The images document the activities and functions of the Wisconsin State Normal
School, the Milwaukee State Teacher's College, the Wisconsin State College,
Milwaukee, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Most of the photographs date
from 1960 to 2000, but some are from 1949 to 1959 and from 2000 to 2004. The images
are of the administration, campus buildings, student life, athletic competitions,
and general activities of UWM and its predecessors. Activities include commencement,
conferences, and musical and artistic performances.
The vast majority of images in the collection are in negative format, either 4" x 5",
2 1/4" x 2 1/4", 120mm, or 35mm. Many images created before 1970 are described on
index cards, which include the negative number, the commissioning unit, subject,
date, and a small proof of the negative series being described. For images created
after circa 1970, a large series of contact sheets exists. These contact sheets
correspond to negatives in the collection and thus serve as the primary access point
for most researchers. A third series of prints consists of images used for various
UWM publications of prominent figures, places, campus scenes, and events.
The collection does not currently include copies of images taken originally in
digital format. These are held by Photographic Services, and interested parties
should contact them for access.
Prints of many of the negatives in this collection can be found in the UWM
Photographs Collection, UWM Archival Collection 6. Most of the prints in the UWM
Photographs Collection do not have job order numbers associated with them, and as
such no crosswalk exists between those prints and the negatives in this collection.
Researchers should consult both collections when conducting research for the most
comprehensive coverage.
