Special collections, Archives, & ARC
A page within Murphy Library
About:
Special Collections collects, preserves, and provides access to materials that due to their physical or intellectual properties require special handling and care. Types of records housed in this section of the library include rare books, regional and Wisconsin history books, fine-press publications, maps, oral history recordings and transcripts, university archives, and a large historic photograph collection.
This department also houses the La Crosse Area Research Center (ARC), which is one of fourteen regional depositories for the Wisconsin Historical Society. The ARC holds archival records of local governmental bodies and personal papers of people and businesses from five Wisconsin counties: Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon.
Location:
The Special Collections Department and Area Research Center has its own dedicated space within the Murphy Library building. It is located on the main floor of the building. Its entrance is in the library's atrium.
Hours:
Spring hours, January 22 - May 3:
Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday - Thursday: 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Or by appointment
**We recommend out-of-town visitors please call (608) 785-8511 or email ahead of your visit to schedule an appointment.
Special hours:
March 11 - 15: CLOSED
May 11 - 19: Open by appointment only
General service updates:
- Additional archival resources are available online at: Murphy Library Digital Collections
- SC/ARC is closed for holidays and for spring break, and is open by appointment only during Winter Session (January-term) and Summer Session.
Contact information:
Special Collections, Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
1631 Pine St.
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: 608.785.8511
Fax: 608.785.8639
Email: specoll@uwlax.edu
Services:
Copies and permissions:
Patrons may purchase archival quality reproduction prints up to 11x17 inches in size of most Special Collections photographs for personal use and home display; this is subject to any donor and/or copyright restrictions on the photos. Please contact Special Collections (specoll@uwlax.edu) for pricing information.
For most images, exhibit, publication, commercial use, and/or public display is permitted for an additional fee and with agreement to specific licensing stipulations. Murphy Library's license agreement grants a one-time use of an image and no further duplication or use is permitted without gaining new approval. Additionally, any exhibit, publication, commercial use, and/or public display must be accompanied by a photo credit, identifying Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, as the source of the image.
Research:
The Special Collections' staff, which includes student assistants, can sometimes undertake limited research work in indexed materials, subject to time available. Student labor is charged at $10 per hour.
George Gilkey Student Research Scholarship:
Interested in our annual scholarship? Apply for our Special Collections Scholarship.
