Mildred Fish Harnack was born on September 16, 1902 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 5:30am to Georgina and William Fish. The birth certificate found on microfilm at the Milwakee Public Library has her name written in as Matie, with no middle name, instead of Mildred Elizabeth. The birth itself was officailly registered a month later (not uncommon in those days), which explains the October 31, 1902 date stamped on the document.