The University of Wisconsin began gathering much of the published matter in this collection in 1918 on the suggestion of Charles R. Van Hise, president of the University of Wisconsin from 1904 until his death in 1918. Additional pamphlets have been relocated from the papers of Professor George C. Sellery, a collection of the University Archives. Gifts, donations and materials from Memorial Library's general collection were also added to the collection. Archival materials such as diaries and correspondences were purchased by Barbara Walden, European History Bibliographer.
