There are several aspects of the Society documented in this collection. First are the activities of the Madison Audubon Society, including its “…educational, scientific, investigative, literary, historical, philanthropic and charitable pursuits…” The formation of the Goose Pond Sanctuary and the Wisconsin Audubon Camp are thoroughly documented. The careers of several Madison Audubon Society officers are also well documented (including Dr. Lowell Noland, of Noland Hall fame). The history of the whooping crane flock in Baraboo is also covered, though not in much detail. Financial contributions to various groups such as The Bird House, Friends of the Arboretum, et cetera are documented.

The second aspect is the increasing professionalism of the organization. The pre-organization, the Madison Bird Club, had a 5-year span (1943-1948) when they didn't meet. Many of the initial participants in that organization, such as Mrs. R.A. (Mary) Walker, became much more active in the new Society. Back in the 1940s and 1950s (and partially into the 1960s), there is much evidence of the social nature of the organization: engagement notices, baby announcements, and pictures of baby animals cut from the local newspaper. This sort of material is not in evidence in the 1970s and 1980s.

Third, the changing environmental picture in Madison, Wisconsin, is documented. The records track the use of DDT to battle Dutch Elm disease, and the subsequent damage to birds from DDT. They also track the changes to the campus (Muir Woods, Arboretum), the state (Horicon Marsh, Project ELF), and the nation (Echo Park Dam, Garrison) that were in some part prevented or ameliorated by the actions of the organization.

Finally, the records also document the interaction between the Society and various environmental organizations (Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Department of Natural Resources, North Central Audubon Council, et cetera).

Major topics covered in this collection include the formation and running of the Wisconsin Audubon Camp; protests of the Echo Park damming project next to Dinosaur National Monument, the Garrison Pass project in North Dakota, DDT usage to combat Dutch Elm disease, and Horicon Marsh; and a solid representation of the Film Series they hosted for many years (brochures, flyers, posters, ticket samples, order forms, newspaper clippings). There is a great deal of material covering the Society's interaction with other area conservation organizations, such as the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Wisconsin Audubon Council, Friends of the Arboretum, Nature Conservancy, and North Central Audubon Council, and the National Audubon Society. The scholarship program is also well represented. The Society's efforts in land conservation are also well documented.

The material is arranged in three series: GENERAL RECORDS, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, and PHOTOGRAPHS.

GENERAL RECORDS contains the financial and administrative records of the Society and covers the organizational issues and activities of the Society. The series consists of Constitution and by-laws (circa 1950-1971, 1980, 1986), “Documents of special importance” (circa 1962-1980), Chapter policies (1986-1987), Board of Directors lists (1982-1989), Membership lists and directories (circa 1961-1980), Historical “scrapbooks” (1948-1977), Clippings (circa 1959-1980), Financial records (circa 1937-1988), Correspondence (circa 1954-1988), Minutes (1941-1980), Office memos (1980), Education Committee (1970-1971), Film series records (1950-1974), Publications (1971-1979, 1981, 1983), Goose Pond files (circa 1970-1977), and Township maps (undated).

“Documents of special importance” includes tax-exempt certificates for the organization, copies of the Constitution and by-laws of both the Society and Goose Pond Sanctuary, Inc., and branch charter certificates from the National Audubon Society. Included in the “Historical scrapbooks” that were maintained by the unofficial Society historian Mrs. Lounds for many years, are flyers, essays, letters, announcements, financial records, press releases, national environmental issues publications, minutes of meetings, correspondence, news clippings, and annual reports for each year. Financial records includes a Cashbook covering 1937-1960 and a Ledger covering 1960-1980. These volumes include names of dues-paying local and national Audubon Society members. There are also treasurer notes whenever there is a new officer as well as financial statements (1975-1989), treasurer reports (August 1939-June 1980), and financial reports from events (1983-1986), including the annual seed sale (1980-1988).

Correspondence includes primarily incoming correspondence to the offices of the President, the Executive Secretary, the Secretary, and the Scholarship committee. There is also considerable correspondence on issues related to membership. There is also correspondence pertaining to the Goose Pond Sanctuary incorporation.

Film series records contain complete information on each year's program in chronological order. There are example ticket order forms and envelopes, contracts with various facilities for screenings, articles on the speakers, announcements placed in the local papers (primarily Wisconsin State Journal and the Capital Times), brochures, and correspondence with the National Audubon Society on the programs. Information on the financial aspects of the series is also included. Publications contains nine years of Society newsletters, 1971-1979; brochures; and 1981 and 1983 fund-raising Goose Pond calendars.

The OTHER ORGANIZATIONS series contains information on outside conservation organizations that the Society has been involved with over the years, and documents the type of relationship to some extent. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS consists of materials for the Goose Pond Sanctuary, Inc. (1979-1989), Wisconsin Audubon Council (circa 1973-1979, 1987-1988), National Audubon Society (1987-1988), Wisconsin Society for Ornithology (1978), and North Central Audubon Council (circa 1965-1971). Goose Pond contains the financial and administrative records of the Goose Pond Sanctuary, a preserve operated by the Society, up until the Society formed Goose Pond Sanctuary, Inc. Wisconsin Audubon Council, National Audubon Society, and North Central Audubon Council contain mainly promotional and membership materials, all of it incoming. The material for the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology is comprised mainly of planning materials for the 1978 convention, hosted by the Society, and an intact copy of the attendee materials.

PHOTOGRAPHS contains standard photographs of Society members engaged in activities of the Society, and four snapshots of a property being considered for financial support (Clay Banks Nature Preserve).