The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters is an independent, nonprofit membership organization, chartered by the state legislature in 1870 with the mission of gathering, sharing, and acting upon knowledge in the sciences, arts, and letters for the benefit of the people of Wisconsin. Essential to the Academy's central goal of uniting scientists, humanities scholars, and artists together to stimulate learning and excange of research was that "each member...devote as much time as possible to the investigation of such subjects as have special attractions for him, and in the preparation of papers theron, to be published in its volumes of Transactions." Over the years, Transactions has been of key importance because it has enabled the Academy to participate in research exchange with other academies and societies beyond the boundaries of Wisconsin.
- UW Madison/Wis Hist Soc