About the Archives

MISSION STATEMENT

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives and Records Management collects, preserves, and provides access to our University’s documented history. We connect the campus community, scholars, and the public with UW-Madison’s past to support an inclusive understanding of its present and potential futures. We provide expert guidance and ethical stewardship of collections that encourage engagement with the University’s rich and diverse stories and cultural heritage.

We serve as the official state records repository under 16.61(13) of the Wisconsin Statutes for UW-Madison and the Universities of Wisconsin administration, ensuring that records created by these offices are retained, preserved, and made accessible to the public.

VISION STATEMENT

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives and Records Management envisions a future where history is accessible and recognized as an essential resource that plays a vital role in research, education, and innovation. We strive to be a trusted partner and collaborator in supporting academic and creative inquiry by:

• Practicing equitable and inclusive services,
• Striving to increase historical accuracy through amplifying the diverse voices and experiences that shape the university’s story, especially those that may not have been included in the past,
• Providing expert guidance and leadership in information and records management,
• Empowering people to engage with history in ways that inform their understanding, inspire new ideas, and support a more just and informed future for the benefit of the campus and the public good.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives and Records Management actively collects and preserves information that add new perspectives and insights about university history. We are committed to discovering and preserving the full truth of our history, even if it challenges existing historical narratives. Our guiding principles are a set of core values that guide our work and decision-making. They also provide a framework for evaluating our actions and choices in the UW Archives. Truth-seeking and inclusivity are core values in our work, underscoring our principles.

Service: Providing consistent and expert service in areas that include research support, collection management, outreach and programming, records management, oral history, and other services.

Collaboration: Seeking out opportunities to be responsible and respectful collaborators while building long-term trust and relationships with our partners on campus and beyond.

Access: Providing reliable and equitable access to archival collections, delivering services, communicating, interacting within various spaces, and developing online resources while respecting legal, ethical, and institutional restrictions.

Accountability: Ensuring processes, policies, and decisions in how university history is documented, managed, accessed, and preserved are consistent and transparent. All staff are accountable for the agreed-upon mission and vision statement, as well as implementing our guiding principles.

Stewardship: Managing our collections responsibly while adhering to ethical guidelines and legal requirements regarding acquisition, deaccessioning, and the use of collections. We will continue to build and maintain relationships on campus and beyond, while being good stewards of our financial resources.

COLLECTION STATISTICS

36,000 linear feet of paper and published material

2.5 million photographs (all formats)

4,500 audiovisual materials (video, moving image/film, etc.)

8,500 audio recordings

2,100 oral history interviews

For more information, contact the Archives at uwarchives@library.wisc.edu or 608-262-5629. Mission and vision statements, and the Guiding Principles were approved and adopted in October 2025.