history
A Historically Different Supreme Court
UW professor Howard Schweber explains the majority’s revolutionary approach to rights.
The Man Who Fell to Earth
In Tailspin, John Armbruster ’89 takes inspiration from an aviator who survived a World War II crash.
From Captives to Community
In Descendant, Kern Jackson MA’91 documents the discovery of the last illegal slave ship and the people who never forgot it.
A Fiery War with Russia
Political science professor Yoshiko Herrera believes Ukrainians’ resolve for statehood will prevail.
Living History
Laura Keyes ’07 impersonates famous 19th century women.
An Unsung Hero
Mildred Fish Harnack ’25, MA’26 lost her life in the German resistance to Hitler.
Land of the Ho-Chunk
A canoe recovered from Lake Mendota tells a story that long predates UW–Madison.
A One-of-a-Kind Campus Tour
Our journey into hidden places brings forgotten UW history to life.
UW Mysteries, Secrets, and Hidden Places
Join us on a tour of secluded spots that few have ever seen.
Maps of the Millennia
The UW’s History of Cartography Project shows how world cultures have thought about space.
The Matilda Effect
Margaret Rossiter MS’67 is rewriting the history of women in science, one name at a time.
A Better Way to Teach 9/11
UW professor Jeremy Stoddard MS’01, PhD’96 discovers shortcomings in schools’ approach to the war on terror.
Finding Home in a Foreign Land
Pao Lor PhD’01 chronicles his American journey in Modern Jungles: A Hmong Refugee’s Childhood Story of Survival.
Image vs. Reality
In a pandemic, illustrating our spring issue was no easy task.
The Concerts You Never Forget
These campus-area shows have passed into UW–Madison mythology.
How the Humanities Building Went Wrong
From the start, problems plagued a piece of architecture that could have been great.
A True-Crime Must-See
In A Wilderness of Error, Errol Morris ’69 revisits a notorious murder case.
Running from Race
Librarian Louise Butler Walker ’35 took desperate measures to survive in a racist society.
Wreckage and Recovery
Our article on the Sterling Hall bombing is a unique contribution to the historical record.
The Blast That Changed Everything
A 50-year perspective on the Sterling Hall bombing from alumni who lived through it.
David Blight: A New Take on Frederick Douglass
His acclaimed biography profiles the great American abolitionist.
A Monument to Tolerance
Meet the new Library Mall sculpture.
Lost in Space
It’s getting mighty crowded in space as debris from satellites, labs, and other things shot into Earth’s orbit degrade over time and threaten to fall back to where they came from.
Reckoning with History
Bryce Richter
Between 1919 and 1926, two UW student organizations took the name Ku Klux Klan, and a report delving into…
Parental POV
A history course tackles the 1970s–90s through a generational lens.
Madison, Revisited
Been awhile since you've visited the UW's hometown? Consider an itinerary made up of beautiful views, a raft of restaurants, and a less-traveled path on campus.
Paul Rusk ’77, MA’91
Photo courtesy of Naomi Halverson
“We must always remember that we — the people of this nation — should and can…
A Judge on Trial
John Becker LLB1890 lost his career in public service when his words were deemed a crime.
Keep on a- Rock’n Us, Baby
Steve Miller x’65 reflects on how his time on campus, being an English major, and growing up with a famous godfather affected his music career.
A Civil Rights Pioneer
The influence of Lloyd Barbee LLB’56, a civil rights leader and lawyer in the 1960s and ’70s, lives on through Justice for…
A Muffled Voice
A UW researcher shines a light on a lost essay.
Witness to History
Sarah Morton
Military history professor John Hall spent 15 years on active duty as an infantry officer and strategic planner for…
One great letter
When the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research asked Hollywood heavyweights to contribute to its archives, comedian, writer, and film star Groucho…
Dow: 50 Years Later
A moment in history that transformed the lives of many students and the UW campus.
10 Things Aldo Leopold Used in the Field
UW Archives is home to items that belonged to the ecologist who became the most influential conservation thinker of the 20th century.
How to Save a Life
After hitting bottom, Dean Olsen ’82 used his love for maps and support from UW–Madison to create a tool for preserving the memories of others and build a new life for himself.
Our Man in Berlin
As a foreign correspondent in Germany, Louis Lochner 1909 chronicled the rise of the Third Reich and helped Americans understand how Adolf Hitler amassed power.
Russia in Focus
The new Wisconsin Russia Project aims to help the U.S. be more prepared to manage a calculating Kremlin with yet-to-be-determined ambitions.
Food as Ammo
From meatless Tuesdays to research aimed at improving agricultural production, food was deemed a key weapon against the Germans.
All Hands on Deck
Scientists weren’t the only faculty members to assist the government — historians, geologists, and others pitched in, too.