BOTANY 211: Changed Landscape of Wisconsin (Spring 2022) : Archival records
Digital Collections
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Ancestry Library EditionSearchable text and image database of family history and genealogy materials including census and voter data; birth, marriage, and death records; immigration records including passenger lists; naturalization records; selected court, land and probate records.
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Digital Public Library of AmericaDigitized material from libraries, archives, and museums across the U.S.
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Recollection WisconsinRecollection Wisconsin is an expanding digital collection featuring thousands of historic photos, postcards, maps, letters, diaries, books, artifacts, oral histories and other digital collections from dozens of Wisconsin libraries, archives, museums and historical societies.
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Wisconsin Local HistoriesWisconsin Local Histories collection showcases the resources of public libraries and historical societies from across the state. This collection includes an eclectic mix of material including photographs, oral histories, video recordings, maps, periodicals, and scrapbooks.
How to Find Archival Material in the Catalog
Start at library.wisc.edu and use the default search bar. Enter keywords such as the name of a neighborhood, landmark, or organization's name. On the results screen, click the "Libraries" tab under the filter options.
All of the results will now be housed in the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives.
Tip - you can also use this same filter for other locations, which will give you different kinds of sources in the results.
On This Page
This page provides guidance on finding archival material pertinent to your research area both online and in-person.
But what, exactly are archives? Unlike materials held in libraries, which have all been published (meaning, they were created with the intention of making many copies available to many people), archives are unpublished material. They are evidence of everyday life and business created for a purpose other than having them used by outside people. Archives can be any format of material, such as letters, diaries, meeting minutes, photographs, or tweets. Archival collections are kept together in groups based on their creator.
Wisconsin Historical Society Archival Collections
You're invited to visit the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives without an appointment to access sources such as:
- Maps
- Tax records
- Court records
- Personal letters & diaries
- Oral histories
- Business and organization records
Archives Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-4:00pm