Our Collections

The University Archives serves 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.

Our collections primarily relate to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where we collect original source documents from administrative offices, faculty and staff. The Archives contains the Daily Cardinal and Badger Herald (student newspapers), the Badger yearbook, minutes of the Board of 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 uwarchives@library.wisc.edu or 608-262-5629.