- UWRF online catalog
, which includes both university materials and Area Research Center materials
- ArCat (Archives Catalog of the Wisconsin Historical Society), which includes our Area Research Center materials
- Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids (includes our Area Research Center finding aids—what's a finding aid? See Archives A to Z at the top of this page)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison/Wisconsin Historical Society Library Catalog (formerly MadCat)
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Research Help - Links
Archives A to Z
Archives A to Z is a glossary explaining archives and special collections terms and tools. Take a crash course in different types of records (and find out what a "record" is). What is a finding aid? What are vital statistics? How did the naturalization process work? Where can I find Native American materials? Read about tools like ArCat, Ancestry.com, BLM/GLO homestead patents, and SSDI. Learn about genealogical research, how to conduct house history, local history tools, and much more.
Research Portal
Below are links to web pages on our website and to a wide variety of other websites that you may find useful for your research. They are grouped by subject and some links may appear under more than one subject.
How Do I See the Links? The red plus (+) sign means there is more information; click to open that section.
Catalogs and Finding Aids
Collections
Collections by County
Collections by Type of Material
- Books and Serials (including Newspapers)
- Government Records:
- Manuscripts
- Maps/Atlases/Plat Books
- Photographs
- University Records
Online Exhibits & Featured Collections
Online Exhibits
- Daniel Brandenstein: U.S. Astronaut and UWRF Distinguished Alumnus
- Main Street USA: Downtown River Falls
- Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company: River Falls Firefighters
- Political Activism and Memorabilia at UW-River Falls
- River Falls in the World Wars
- UW-River Falls Athletics
Featured Collections
- Doris Buckley: World War II Front Line Nurse (River Falls SC 149)
- Gerrish Family Papers, 1870-1909 (River Falls Mss CO)
- Gertrude M. Cairns Papers, 1845-1958 (River Falls Mss I) — Ellsworth Pioneer School Girls' Club
- Ingeborg Holdahl Alvstad Reminiscences (River Falls SC 245)— Online Digital Copies
- John M. Bartosh Papers, 1885-1959 (River Falls SC 409) — Park View Dairy, Mayor of River Falls
- Small Potatoes: Boyhood Memories of the Great Depression in River Falls (River Falls SC 417)
Copyright Information
The nature of historical, archival collections means that copyright or other information about ownership may be difficult to determine. Whenever possible, information about copyright or other restrictions is included. This information is provided as a service to aid patrons in determining the appropriate use of an item, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the patron. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in his/her use of photographs, manuscripts and all other records. The user is liable for any violation of copyright or donor agreement. Individuals may request permission to use items for singular, non-profit, educational/research purposes. Express written permission from the Archives is required; other conditions of use may apply. Please contact the Archives
to inquire.
Civil War
- The American Civil War: Forging a More Perfect Union (National Park Service)
- The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin (UWRF blog)
- Civil War Maps (Library of Congress)
- Civil War Research at the Minnesota Historical Society (guide to doing)
- Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System (free index of all Union and Confederate soldiers and sailors from any state)
- Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, 1861-1865 (index of Wisconsin soldiers)
- Wisconsin in the Civil War (digital materials from the Wisconsin Historical Society)
Digital Collections
- American Memory (Library of Congress)
- Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers (Library of Congress)
- History of UW-River Falls (historic photographs of UWRF)
- MINDS@UW-River Falls
- Minnesota Digital Library
- Recollection Wisconsin (libraries, archives, museums from around Wisconsin)
- University of Wisconsin Digital Collections (all UW System schools)
- Wisconsin in the Civil War (Wisconsin Historical Society)
Genealogy and Local History
UWRF Resources
- See our Archives A to Z page for details about what UWRF has, such as Cemetery Records, Census Records, Naturalization Records, Vital Records, etc.
Wisconsin Resources
Burnett County
- Brief History of Burnett County
- Burnett County Historical Society
- Burnett County USGenWeb Page
- Burnett County Wisconsin Home Page (Government Center/"Courthouse")
Pierce County
Polk County
- Brief History of Polk County
- Polk County Genealogical Society
- Polk County Historical Society
- Polk County USGenWeb Page
- Polk County Wisconsin Home Page (Government Center/"Courthouse")
Saint Croix County
Statewide Resources
- USGenWeb page for Wisconsin (WIGenWeb)
- Wisconsin Genealogy Index (statewide vital records index, pre-1907 only; delayed birth records; some obituaries)
- Wisconsin Historical Society's Genealogy page
- Wisconsin Local Historical Societies Directory
- Wisconsin State Genealogical Society
Minnesota Resources
- Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS)
- Minnesota Historical Society's In-house Library Page
- Minnesota Local Historical Societies Directory
- Statewide Birth Records Index for Minnesota (BCI), 1900-1934
-
- See AncestryLibrary.com for 1935-2002 (in-house only)
- See AncestryLibrary.com
- Statewide Death Records Index for Minnesota (DCI), 1900-2002
- Statewide Marriage Records Index for Minnesota (MOMS), dates vary by county
- Statewide Naturalization Index for Minnesota
- USGenWeb page for Minnesota (MNGenWeb)
National Resources
- Ancestry Library Edition (on-campus only)
- BLM-GLO Homestead/Land Patent Records
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
- FamilySearch.org
- FamilySearch Learning Center (lessons, videos, and slideshows for a variety of genealogical topics, all free)
- Rootsweb (main page)
- Social Security Death Index
- USGenWeb Project (main page)
- U.S. National Archives Resources for Genealogists
Land Records/Places
- The Official Federal Land Records Site (land patents, survey plats and field notes, land status records)
- Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records (original survey field notes and plat maps, and resurvey maps)
- "Understanding Wisconsin Township, Range, and Section Land Descriptions" (Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, Educational Series 44)
- Minnesota Place Names (searchable website of Minnesota's geographic names
- Placeography (a wiki "about any place anywhere that anyone can edit")
-
National History Day
National
Wisconsin
UWRF Archives
- How the UWRF University Archives & Area Research Center can help you with your History Day research
- Online Exhibits & Featured Collections
Other Useful Resources and Tools
Photographs
- Wisconsin:
-
- Recollection Wisconsin (used to be Wisconsin Heritage Online)
- University of Wisconsin Digital Collections (search "photo")
- Wisconsin Historical Images (Wisconsin Historical Society)
- Recollection Wisconsin
- Minnesota:
-
- Minnesota Reflections (Minnesota Digital Library
- Minnesota Visual Resources Database (Minnesota Historical Society)
- Minnesota Reflections
- National:
State Historical Society Journals Online
- Wisconsin Magazine of History (index and online digital copies of articles)
- Minnesota History (index and online digital copies of articles)
UWRF History
- Building Names and History ("What's in a Name?")
- Capsule History (brief history)
- History Through Leadership (UWRF presidents/chancellors)
- Who Is Chalmer Davee?
Planning a Visit to the Archives?
Check out the Hours-Contact-Visit page for hours, location and links to campus maps, contact information, and things you should look at before coming.