Wisconsin Corporations Index, 1848-1993 | Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Corporations Index, 1848-1993

Incorporation papers and charter documents for thousands of Wisconsin corporations are housed in the Society Archives.

Records typically contain the following types of documents:

  • Original articles of incorporation
  • Amendments
  • Merger and dissolution documents
  • Annual reports
  • Documents showing changes in officers

Domestic vs. Non-Stock Indexes

Two different indexes cover the corporation records:

1. Domestic Corporations Index, 1848-1945

Collection name: Incorporation Papers of Defunct Domestic Corporations
Call number: Series 356
Description: Domestic corporations are for-profit businesses that incorporated under Wisconsin laws. 
Index includes: Names and counties of domestic corporations that became defunct before 1946, either for failure to file required documents, or by formal dissolution. Detailed descriptions or details of the products manufactured by a corporation are not often included.

2. Non-Stock Corporations Index, 1889-1993

Collection name: Charter Documents – Domestic Non-Stock Corporations
Call number: Series 357
Description: Non-Stock Corporations are any private, non-stock groups that incorporated under Wisconsin law. This includes clubs, civic organizations, social organizations, religious organizations and charitable organizations.
Index includes: Names and counties of non-stock corporations, large and small, that became defunct before 1994, either for failure to file required documents, or by formal dissolution. Dissolved, merged, consolidated, or administratively or involuntarily dissolved corporations are included. County information is not complete for corporations which dissolved, merged or consolidated after 1989.

How to View Records

The corporation records are not viewable online. Only the index is online.

How to View in Person

To view the actual records in person, please note the following for each of the records you would like to retrieve:

  • The call number (Series 356 for Domestic, Series 357 for Non-Stock)
  • The corporate ID number
  • The box number

Contact Society Archives staff one to two weeks before your visit so we can gather the corporation files you select. You may choose to review the records in the Society's Archives Research Room in Madison, Wisconsin, or at one of the 13 Area Research Centers located throughout the state. There is no charge for requesting and reviewing these records.

Purchasing Copies

To request copies, please note the following for each of the records you would like copied:

  • The call number (Series 356 for Domestic, Series 357 for Non-Stock)
  • The corporate ID number
  • The box number

Please note: You can request all documents in a file. Or, you can request only original articles of incorporation, last annual report and dissolution documents. Requesting only the original articles usually provides all available clues to track the assets of a corporation that is no longer active. This approach also allows you to determine if stock in the defunct corporation has value.

For costs and terms, or to place an order for copies, see our fees page.

Have Questions?

Call Archives reference staff at 608-264-6460 or contact us by email below: