Janesville's Past
This collection of digitized photographs, postcards and other historical images is the result of a collaborative project completed by the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Committee and Hedberg Public Library.
This project was supported by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds, awarded to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Browse stories, chronologies and histories written by local authors.
* these titles include photos
- Century of Stories by Mike DuPre*
- City on the Rock River by Carol Lohry Cartwright
- History of Janesville 1835 – 1935 by Mary Ann Bostwick Hulick*
- History of Janesville by Raymond E. Fenrick
- History of the Janesville Public Schools, 1839-1987
- Janesville Public Library: A Centennial History, 1884-1984 by Janice Kay Pierce
- Medical History of Janesville, 1833-1933 by John Vosburgh Stevens*
- Reflections from a Warming House Window by Virginia E Leffler*
View images, photos and postcards of Janesville through the years.
Search Janesville directories and walking guides.
- Janesville City Directories (1857-1931)
Click the blue Read More link, then scroll down to the City Directory links. - Janesville Fire Department Souvenir Album (1902)
- Walking Guides to Janesville Historic Districts
Local History Database
Find information about Janesville and Rock County history in newspaper articles, photographs, books, and pamphlets.
Obituary Index
Find obituary listings in the Janesville Gazette. The online index is continually updated and maintained by HPL staff and volunteers.
Yearbook Index
Find Janesville High School, Craig High School, and Parker High School yearbooks. This work-in-progress covers students, staff, faculty, as well as members of the Janesville School Board.
Other Rock County Digitized Resources
1858 Plat Map of Rock County
1891 Plat Book of Rock County
1904 Plat Book of Rock County
1917 Standard Atlas of Rock County
1940 Plat Book of Rock County
Beloit Local History Collection
Search a collection of rare and historic books unique to Beloit, including the earliest city and telephone directories, plat book, farm directory, and more.
History of Rock County (1879)
Explore an extensive and minute sketch of Rock County’s cities, early settlers, their improvements, industries, manufactories, churches, schools, societies, war record, biographical sketches, and portraits.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wisconsin (1889)
View full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, governors of the state, and the presidents of the United States
Rock County, Wisconsin (1908); Volume 1
Rock County (1908), Wisconsin; Volume 2
Read a new history of its cities, villages, towns, citizens, and varied interests from the earliest times.
Listen to a collection of interviews with General Motors employees, union members, and others involved in Janesville's manufacturing history.
COMING SOON!
Watch a collection of interviews with Parker Pen employees.
More Resources
Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers
Access to daily and weekly newspapers in Wisconsin, starting in 2005 to the present, with an embargo delay of 60 days. Available through the Wisconsin BadgerLink project.
Bataan Project
192nd Tank Battalion Bataan Commemorative Research Project; Includes information and resources about Company A, the "Janesville 99"
Gazette (Janesville, WI)
Access and search full digital newspapers of The Gazette from January 2, 2024 to present. Text of Gazette-produced articles available back to 2018. Hedberg cardholder exclusive.