Planning a visit to

WELS Archives & Visitor Center

WELS Archives & CMM Visitor Center

The Visitor Center

In 2016, WELS hired its first official synod archivist and began moving the synod archives from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., to a purpose-built archival space, designed to preserve and organize historical WELS documents, books, and artifacts at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry, Waukesha, Wis.

In conjunction with the archives, a visitor’s center was built to help show the history and mission of WELS. The visitor center includes a visual timeline of WELS’ history as well as informational kiosks on areas of ministry. Materials from the archives also are on display.

Guests will be shown a video highlighting WELS’ ministry and receive a tour of the Center for Mission and Ministry.

The visitor center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Closed on holidays)

Schedule tour

Use our online form to request a date and time for your visit to the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry.

Schedule a WELS Archive and CMM Visitor Center Tour
WELS CMM

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

The WELS archives are the official repository for records of historical value created by and about WELS, its congregations and called workers, and related parasynodical organizations and institutions. Its mission is to offer a useful information service to WELS called workers and congregations.

WELS Archives & CMM Visitor Center

WELS Archives

Preserve your congregation’s history

Get Directions

WELS Center for Mission & Ministry
N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI 53188

The synod archives is here to support your congregation by preserving and maintaining not only the synod history, but also the history of our WELS congregations. This is possible with the help of your donated materials including:

  • Church histories
  • Anniversary bulletins
  • Installation bulletins
  • Dedication service bulletins
  • Other materials related to your congregation’s history

Congregations can send copies of these items to be preserved and added to the collection.  These materials will be useful to future researchers as they provide a great insight into the congregations that make up our synod.

The landscape of our synod is always changing, and your congregation may be experiencing milestones and changes. To help future generations understand our church’s history, please donate your records of historical value which include:

  • Meeting minutes and reports from all committees, councils, and organizations within your church
  • Photographs, scrapbooks, and other visuals of your congregation’s history
  •  Book of Sacred Acts
  • Church Histories
  •  Bulletins: from installations, dedications, anniversary services, and other special events
  • Church constitutions, bylaws, and other charter documents
  • Newsletters and other church wide communications

Contact the WELS Archivist to learn more about preserving your congregation’s history or to conduct research.

Request an appointment with the WELS Archivist

Questions that we are frequently asked

Select the “Message the Archivist” button below and the archivist will respond to your message.

The archive has an online catalog where the collections are inventoried. Collections are continually added to this online catalog. The catalog can be accessed by scrolling down and clicking on the “Search the catalog” button. If you do not find what you are looking for, please contact the archivist for further assistance.

Yes! You can schedule a tour of the archives and visitors center through the “Request a tour of the WELS Archive and Visitor Center” above. If you would like a tour of the whole Center for Mission and Ministry, please schedule that tour by calling 414-256-3200.

Yes. The archivist is continually looking to add to the collections in the archive. The most common donation is church history materials from WELS congregations. Please contact the archivist if you have items you are interested in donating to the archives.

The archive receives a variety of research requests from genealogical to congregational history requests. The archives can also help answer questions relating to topics in WELS history, departments within the synodical organization, and parasynodical organizations.

The WELS Historical Institute promotes and presents synod history through presentations and scholarly articles found in the Journal. The WELS Synod Archives preserves and makes available for research the primary source historical materials of the synod. While they are two different organizations the archives and the Institute work very closely together.

WELS Archivist Interview

Link to: WELS Archives & Visitor Center

Research Requests

The synod archives is here to support your congregation by preserving and maintaining not only the synod history, but also the history of our WELS congregations. Address your concerns and questions to “WELS Archivist”.

Archive Catalog

An online catalog of the WELS Archives materials is available online. Items from the archives are being added to the online catalog regularly. Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Search the catalog