State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Library-Archives Division.

The Division of Archives and Manuscripts at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (WIHV85-A216) was formed on January 1, 1962, by combining the former Archives Division with the Manuscripts Library, the McCormick Collection, and the Mass Communications History Center. In 1983 the division was joined with the Editorial and Research Divisions and the Library and designated the Research Services Division, which in 1986, when the Library returned to the status of a separate division, was renamed the Division of Archives and Research Services. In 1996, a new Division of Public History (WIHV97-A89) took over the Editorial and Research functions and the archival functions again became a distinct organizational unit, designated the Archives Division. In 2001, the Library and the Division of Archives and Manuscripts merged, creating the Library-Archives Division. In Wisconsin State Archives database entries, the above form of the agency name is used for all records dated 2001-present.

The Division of Archives and Manuscripts cataloged and made accessible records, manuscripts, maps, charts, photographs, and other unpublished material pertaining to the history of the state and the nation, and was the official archives for all records of the state and all its political subdivisions.

The Library collects, catalogs and makes available information found in the Society's printed and microfilm collection covering the history of North America.