Survey Field Notes & Plat Maps

Snapshot of U.W. Digital Collections Search Page
Click the image to open the search in a new tab.

Tips for Searching

The first step in searching the collection is to specify a township and range that includes your area of interest. This should be done using township and range numbers and directions. Abbreviations can be used as well. Search is not case-sensitive. Valid examples include:
  • Township 7 North Range 8 East
  • township 7 north range 8 east
  • t27nr04e
  • T09NR04W - note: leading zeroes are required in this format
  • t09Nr04W - note: leading zeroes are required in this format
A valid search will return thumbnail images and descriptions of maps and survey notes that are available for that township. Clicking on one of the results will take you to a different view depending on whether a map or notebook was chosen. Within the map interface or the notebook selections, you can get details for a more precise location within the township.
An alternative search for maps in the collection is at the Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office at GeoData@WisconsinExternal link icon indicating link will open an external website in a new tab. Searching for a township here still requires leading zeroes for township and range numbers, but direction ("north", "west", or "east") and "township" and "range" can be fully spelled out as well. Examples:
  • township 38 north range 07 east
  • t27nr24e
 
Copyright © 2026 Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.
Much of the credit for this project is due to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, General Library System. This organization did the original imaging of the field notes, as well as the developing and hosting of the search website and images.
The field notes and plat maps of the original Public Land Survey of Wisconsin are public records under the custody of the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. The images of these survey records are provided through this website for informational purposes only. Certified copies for legal purposes of any of these records may be obtained from the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.
These images may be copied by individuals or organizations for personal use, research or other purposes defined as "fair use" under applicable copyright laws. Anyone interested in making further use of these images or records, including commercial use, should contact the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands for permission.
This website may be linked to other non-commercial, non-subscription websites created for educational and/or research purposes. Anyone creating such a link is asked to inform the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (contacts).

Online Archive Credits

Content owner and sponsor Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands
Digitization, Technical Design, and Hosting UW Digital Collections Center
Township boundary data Ted Sickley, UW Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Image map creation land Information and Computer Graphics Facility, UW-Madison