The collection contains records of the director of the UWM Libraries and its
predecessor institutions, the Library of the Wisconsin State Teachers College, the
Kenwood Library, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Library, and the Golda Meir
Library. Records predating 1940 consist of accession and withdrawal books, annual
reports, and statistical reports prepared for the American Library Association. The
accession books contain the oldest records in the collection, dating to 1885. Most
of the books are from the main Library of the Normal School and State Teachers
College, but there are some from the specialized libraries as well, including the
Parent-Teacher Library, and the Training School Library. The origin of several of
the accession books cannot be identified. The collection also contains withdrawal
books from two specialized libraries, the Elementary Reference Library and the
Text-Book Library.
The records document the growth of the library, including the development of
automated library services. Of particular interest for its detail is the 1973
report, Library Automation at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The report, by Director William Roselle and Susan
Hess, head of library automated operations, was written for the Library Automation
Research and Consulting (LARC) Association.
The collection contains adminisrative minutes and documents the work of various
library committees. Included are files documenting the university's
Telecommunications Task Force which examined and described developments and
opportunities in the area of telecommunications, and made recommendations regarding
telecommunications strategy, planning, and acquisitions for a ten year period. The
files contain background materials, meeting agendas and minutes, and reports of the
task force.
The history and development of the physical plant at the UWM Libraries is documented
in various files. The collection also includes information on sculptures near the
outside of the building and documents the move of the American Geographical Society
Collection to UWM.
The collection includes files on various lecture series, including Academic
Adventurers, the Holzheimer Lecture, and the Morris Fromkin Memorial Lecture Series.
Materials include background correspondence, fliers and posters, as well as audio
visual recordings.
Files on the Friends of the Library and the Staff Association include by-laws,
correspondence, information on activities, meetings, membership, and
newsletters.
Correspondence with donors is incomplete and scattered throughout the collection.
Information on major donors and collections acquired can be found under their name;
other donor information may be located in the financial records.
Newsletters and other publications of the Libraries can be found under their title.
The collection also contains a small number of resource guides and exhibition
publications, which are listed by short title of the exhibition or by the name of
the producing department.
The collection also contains scrapbooks and photographs of the library and
events.
