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The Society's Library Reading Room

Students studying in the Library Reading Room, where new technology and traditional resources combine to provide a rich learning environment.

In 2012 I returned to the Wisconsin Historical Society to serve as the state archivist and administrator for the Library and Archives Division after working 12 rewarding years at Marquette University. Way back in the 1990s I worked as a government records archivist. I also spent several years acquiring manuscript collections for the Society.

Having been back a full year, I'd like to share some of my impressions.

Improving Access with 21st Century Technology

My profession has experienced sweeping changes over the past decade, much of it fueled by the digital revolution. Change was certainly in the air in 1999 when the Society unveiled its inaugural website. Some actually believed the web was a passing fad. Thankfully, the forward thinking leadership at the Society committed resources to grow our information technology capabilities.

Over the past decade, our dedicated Library and Archives staff has:

• digitized almost 75,000 images.
• implemented online delivery of archival finding aids for more than 5,000 research collections.
• purchased major new library resources in electronic formats, which today account for 42 percent of our acquisitions budget.
• began acquiring all Wisconsin newspapers electronically.
• captured the information-rich websites of all state agencies and county governments.
• built in-depth online resources that provide easy access to original documents about local history, the Civil War, modern political history, and pre-1907 vital records.
• reached out to genealogists and other information professionals through webinars.

Today, continually improving digital access to our world-class collections is one of the Society's main initiatives.

I've also been struck by an important continuity within the Society that can be summarized in two words: service and partnership.

Continuity in Our Commitment to Service

I had been back at the Society for just two weeks when I realized that I needed to create a an email folder on my computer to preserve the many thank you notes that researchers, genealogists, faculty members, K-12 teachers and students, and independent writers send to our staff on a regular basis.

Our commitment to service was true when Reuben Gold Thwaites, the Society's second director in the late 19th century, summarized our purpose: "We aim to be useful."

It remained a bedrock principle decades later when Clifford Lord, another director, co-authored a history of the Society and aptly titled it "Clio's Servant."

Fast-forward another half century. A retired CEO recently sought me out, exclaiming that our staff is "responsible for protecting very valuable materials, but they're always calm, patient, and egalitarian in helping visitors." Our commitment to service continues.

Continuity in Our Partnerships

I also have observed a renewed emphasis on partnerships. In these times, when all of us are asked to do more with less, strong partnerships are vital.

Those of you unfamiliar with our operations may not realize that one of our most important partners is our next-door neighbor, the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our partnership dates back to 1900 and the sharing of the Society headquarters building. Today, we continue to serve as the North American history library for the university.

The generous support of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, particularly in recent years, is a major factor in transforming the Society's library and archives into a 21st century research center. The university provided significant support for the 2010 restoration of our magnificent 2nd floor Library Reading Room. In addition, university contributions account for nearly one-third of our library acquisitions budget.

This partnership also extends to the University of Wisconsin System. This autumn we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Area Research Center (ARC) Network. Through the ARC's transfer system, students, faculty, genealogists, and local historians anywhere in the state can easily access materials owned by the Society. No other state has a comparable network. The success of the 14-location network is a reflection of the commitment our partners, the UW System library directors, have to the preserving history and serving all Wisconsin residents.

Service and partnerships — two of the foundations that guide our work. I could keep writing but there will be many occasions for additional thoughts. In the meantime, I hope you will make our new blog a regular part of your reading.

About the North American History and Genealogy Blog

The North American History and Genealogy blog is written by staff and highlights the world-class collections, recent research, acquisitions, and services available through the Wisconsin Historical Society's Library and Archives