Frequently Asked Questions

We are right here on the UW-Madison campus! Located on the fourth floor of Steenbock Library, the Archives is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00-5:00. Planning a trip to the Archives? Call 608-262-5629 or email us at uwarchiv@library.wisc.edu in advance.

We are actively collecting! In general, we collect materials that document UW-Madison, UW Extension and UW System administration history. As faculty and staff retire or move out of office space, sometimes materials of historic value are left behind. Feel free to call us (or share our contact information with colleagues) if you discover something “archives worthy”. We are more than happy to meet and review your materials for potential inclusion in our collections. Visit Donating to the Archives for detailed instructions.

The University Archives collects materials specifically related to UW campus history. Although located on the UW-Madison campus, the Wisconsin Historical Society contains broader collections of general Wisconsin history.

Some of our most useful “foundation” resources have been digitized and are available online in the UW Digital Collections, UW-Madison Collection. These Web sites hold representative samples of our holdings, which are available for research in the Archives in Steenbock Library. Visit Online Collections and Exhibits to view lists of UW history resources available online.

Researching a topic related to campus history? Many of our collections are cataloged into the library’s online catalog. Begin your search here.

Archives collections do not circulate, but you are welcome to use these resources within the Archives or contact us for more information about acquiring copies.

Of course! We love a good history mystery! Got a question or a research challenge? Shoot us an email and we will do our best to find the answer. For more information about family history research in the Archives, visit Genealogy.

We do not maintain student transcripts. Contact the UW-Madison Registrar’s Office for transcript copies. We do maintain older course descriptions. Post-2000 course descriptions are available online at Guides: Archive.