Collections in the UWP Archives

University Archives

The University Archives contain the historically significant, non-current records of UWP. Included among these collections are the records of the Office of the Chancellor, copies of The Ranger dating to the founding of the University in 1967, and photographs and blueprints of the faculty, staff, students, and facilities of UW-Parkside over time. In addition, the University Archives also contain records of UW-Parkside's predecessor institutions, the UW-Kenosha and UW-Racine centers dating back to the 1940's.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside manuscript collections contain personal papers and other documents of individuals and families, as well as records of several national associations, local clubs and businesses from the Southeastern Wisconsin region. Included in the manuscript holdings are the records of the American Association of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the Irving Wallace Collection, the National College Learning Center Association, and a variety of smaller collections including the newsletter of the local Rotary Club.

The Wisconsin Historical Society manuscript collections contain personal papers and other documents of individuals and families, churches, schools and colleges, associations, clubs, unions, and businesses from the surrounding communities. Among them are papers of Racine historian Eugene Leach, archives of the College of Racine, records of 15 labor organizations, business records of Albert and Flora Ellinger, records of the Kenosha and Racine Chambers of Commerce, and an impressive collection of political papers from local and state politicians. The advertising and promotional examples above are from the Horlick's Malted Milk Co. and Zahn's Department Store collections. (Parkside Mss 31 and Parkside Mss 62).

More than 200 series of local government public records are housed at the Center. Included are county, city and township tax rolls dating form 1849, meeting minutes, court files (including civil, criminal and probate) city council, county board, and board of education proceedings from 1875-1985. The example to the left is a handwritten list of citizens in the town of Salem. (Parkside Small Collection 13.)

Few resources match census records for specific information on a family or household. Our collection consists of more than 1,200 reels of federal, state and territorial census and indexes for Wisconsin including these dates: 1820,1830,1836,1838 (no index), 1840,1842 (no index), 1846 (no index), 1847 (no index), 1850,1855 (no index), 1860,1870,1875 (no index), 1880,1885 (no index), 1895 (no index), 1900,1905,1910 (no index), and 1920. The census reels, for some years, also contain mortality, agricultural, industrial and social statistics.

Community growth can be documented through maps showing historic and geographic information such as home ownership, voting wards, church and school locations. Early plat books are miniature histories with statistical and biographical information. More information about plat books can be found at "Mapping Our Place," a web exhibit developed by the UW-Parkside University Archives. The Center's maps, plat books, Sanborn Fire Insurance maps and atlases of Kenosha and Racine counties date from the mid-1800's to the present. (The map at left is from the1899 Plat Book for Racine and Kenosha Counties, SPL F580.W5 1899).

Records such as birth, death and marriage registration document major life events. Microfilm copies of registrations for Kenosha and Racine counties from 1852-1907 are available at the Center. In addition, a statewide name index to pre-1907 registrations is available for searching.

City directories assist in locating people in place and time and document changes in social and business life. As Kenosha and Racine grew, the late 19th and early 20th century directories became more inclusive containing special sections for business, education, social and fraternal organizations, churches, and farm listings. Directories for the City of Racine are available for 1850,1858-59, and 1882 to the present. City of Kenosha directories are available for 1858 and 1903 to the present. "Stylishly smart" describes the men's furnishings in this advertisement at left for local retailer, John Kasper, in the 1908 Kenosha City Directory, ARC F589 K3 A18 1908.

Histories of communities including Bristol, Kenosha, Norway, Paris, Racine, Somers, Twin Lakes, Kellogg's Corners, Yorkville, Sylvania and Wheatland are outlined in a variety of publications dating from 1879 to the present.

Citizenship records are useful for determining name, address, occupation, port of entry, marital status, place of birth and other personal information on immigrants. Naturalization, the process of becoming a citizen, was administered by Wisconsin circuit and superior courts. Naturalization records are available at the Center on individuals who became citizens through Kenosha and Racine courts between 1837-1983. This illustration shows that Janos Martin Holbusz naturalized in Circuit Court of Racine County in 1948 at age 65. His papers record his birthplace in Czechoslovakia, identify his nine children, and provide biographical details including his photograph. (Petition for Naturalization No. 9176 for Martin Holbus, Petitions, Vol. 82, 1947-1950, Racine County Clerk of Courts, Naturalization Records, 1837-1975, Racine Series 46, Box 29, Folder 5).

Nearly 50 area newspapers, circa 1853 to 1959 are located in the UW-Parkside Library/Learning Center. The collection, on microfilm, includes Danish, German and Bohemian language papers. Click here for a listing of the local newspapers available in the Library.

Available for checkout are various general and specialized genealogy handbooks (e.g. African American, British, Cherokee, Czechoslovakian, German, Hispanic, Italian, Norwegian, Irish, Polish, Jewish, Swedish, and other ancestries). Also available are guides to other libraries such as the Newberry Library, the National Archives, and the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.