The State Historical Society of Wisconsin Archives Division includes in its holdings over six million feet of newsfilm from television stations in the state. Included is film from WSAU (Wausau), WHA (the University of Wisconsin based PBS affiliate), and extensive footage from Madison's three commercial stations, WISC (the CBS affiliate), WKOW (ABC), and WMTV (NBC). This film dates 1955-1981, covering most of the period when 16 mm film was the standard medium of production. Other Wisconsin newsfilm is held by the Neville Public Museum which houses film from three Green Bay stations, and the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee, Milwaukee Urban Archives which holds film from station WTMJ.
Newsfilm such as this often provides the only easily available visual and sound resources for the study of major local events, individuals of both local and national influence, and the appearance of environments since altered. Historians find such film valuable for the information it sought to convey to viewers. Social historians recognize its value in documenting attitudes, values, and cultural themes. Mass communications specialists use it to chart the changes over time in media coverage, techniques, and emphasis. Local newsfilm also can provide direct evidence of the changing patterns of dress, speech, gender roles, and lifestyles.
The holdings represented in this guide constitute a major portion of the TV newsfilm held by the Historical Society. In 1988, the Society received a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) to fund preservation and descriptive work on the 1955-1972 portion of the WISC, WKOW, and WMTV film in its custody. Also covered was work on a collection of film designated the “Vietnam Archives” consisting of film, 1965-1972, selected from these three stations' holdings plus other sources by the producers of the Vietnam War protest documentary, The War at Home (Catalyst Films, 1979). All of this film is comprised largely of live news footage shot as part of daily news coverage. Not the actual news broadcasts, it is the footage which was produced and then edited so that parts only were aired. Also present is a small amount of footage distributed by the networks or wire services, occasional promotional or public affairs spots, and a few complete documentaries and edited features.
