Part 1 (Mss 1009, PH 6461): Original Collection, 1937-1989
Physical Description: 4.2 cubic feet (9 archives boxes and 1 flat box) and 11 photographs 
Scope and Content Note

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).

Series: General Records

Board of Directors lists, 1982-1989

Chapter policies, 1986-1987

Clippings, circa 1959-1980

Constitution and by-laws, circa 1950-1971, 1980, 1986

Correspondence

Executive secretary, 1970, 1986-1988

Membership, 1969-1971

Mixed or working papers, 1965-1971

President, 1971, 1974-1979

Scholarship, 1954-1971

Secretary's files, 1969-1975

“Documents of special importance,” circa 1962-1980

Education Committee, 1970-1971

Film series records, 1950-1974

Financial records

Cashbook, 1937-1960

Financial reports from events, 1983-1986

Financial statements, 1975-1989

Ledger, 1960-1980

Seed sales records, 1980-1988

Treasurer reports, August 1949-June 1980

Goose Pond files, circa 1970-1977

Historical “scrapbooks,” 1948-1953

Historical “scrapbooks,” 1954-1963

Historical “scrapbooks,” 1964-1977

Membership lists and directories, circa 1961-1980

Minutes

Minutes and Records, Madison Bird Club, 1941-1949

Minutes and Meetings, Madison Audubon Society, 1949-1961

Minutes and Meetings, Madison Audubon Society, 1962-1969, 1973-1980

Office memos, 1980

Publications

Madison Audubon Society newsletters, 1971-1979

Calendars ( 1981, 1983) and brochures

Township maps, with wetlands, marshes, et cetera marked, undated

Series: Other Organizations

Goose Pond Sanctuary, Inc.

Constitution, 1980

Financial records

Budget, 1980-1989

Budget worksheets, 1985-1989

Grant request, 1989

Statement of support, revenue, and expenses, 1979-1989

Summary balance sheet, 1987-1989

Publications, 1986-1988

National Audubon Society, 1987-1988

North Central Audubon Council, circa 1965-1971

Wisconsin Audubon Council, circa 1973-1979, 1987-1988

Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, 1978

Series: Photographs

General Records

Correspondence

President-Clay Banks Nature Preserve, 1977

Film series records, 1950-1974

Mrs. Mary Walker and four others, February 2, 1954

Historical “scrapbooks”

1957-Wisconsin Society for Ornithology convention attendees, , 1959

1958-Prairie Chicken event participants, Birge Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison

, 1959-President W. Engelke and Audubon Camp scholarship winners

Part 2 (M2014-079): Additions, 1972-2002
Physical Description: 1.6 cubic feet (1 records center carton and 2 archives boxes) 
Scope and Content Note: Madison Audubon Society additions, 1972-2002, consisting of the Madison Audubon Society's fight to stop the production of ethanol and construction of additional ethanol plants in Wisconsin and the organization's Lower Eagle Heights Project which involved their assistance offered Madison with erosion occurring in the city's Lower Eagle Heights Woods. Manuscripts include the Audubon Society's correspondence with other contributing organizations including the United Wisconsin Grain Producers, advertisements, ethanol research notes, city attorney records, and Lower Eagle Heights meeting records and plans.

Series: Ethanol Project

Concerned Citizens Arlington

Ellis, Peggy, 2001

Ethanol Issue research and experts, 1999-2002

Ethanol Plant, 2002

Media, 2002

Monroe Ethanol Plant, 2001-2002

Notes, 2002

Onickenmiller, Stan, 2002

Open Records, 2002

Other Ethanol Plants, 2002

S, B, & G Attorneys, 2002

United Wisconsin Grain Producers, 2001-2002

Village of Arlington Plan Commission, 2001-2002

Series: Lower Eagle Heights Project

City Attorney, 1980-1983

Condo documents, 1983-1985

DNR, 1984

Lot C, 1984

Lower Eagle Heights Woods, 1983, 1985

Meeting and plans, 1983

Madison Area Land Conservancy discussion, 1983

Madison Plan Commission, 1983-1984

Research, 1972-1983

UW notes, 1983-1992

Part 3 (M2018-097): Additions, 1956-2014
Physical Description: 3.0 cubic feet (3 records center cartons) and 0.2 cubic feet of photographs (1 archives box) 
Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1956-2014 (bulk 1980-2011), consisting of photographs, maps, board meeting minutes, newsletters, fundraising materials, and professional correspondence relating to the Madison Audubon Society. Also included are budget proposals as well as membership directories and documents concerning upcoming projects and activities.

CAWS newsletters, 2000-2013

CAWS newsletters, 1985-1996

Madison Audubon Society (MAS) newsletters, 1977-1997

Annual report

History of MAS

Board meetings, 1990-1994

Newsletters and correspondence, 1971-1977

Membership lists and Audubon films

Membership directory, 1974

Bird seed sale, 1988-1991

CAWS newsletters, 1986-1991

Fundraising materials, 1992-1994

Seed sale, 1984-1986

Purchases, 1987

Projects and activities, 1989-1990

Board meeting minutes, 1977-1980

Art fair

Stationery and letters, 1984-1991

Activities and articles, 1993-1994

Board meeting minutes, 1986-1990

Flyers and publications

Fundraising, 1988-1989

Budgets, 1981-1987

Budget reports and membership, 1975-1989

Insurance and field trips

Committees and issues, 1987-1988

Banquet, 1987-1989

Budgets, 1987-1989

Office reports, 1987-1991

By-law changes, 1986

Incorporation, 1980-1982

Flyers and publications, 1995-1999

Flyers and newspaper articles, 1994

Goose Pond/Otsego Marsh, 1983-1988

CAWS newsletters, 1993-1995

Habitrek, 1993

Miscellaneous papers, 1956-1980

Monthly meetings, 1984-1985

Correspondence, 1983-1984

Pesticide conference, 1985

Gifts and grants, 1984-1985

Correspondence, 1984-1985

National Audubon Society documents, 1984-1985

Board meetings, 1989-1990

Correspondence, 1985-1986

Board meetings and budgets, 1986-1987

Monthly meetings, 1986-1987

Projects and activities, 1987

Long range planning meeting, 1986

Correspondence, 1986-1987

Monthly meetings, 1987-1988

Board meetings, 1987-1988

Goose Pond sanctuaries, 1987-1988

Projects and activities, 1987-1988

Correspondence, 1987-1988

Board meetings, 1986-1989

Monthly meetings, projects and activities, 1988-1989

Monthly meetings, 1988-1989

National Audubon Society documents, 1987

Correspondence, 1970-1973

Goose Pond, 1972-1973

Jonathan Wilde

Otsego Marsh

Goose Pond incorporation

MAS documents, 1967-1979

Goose Pond sanctuary, 1985-1988

Goose Pond sanctuary, 1971-1989

Goose Pond management

Goose Pond sanctuary, 1976-1980

Goose Pond maps

Goose Pond water quality, 1970-1977

Scientific area committee minutes and reports

Surface water resources of Columbia County

Breeding bird surveys on scientific areas

Photographs

Goose Pond Sanctuary

Browne Prairie

Bird seed sale, 1988