Unfortunately the records of the Memorial Union Labor Organization contain little information about the unrest and strikes that characterized its early years. For a study of that period researchers are referred to the Daily Cardinal index in the University of Wisconsin Archives. The records here are much more complete concerning the second phase of the union's history, documenting not only its own internal administration but also its active support of other unionized workers, especially the United Farm Workers. The records are organized as Administrative Records, Financial Records, Activities, and an Alphabetical File.

This collection is divided into four series: ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, FINANCIAL RECORDS, ACTIVITIES, AND SUBJECT FILE

The ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS include minutes and notes of the Stewards Council, the body responsible for the daily functioning of the union. Also included are files on other committees including Bargaining, Grievances, Health and Safety, Management, and Membership. The correspondence here consists of some form communications from the Wisconsin Union regarding policies and procedures, as well as a few letters and memoranda relating to the early history of the organization.

FINANCIAL RECORDS consist of printouts of the “dues taken” section of the University payrolls, 1973-1985 (in effect the only membership records of the organization); incomplete files of bank statements, 1971-1988, and some miscellaneous financial and tax information.

ACTIVITIES are divided into files on contracts, discipline, and support of other organizations. The contract files include a complete run of printed contracts covering the period 1973-1988, as well as some general information relating to the bargaining process. Of special note among the latter is a critique of the 1976 strike and documentation of the strike vote taken (but not implemented) in 1984. The discipline files are a sampled remnant of a large quantity of routine documentation concerning various levels of disciplinary action to which members were subject. Generally, because of the routine nature of the early steps in the disciplinary process only documentation concerning the more serious infractions has been retained. Support of other organizations is represented by correspondence, handbills, and mailings. Most extensive (but only a single folder) is the information on MULO's support of the United Farm Workers boycott.

The SUBJECT FILE is a reference subject file created by the union for information on contracts, endorsements, legislation, work rules, wage information, etc., and is arranged alphabetically. Among the information about MULO itself that is filed here, the supervisor evaluations are most notable.