- University of Wisconsin-Madison
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- Art on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus
- Researching Campus Artwork and Events
Art on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus : Researching Campus Artwork and Events
Art Group

160b Elvehjem Building
800 University Ave.
Using archives and unpublished materials
- UW Archives and Records ManagementUniversity Archives is the major campus repository for records and resources relating to the history of campus. Consult both paper and online collections.
- Wisconsin Union Art CollectionThe student-run Wisconsin Union has a long history of on-campus art programming and a permanent art collection. Their records may provide valuable historical information to researchers.
- Wisconsin Historical Society ArchivesAlthough a separate entity from the UW-Madison, the Wisconsin Historical Society headquarters and library/archives are physically located on campus. Their library/archives collect published and unpublished materials about the history of Wisconsin, the United States and Canada.
Search the UW-Madison Library Catalog for holdings of the UW and Wisconsin Historical Society archives.
Oral histories of campus administrators and faculty may provide useful insights into the history of art on campus. Search the Library Catalog to identify recordings, such as
Printmaking (Oral History Program interviews)
Oral history Program interview with Russell Panczenko
Oral History Program interviews with James Watrous
Oral History Program interviews with Arthur Hove
Try searching for "oral history program" AND [your term]
where [your term] could be art or museum or architecture or gallery, etc.
Using published sources
Information about UW-Madison art, artists and exhibitions could be published in books, exhibition catalogs, journal and newspaper articles, dissertations, and other publication types. Search for these sources as you would any other research topic.
- Search our Library Catalog for books and exhibit catalogs held in the UW or Historical Society libraries
- Target publications created by or about campus art units
- watch for subject headings such as:
"University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Art"
"University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Art History"
"University of Wisconsin-Madison. Wisconsin Union" - watch for name changes for campus departments and associations, for example
"Chazen Museum of Art" AND "Elvehjem Museum of Art" AND "Elvehjem Art Center"
- watch for subject headings such as:
- Search for names of known artists or faculty authors
- Target publications created by or about campus art units
- Search the Library Catalog for local magazines and art-related newsletters
- hint: add "periodicals" to your chosen topical search term(s)
- local art activities are most likely to be reported in campus, city, and state publications
- the contents of smaller publications are less likely to be discoverable in major article databases so you may need to browse individual issues for relevant content
- examples of local sources: Arts Letter, Central Wisconsin Women's Caucus for Art
- Search campus-licensed article databases such as "Art Full Text" for journal articles on artists with national reputations (database guide)
- Search local or regional newspapers for exhibition reviews or art-related stories (newspapers guide)
- Search for dissertations, especially those written at UW-Madison (hints on finding dissertations)
Examples of publications available (with research hints)
- The Arts at Wisconsin / Arthur Hove (2012)as you search the Library Catalog, watch for names of local arts organizations (this one published by the Madison Arts Institute)--then search for more by the same organization
- The Buildings of the University of Wisconsin / Jim Feldman (1997)(also available online at http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/UW.UWBuildings )
search the Library Catalog for "University of Wisconsin" and art/architecture terms (e.g. "buildings") - Common Joy II: Outdoor art in Madison, with celebratory verse / Frances W. Hurst and Fran Rall (1994)search the Library Catalog for "Madison" and art/architecture terms (e.g. "sculpture")
- Contemporary African art: March 16-31, 1977, Wisconsin Memorial Union, Main Galleryexample of one exhibition catalog at Wisconsin Memorial Union, for others search the Library Catalog for the organization name and art-related term (e.g. "exhibition")
- "Don Reitz," Sarah Tanguy. American Craft. (Aug/Sept 2001) Vol. 61, No. 4, pp 97-9example of one faculty artist exhibition review; for others search article databases for name of artist
- The Future of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: a report to the Chancellor (May, 1993)search the Library Catalog for "University of Wisconsin" and art/architecture terms (e.g. art)
- Handbook of the collection / Elvehjem Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin--Madison (1990)search the Library Catalog for "Elvehjem" and "art" and "collections"
- Handbook of the collection of the Elvehjem Art Center (1974)search the Library Catalog for "Elvehjem" and "art" and "collections"
- "The Law School's Curry Mural: One of the Grandest and Most Distinguished Works of Art in Wisconsin," Paul Reidinger. The Gargoyle. (Summer 1985) Vol. XVI, No. 1, pp 10-11search the Library Catalog to discover local periodicals; "Gargoyle" is an alumni magazine for the UW Law School
- Metalsmiths and mentors: Fred Fenster and Eleanor Moty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison / Jody Clowes (2006)example of one exhibition catalog from the Chazen Museum of Art, for others search the Library Catalog for the organization name and art-related term (e.g., "exhibition")
- "Paintings at the Elvehjem Art Center, University of Wisconsin," Millard F. Rogers. The Magazine Antiques. (December, 1975) Vol. CVIII, No. 6, pp 1146-55search the Library Catalog and analyze results for unexpected useful titles
- Public Sculpture in Wisconsin / Anton Rajer and Christine Style (1999)if specific searches aren't productive, try broader searches; for example, after searching for sculpture and "University of Wisconsin," try sculpture and Madison, or sculpture and Wisconsin.
- A Reflection of Time: The Wisconsin Union Art Collection / Jody Schmitz (1985)search the Library Catalog for "Wisconsin Union" and art-related terms (e.g. "art" and "collection")
- The Samuel H. Kress study collection of Italian Renaissance art / University of Wisconsin (1960)search the Library Catalog for "University of Wisconsin" and art-related terms
- "With a deft use of form and materials, VJAA tucked the daylight-filled Porter Boathouse amid handsome older neighbors," Nancy Levinson. Architectural Record. (June 2005) Vol.193, No. 6, pp 92-97example of local architecture review, search licensed journal databases
Digital Projects Relating to Art on Campus
- Art Department Faculty Exhibition CatalogsOnline catalogs documenting work by art faculty since 1974.
- Artists' Book CollectionSearchable database of artists' books at the Kohler Art Library on campus.
- Arts in SocietyInterdisciplinary arts journal published on campus between 1959 and 1976.
- Chazen (formerly Elvehjem) Museum of Art PublicationsOnline publications of the campus art museum which opened in 1970.
- Art Thesis Image CollectionNew online project to document Art Department MFA student thesis work
Other Local Digital Collections
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Collection (UWDC)Search for images and texts from a variety of UW-Madison archival and published sources.
- UW Board of Regents Collection (UWDC)Meeting minutes from 1921-1991 have been digitized.