lists – One of the finest references containing ship passenger lists of Luxembourg immigrants to the US is the series Germans To America.  The RC collection includes printed volumes representing immigration from the 1840s – 1860s.  The RC also has the Germans to America series and other passenger lists on CD as well as files with paper copies of passenger lists.  Note that passenger lists are notorious for misspelled surnames.    

• Church Files – View Index of Church Files  Most Luxembourg immigrants and their descendants were affiliated with parishes with a strong Luxembourg or German identity.  Historic materials from these churches, such as anniversary booklets, often contain information about founding families or biographical sketches of parishioners.  The RC has an extensive collection of Luxembourg American church files from throughout the United States.

• Topics - Luxembourg Files – View Index of Topics-Luxembourg Files  The RC has numerous files on a wide variety of topics pertaining to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg both past and present.  Topic files include everything from traditions to economics, to the Grand Ducal family to recipes.   

• Topics - Luxembourg Heritage in the USA Files – View Index of Topics-Luxembourg Heritage in the USA Files  The RC has numerous files pertaining to topics about Luxembourg Heritage in the U.S.  These files are a great supplement to genealogical and family history research.  Topic files include everything from Luxembourg societies in the U.S. to ambassadors, to stone houses, to mustreipen/treipen.  

• Places – Luxembourg Files – View Index of Places-Luxembourg Files  The RC houses a large number of files pertaining to various communities in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.  Files contain historic information, travel materials and a wide variety of other information.

• Places – USA Files – View Index of Places-USA Files  The RC’s collection includes numerous files pertaining to communities from throughout the U.S. that have a large concentration of people of Luxembourg descent.  These files contain written histories, newspaper articles, tourism information, and a variety of other historic items.  

• Business Files – The RC has a number of business files for businesses in northern Ozaukee County, Wisconsin and Luxembourg American businesses from throughout the U.S.  Business files include advertising, news clippings, financial reports and other fascinating items about various businesses.

• Ozaukee County, Wisconsin Files – The RC has numerous files pertaining to a wide variety of topics reflecting Ozaukee County past and present.  Topics include everything from the 1862 Draft Riot to the courthouse, to tourism and commerce.

• Maps and Plats – View Index of Maps and Plats  The RC has a growing collection of maps and plats from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, various regions of Luxembourg settlement in the United States, and Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.   Plats from the US can especially assist you in locating family homes/farms, etc. 

• Census Records – The RC’s collection contains census records for Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.  These records are available on microfilm and some as hard copies.  Other census records from throughout the US can be searched on the RC’s visitor’s computer using Ancestry.com.  The RC does have a few census records from select communities in Luxembourg including, Weiler-la-Tour, Hassel, and Bertrange (Bartringen).

• Probate Files – Ozaukee County, Wisconsin – Probate files from Ozaukee County, Wisconsin are on loan to the RC.  Because of privacy issues, only probate records that are 100 years or older are available for your research.

• Bound Family History – The RC has an extensive and ever-growing collection of bound family histories reflecting Luxembourg families from throughout the U.S. and families from northern Ozaukee County no matter their ethnic background.  Bound family histories are non-circulating and provide a plethora of examples for anyone who is publishing a family history. 

• Luxembourg Heritage Books – The RC’s collection includes hundreds of books pertaining to Luxembourg and Luxembourg heritage in the US.  The collection includes histories of communities in Luxembourg and the US that often contain valuable information about immigrants and their descendants.  Other books describe the history and culture of the Grand Duchy.  Books in the RC’s collection are non-circulating.

• Schobermesse Booklets – Since 1904, the Chicago Luxembourg community has celebrated Schobermesse (Fall Harvest Fest) sponsored by the Luxembourg Brotherhood of America (LBA).  Each year the LBA published a commemorative Schobermesse Booklet.  The booklets are filled with historic and biographical information along with photographs and advertising for Luxembourg American businesses.  While the Schobermesse booklets focus primarily on metro-Chicago, the booklets also contain some information about other Luxembourg communities and people from throughout the United States.

• Directories – The RC has a growing collection of directories for Ozaukee County, Wisconsin and other communities.  These directories can assist researchers in finding their ancestor’s addresses, occupations, etc.  The advertisements in these directories are also very beneficial to your research.

• Photograph Collection – The RC has an extensive photograph collection representing the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as well as Luxembourg American people, communities and events.  The RC’s collection also includes photos of people, places and events from northern Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. The RC is home to the Vern Arendt Collection of negatives and prints representing Ozaukee County, Wisconsin from 1950 – 2000.  Photos can supplement your research or family history publications.  Prints of photos from the RC collection are available for a nominal fee.  Note that the LACS does NOT provide digital images of any of its photos. 

• Audio/Visual Materials – The RC has a growing collection of a/v materials pertaining to Luxembourg and Luxembourg heritage in the US.  Included in these materials are Luxembourg music, virtual tours/maps of Luxembourg, and other items of historic value.

• Rare Books and Items – The RC’s collection contains rare books, booklets, and other rare items from both Luxembourg and the US.  An index of items in the RC’s rare book and item collection is available to visitors.  Rare books and items are normally for display purposes and can only be viewed by visitors with the special permission of the RC Director.