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Social Sciences cover a number of Social Science fields to support teaching and research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, throughout the state of Wisconsin, and in some cases nationwide. The primary areas covered are in the disciplines of sociology, economics, and political science. Numerous other subject areas are also included. These collections include materials about North America, including Puerto Rico, but not other areas in the Caribbean. The collections are restricted to a relatively current time period. The primary language for the Social Science collections is English. Special effort is made to acquire seminal works and recognized writings in western European languages. Monographs, serials and online databases are the primary formats collected.
Subject Specialists: Thomas Durkin
The materials in the anthropology collection cover the four sub-specializations within the study of anthropology: ethnology/cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and biological/physical anthropology. The book collection and backfiles of older journal issues are primarily in paper, and newer journal issues are mostly electronic. The materials are primarily in English, however there are works in both French and German. The Library of Congress Call Number System can be of assistance when attempting to locate paper sources in a certain subject area. Most general anthropological resources are to be found under the GN classification, much of the general archaeology collection is classified under CC, linguistics is classified under P, and the study of primates is primarily classified in QL. A significant portion of anthropological research conducted in specific geographic areas of the world is located with the other materials relevant to those geographic regions. Please see the Areas Studies collection descriptions for additional information.
Subject Specialist: Thomas Durkin
Research Guide: Anthropology
The materials in the folklore collection cover both the analysis and interpretation of folklore, as well as volumes of collected folktales, descriptions of folklife, and regional/ethnic folkways. The materials are primarily in English. However, there are works in French, German, Italian, and Scandinavian languages. Most general folklore works are classified under GR in the Library of Congress Call Number System; however, significant portions of folklore research conducted in specific geographic areas of the world are located with the other materials relevant to those geographic regions. Please see the Areas Studies collection descriptions for additional information. Folk music resources are usually classed in M. Please see the Music and Dance collection descriptions for additional information about music resources.
Subject Specialist: Thomas Durkin
Research Guide: Folklore
The sociology collection covers studies of class, inequality, social stratification, urban and rural socialization, work and employment, demographics, crime, conversation analysis, statistical methodology, organizational studies, race, ethnicity, families, gender, social psychology, and general sociological theory and social organization. The book collection and backfiles of older journal issues are primarily in paper, and newer journal issues are primarily electronic. The materials are primarily in English, however there are works in both French and German. General sociology is classified under HM in the Library of Congress Call Number System; however, sociological works are located throughout the entire H series of the classification, from HA-HX.
Subject Specialist: Thomas Durkin
Research Guide: Sociology
The Transportation Collection includes railroad materials significant to United States history and relevant to the development and building of the nation. Railroads of Europe are represented also. Collection interest has, within recent years, begun to focus upon another mode, air transportation, especially policy, economic, and managerial issues. Materials in various formats are included; English is the predominant language. United States and Wisconsin state documents figure importantly in the transportation field and in its study.
Subject Specialist: Thomas Durkin