Located in the lower level of the Chalmer Davee Library at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the University Archives and the Area Research Center operate within one facility but are two distinct entities, each with their own collections.

The UW-River Falls University Archives is the official repository for the permanent, historical records of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The primary mission of the University Archives is to collect and preserve materials that document the history, development, traditions, and activities of the University since its establishment in 1874, while providing accessibility to the university community as well as the general public. The collection includes student newspapers and yearbooks, course catalogs, directories, masters' theses, commencement programs, administrative and departmental records, photographs, artifacts, and much more. University records can be identified using the UW-River Falls online library catalog. 

The River Falls Area Research Center (ARC) is one of fourteen research facilities in a statewide network coordinated by the Wisconsin Historical Society in partnership with the University of Wisconsin System. The River Falls ARC provides students, faculty, and the general public regional access to historical materials, local government records, manuscripts, and special collections from four northwestern Wisconsin counties: Burnett, Pierce, Polk, and Saint Croix. Through the statewide Area Research Center network, most collections owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society or other ARCs can be transferred to and from the River Falls ARC. Collections housed at the River Falls ARC can be identified using the UW-River Falls online library catalog. Collections housed at ARCs throughout the entire statewide network, including River Falls, can be identified using ArCat, the online catalog of the Wisconsin Historical Society.