Obtaining the records of children who lived at the Sparta Child Center (a.k.a. State School for Dependant and Neglected Children) can be a tricky because state law prohibits anyone from reviewing the records of those children who attended the Child Center/State School unless one or more of the following criteria are met:

1. you are seeking your own records
2. you are seeking records that are at least 75 years old (eg. the child last attended the school at least 75 years ago)
3. you receive special permission from the appropriate state agencies or a judge.

The Monroe County Local History Room does not have the Child Center/State School attendee records, as they are kept down in the State of WI Archives in Madison. MCLHR does have some institutional records and photographs, but not personal information about the children who passed through the Child Center.

To gain access to the attendees’ records, one must contact the following governmental departments:

1. Dept. of Health and Family Services: 608-266-7163
2. WI State Archives: 608-264-6459

Did YOU attend the Sparta Child Center?
Please click HERE to learn more about our "Children of The Child Center" history project.