SW Wisconsin Room-Karmann Library-UW Platteville Research
SW Wisconsin Room Research
SW WISCONSIN ROOM - KARRMANN LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - PLATTEVILLE
PLATTEVILLE, WI 53818
TEL: (608) 342-1719 FAX: (608) 342-1645
email: James Hibbard
http://www.uwplatt.edu/library/swwis/
1. SW Wisconsin Room Hours (When school is in session)
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday 1:00 - 9:00 p.m.
During Summer Session, the library closes at 4 p.m. on Fridays
When the University is not in session, call ahead to determine when staff are available.
2. Usage
a. Because of rarity and fragility, most items must be used in the SW Wisconsin Room.
b. Photocopying is available.
c. Use archives and manuscripts with care. PENCILS ONLY, no pens.
3. Types of research using SW Wisconsin Room Collections
a. University Research
b. Family histories
c. Topical histories (lead mining, ethnic groups, blacks, agriculture, historic architecture, business collections)
d. Local histories (communities)
4. Geographical scope of Collection
a. Six county area of SW Wis. (Iowa, Crawford, Grant, Lafayette, Richland, Green), plus Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and Dubuque
b. Also known as the Upper Mississippi lead-zinc mining district of Southwest Wisconsin, Northeast Iowa, and Northwest Illinois
5. Types of material
a. Primary sources
1. Archives (government records) e.g.:
University records
County records (Naturalizations, tax rolls, deeds, court cases)
State records (Census schedules)
Municipal (sparsely represented)
2. Manuscripts (personnel, business, organizational records) e.g.:
John Rountree papers
Potosi Brewing Company
Pleasant Ridge Community
SW Wisconsin Area Church Records
3. Oral history interviews (audio tape records)
4. Photographs
5. Maps/Atlases/Plat Books
b. Secondary Sources
1. Books, periodicals, and newspapers (primarily regional) are in SW Wisconsin Collections.
2. Additional printed materials are in other library collections.
6. Examples of Selected Sources
a. University newspaper: Exponent 1925-1970 (indexing ongoing)
b. Surname Index, compiled by Gerald Fieldhouse
Lists over 40,000 surnames from S.W. Wisconsin from 1815 to 1860 ca
Available on site only (card file)
c. Vital Statistics, births, marriages, and deaths (pre-1907)
Statewide index available on microfiche (ONLY area registrations available on microfilm)
d. Census schedules 1836-1920 -- Earliest schedules less detailed
1850- Lists persons with names, ages, occupations, relationships, sex, race, birth
Agricultural--owner, values, acreage, machinery value, livestock by type numbers, crop production, etc.
Industrial--mills, shoemakers, etc. value, production, etc.
Social schedules--churches, libraries, paupers
e. Naturalization records for area counties
f. Immigration passenger index list (published)
g. Probate (estates) and other court records (civil, criminal, etc.)
h. Land records (deeds)
i. Tax Records 1836-1960
j. Plat Books (land ownership maps) Some include biographies & pictures
k. County and local histories
County histories
Commemorative records--include biographies
Plat Books (land ownership maps) Some include biographies & pictures
1. Magazines and historical society published papers
indexed (e.g. Wisconsin Magazine of History)
m. Newspapers of area communities pre-1951-- not indexed
(local indexes to two area newspapers)
n. Academy and university records
7. Statewide Area Research Center (ARC) Network Member
a. Materials from other state ARC archives available through this network
b. Time delay in receiving material because sent via courier
8. Additional materials (such as area photographs and manuscripts) are continually added to collections through:
a. donations
b. photocopy
c. microfilming
October 1996