Wisconsin Family History Book Award
About the Wisconsin Family History Book Award
The Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society invite nominations of published genealogies detailing the history of Wisconsin families for the Wisconsin Family History Book Award.
The Wisconsin Family History Book Award is given annually to the author of a genealogy or family history book that best documents the history of a Wisconsin family and, in the opinion of the judges, made the most valuable contribution to public understanding of Wisconsin's past during the preceding calendar year.
Nominations are due March 10 of each year.
Silesians in the Driftless
The Thomas and Maria (Kania) Misch and Frank and Marie (Walek) Smieja Families of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
By Kathryn A. Newman
Submission Guidelines
Please consider the following guidelines when preparing your nomination.
Books must meet all of the following requirements to be considered:
- The book must have been published in the calendar year preceding the award
- The print edition must be at least 50 pages long and be hard, soft, or spiral bound
- The narrative must cover more than one generation
- The book must show substantial Wisconsin interest or connection
Authors and publishers are encouraged to nominate their own works.
Books published by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society are not eligible to receive this award. Employees and members of the Board of Curators of the Wisconsin Historical Society are not eligible to receive awards.
Judges will evaluate each book according to the following criteria:
- Excellence and depth of research and documentation
- Quality of writing
- Ease of use and attractiveness of presentation: book includes standard elements, and graphic design enhances the quality and appeal of the book
- Impact and interest for genealogists and the general public
- Contribution to the field of genealogy and the printed record of Wisconsin history
March 10 of each year (postmarked or delivered)
Nominations must be submitted using the Wisconsin Family History Book Award nomination form. Either (1) one print copy and one digital copy of the book or (2) three print copies of the book should accompany the form.
Note: If a copy of the book is already in the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society Library, indicate that fact on the nomination form and only send a digital copy or two print copies of the book.
One copy of the book will be retained for the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society if a copy is not already in its collection. Additional copies can be returned to the nominator if requested.
Send applications to:
Wisconsin Historical Society
Attention: Rebecca Hopman
816 State Street
Madison, WI 53706
Awards are initially reviewed by a committee of judges appointed by the Society and then approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Curators. The date and presentation of the award will be made at a time and location convenient for the recipient.
Past Wisconsin Family History Book Award Winners
2026 — Kathryn A. Newman. Silesians in the Driftless: The Thomas and Maria (Kania) Misch and Frank and Marie (Walek) Smieja Families of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin.
2025 — James P. Axtell. Ancestors of Paul Robert Axtell and Jeanne Elizabeth Derse. CS71.A96 2024
2024 — Rebecca Bley Shamblin. Ancestors of Olive Marie Schmidt: The Schmidt/Krier Family. CS71.S353 2022
2023 — Denise Rae Krueger. The Aschbrenner Family: A Detailed History of a Family Who Immigrated from Posen to Marathon County. CS71.A776 2022
2022 — Chuck Pankratz. Pankratz Genealogy: 1217-1940. CS71 P2225 2021
2021 — Nancy M. Vance. Some Descendants of Widow Foord: 1621-2021. CS71 F695 2020
2020 — Jeanne Forbes. The John T. Holtz & Anna C. Moll Family in Mecklenburg, Germany, & Columbus, Wisconsin. CS69 F63 2019
2019 — Philip Hasheider. The Christoph Zick Family 1769-2018. F580 H37 2018
2018 — DuWayne H. Hansen. There Were Giants in the Earth in Those Days. CS71 C69 2017
2017 — Katherine Kemnitz. Three John Chamberlains and Cornelius Atherton. CS71 C443 2016
2016 — Kenneth L. Kraemer. Wisconsin Kraemers. CS71 C8903 2014
2015 — Brian L. and Mary Mierow Blakeley. Ordinary People. CS71 B64622 2014
2014 — Philip Hasheider. The Loerpabel Connection. CS71 L8182 2013
2013 — Philip and Mary Kathleen Hasheider. The Michael and Caroline Bremel Family of Wisconsin. CS71 B8568 2012
2012 — Helen Stoltz-Wood. From Denmark to Wisconsin. CS69 S86 2011
2011 — Judy Boykin. Our Best Family: The Descendants of John and Sarah Best, 1800-2010. CS71 B56 2010
2010 — Marion (Sura) Groulik. The Peter Sura Family Quilt. Pam 10-1366
2009 — John McCallum. The Clan McCallum(books 5-7). CS71 M4749
2008 — Rick A. Hagen. Descendants of Joseph and Catherine Miller of New Berlin, Wisconsin. CS71 M65 2007a
2007 — Rachel Scherf Levine. Scherf: Christian Andreas Scherf Family. CS71 S325 2007
2006 — Gene Hill. Julius Heisinger, Artist. CS71 H47354 2005
2005 — Philip H. Hasheider. The Ancestry and Descendants of Alpheus and Sally (Copeland) Bass. CS71 B356 2004
2004 — (no award given)
2003 — Ronald L. Giese. The August Ferdinand Windau Family. Pam 04-285
2002 — Helen E. Brieske. Lars and Martha Larson From Valdres, Norway, to Vernon County, Wisconsin. CS71 L327 2001
2001 — Ronald L. and Maureen F. Giese. The Johann Christian David Wolfgram Family. CS71 W8555 2000
2000 — Gloria Bailey Jackson. John Goddard of Northeastern Wisconsin. CS71 G578 1999
1999 — Donald and Sylvia Green. The Descendants of William McCain, 1781-1998. CS71 M154 1998
1998 — Merlin E. Horn. Heritage of Pioneer Farmers. CS71 H815 1997
1997 — Robert J. and Rita Fralish Mitchell. The Fralish Genealogy. CS71 F812 1996
1996 — Rosemary Rick. John Rick of Wausau. Pam 95-807
1995 — Alice Back Palmer. Our Dutch Heritage: Family Back. CS71 B11847 1994
1994 — Linda Berg Stafford. Tangney and Day Families of Adams County. CS71 T163 1993
1993 — Ednam Pieper Cherney. Pieper Footsteps. Pam 93-311
1992 — Mary Jane Johnson. The Descendants of Christian Friedrich Seefeld. CS71 S4486 1991
1991 — John Edward Armstrong. An Armstrong Ancestry. CS71 A74 1990
1990 — La Vern Pittman. The Family of John and Deborah (Flick) Meyers. CS71 M995 1989
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Rebecca Hopman
Genealogy Services Librarian
Last Updated: June 30, 2026
