Our Collections

The University Archives serves as the official repository for all UW-Madison, UW-System Administration, UW-Extension and UW Colleges records appraised to have permanent or archival value.

Our collections are limited to items relating directly to the University, where we collect original source documents from administrative offices, faculty and staff. The Archives contains the Daily Cardinal and Badger Herald, the Badger yearbook, minutes of the Regents and the Faculty Senate, course catalogs, timetables and directories of students and staff.

We also keep subject and correspondence files from University presidents, chancellors, deans, department chairs and other administrators. Additionally, these files include faculty committees, papers of faculty members and the University budget.

Within each of these record groups, there are many series and sub-series. This is why many of our collections have more specific finding aids or indices to expedite research.

The Archives also collects material that document the development of affiliated groups and organizations such as student and staff organizations and societies. The majority of the collection is cataloged in the Library Catalog, and a smaller percentage in Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids.

In addition, the Archives collects, preserves and provides access to born-digital and electronic records of the campus and its units. The Archives manages a collection of archived campus websites through the Internet Archive’s Archive-It. For more information, see our Web and Born Digital  Policy and Procedures.

Contact the UW-Madison Archives for more information at uwarchiv@library.wisc.edu or 608-262-5629.

Brittingham Vikings, 1954-1955, #S10387
Brittingham Vikings, 1954-1955, #S10387
Statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota. #CLP-A0364.
Statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota. #CLP-A0364.
Freshman with four years of books, #S04986
Freshman with four years of books, #S04986
Harry Steenbock in laboratory, #S00117
Harry Steenbock in laboratory, #S00117
Hockey players, 1929. #040502as139
Hockey players, 1929. #040502as139