The first president, James Holly Hanford , and secretary, Don M. Wolfe, along with an executive committee of six members were elected at the sixth annual dinner in 1953. To honor exceptional Milton scholarship, the society, in 1977, began an annual award for the best book and for best article in the field. The award was named in honor of James Holly Hanford, the society's first president. J. Max Patrick became the first editor in December of 1950 and still held this position in 1988. The files are organized alphabetically by personal name, name of office, or by subject, then chronologically.
Files can contain a variety of materials, including correspondence, staff memos, and reports.
The Milton Society of America Archives came to UWM in 1988 as the result of an initiative by the late Dr. J. Max Patrick, an emeritus faculty member and member of the society. Richard Shay processed an addition in September 2000. Modern Language Association of America. Seventeenth century news.