Photography
The Museum Reference Library is a non-circulating resource of over 100,000 volumes relating to natural and human history. It also holds the museum archives and Photograph Collection.
The Photograph Collection serves as visual record of the history of the Milwaukee Public Museum. Most of the estimated 300,000 images in the collection were taken by museum staff and record the work of the museum – its collection, research, exhibitions, and activities. Images from the collection are used to increase awareness of the museum and are used in exhibits, textbooks, journals, and electronic media.
- Sumner W. Matteson Collection : 6000 images documenting the changing American lifestyle at the turn of the century - 1890 to 1920.
- Wisconsin Indians : A series of photographs taken by museum anthropologists from 1910 to 1960 that reflects their work among several of the Wisconsin Indian tribes.
- Non-Wisconsin Indians : A series of photographs mostly taken by museum staff from about 1915 through 1971 that reflects their work among several American Indian tribes.
- Wisconsin Archeology: 2000 photographs of the Milwaukee Public Museum's anthropologists at work at the important archeology sites in Wisconsin.
The photograph collection process requests for images by mail, fax, phone, and email. Reproduction fees include the cost of materials and many also include charges for staff services and reproduction rights.
The library and photograph collection is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm. Those wishing to use the collection should make an appointment at least 24 hours beforehand. Visitors must check in with the Information Desk in the lobby. Researchers who are coming to the museum solely to use the photograph collection are exempt from the museum's admission fees. Photocopies of the photographs are available at nominal charge.
For more information or to make an appointment contact:
Susan Otto . (414) 278-2743