A Moving Target:Collecting the Wisconsin Budget Protests

Jonathan Nelson, Collection Development Archivist

jonathanr.nelson@wisconsinhistory.org

A Tradition of Proactive Collecting

• AFL, SLP, SWP, and economic justice

• SNCC, Freedom Summer, and civil rights

• SDS and Vietnam War protests

• Nicaragua and Central American policy

• Reproductive rights issues

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The Opening Bell

• Protests began on February 14

• 14 Democratic State Senators were reported in Illinois on February 20

• Scope and significance of the protests became apparent, collecting began the week of February 20

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We Develop Our Strategy

• Varying perspectives• Documentation is ephemeral,

collect now• Public officials’ papers and

public records to augment private donations

• Must select from a large quantity of available materials

• Wide variety of formats• Preserve and provide access• Cooperate with WHS Museum

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Format and Content Acquisition Plans

• Web-based information• Photographs• Audio and video• Legislative and

governmental process• Public records• Manuscripts and personal

histories• Signs and paper ephemera

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Tales From The Field

• Collecting while protesting• With a little help from my

friends• The Great Capitol Caper• “It’s not history yet!”• Signs, signs everywhere

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Lessons Learned

• Politics play a role• Collect early and often• Enlist assistance• Ephemeral events create

ephemeral records• Collect now, appraise later• Later the whole story will

be told

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Madison, WisconsinMarch 12, 2011

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Questions?Jonathan Nelson, Collection Development Archivist

jonathanr.nelson@wisconsinhistory.org