Research & Reproduction Requests
The Wisconsin Maritime Museum offers a variety of resources to provide researchers with access to our collections both virtually and in person.
Online Resources
These online resources provide access to many images and historical information related to the Collection.
Finding Aids
The finding aids linked below were prepared for researchers to learn about the resources available in the Archives and Reading Room. Researchers are encouraged to contact Archives staff and ask whether there may be other items relevant to their research topic.
Visit Us in Person
The Wisconsin Maritime Museum Archives and Collections are a unique resource for researchers across various topics, but all material is non-circulating. The Archives Reading Room is accessible by appointment to WMM members for free and to the general public with the purchase of museum admission.
To maintain the preservation of our research materials and to ensure a satisfactory visit with staff attention to your research needs, appointments are required and subject to staff availability.
A research appointment includes use of the Archives Reading Room, dedicated staff assistance, photocopies of archives material, and access to the full collections and archives database. Research appointments must be made with at least one week advance notice. Please contact Archives & Collections staff to schedule an appointment by emailing archives@wisconsinmaritime.org.
Remote Research Requests
If you are unable to visit us in person, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum offers paid research services. Please fill out the Research Request Form detailing your research question or the topic of interest.
All remote Research Requests are subject to an initial fee of $15 for research services collected upon completion of research. This fee includes a thorough search of WMM’s archives and collections for information relevant to the research question and sending scans of any information found. WMM members receive a 10% discount on Research Requests.
If requested, additional in-depth research can be conducted at a rate of $25/hour, and additional reproduction fees will apply for photographs or ship plans. Please note that WMM cannot guarantee the desired information will be found. Please contact Archives & Collections staff with questions by emailing archives@wisconsinmaritime.org.
Photo and Ship Plan Reproductions
Reproductions of photographs in WMM’s archives for personal or research use can be ordered through the Photograph Order Form. You must know the Accession Number associated with the image to complete the form. For reproductions of ship’s plans, audiovisual media, or other materials in the Museum’s Collection, please submit a Research Request Form or contact Archives staff. If the request is for publication, exhibit, film, or other use, please contact the Archives staff for current Use and Licensing Fees.
Research Policy & Requests
This is a notice that some manuscripts, records, and photographs are restricted for preservation purposes and are therefore unavailable for reproduction. Archives staff reserve the right to deny any reproduction requests that may cause irreparable damage to an artifact based on its condition or the material of which it is made.