Wisco Histo

WASHBURN OBSERVATORY – So good to be home in the spring! Rita,...

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:28:00 -0500

WASHBURN OBSERVATORY – So good to be home in the spring! Rita, young Reggie, Billie the Cowboy and Dr. Allenby are well-pleased. Sadly, in our absence the curator, Prof. Watson, left the great dome’s portal open all month. While observing the stars last night, Dr. Allenby mistook a bee’s nest for a honey-bearing comet.

Madison writer Jay Rath creates “the world’s first Facebook novel” — The Washburn Expedition, a globe-spanning fictional narrative of exploration and intrigue. This week he’s using images from our digital collections to tell the tale of Rita Rennebohm, young Reggie, Billie the Cowboy and Dr. Allenby. Follow along as the intrepid team regroups for an adventure closer to home.

via: History of UW-Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin Digital Collections

WASHBURN MUSEUM - Dr. Allenby’s commencement speech was very...

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:18:00 -0500

WASHBURN MUSEUM - Dr. Allenby’s commencement speech was very well received yesterday. Everyone laughed and laughed - the chancellor and dean were still chucking this morning!

Unfortunately, the speech was meant to be serious.

Madison writer Jay Rath creates “the world’s first Facebook novel” — The Washburn Expedition, a globe-spanning fictional narrative of adventure and intrigue. This week he’s using images from our digital collections to tell the tale of Rita Rennebohm, young Reggie, Billie the Cowboy and Dr. Allenby. Follow along as the intrepid team regroups in Madison!

via: Aldo Leopold Archives, Aldo Leopold Foundation by way of University of Wisconsin Digital Collections

Commencement ceremonies, St. Norbert College, De Pere,...

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:15:51 -0500

Commencement ceremonies, St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin, 1991.

Thanks Mom!

via: Mulva Library, St. Norbert College

Ella Beers, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and Iola on bicycles, Richland...

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:30:28 -0500

Ella Beers, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and Iola on bicycles, Richland County, Wisconsin.

May 17 is National Bike to Work Day! Find out more about Wisconsin’s early bicycling history in our online exhibit, curated by historians Nick Hoffman and Jesse Gant.

via: Richland County History Room, Brewer Public Library

Graduation group, St. Peter and Paul Church, Green Bay,...

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:30:19 -0500

Graduation group, St. Peter and Paul Church, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1906.

via: Belgian-American Research Collection, Cofrin Library, UW-Green Bay, by way of University of Wisconsin Digital Collections

Anti-Vietnam War protest at graduation, Madison, Wisconsin,...

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:52:59 -0500

Anti-Vietnam War protest at graduation, Madison, Wisconsin, 1968.

via: UW-Madison Collection, UW-Madison Archives by way of University of Wisconsin Digital Collections

UW-Madison Archives is also on Tumblr!

Postcard portrait of five unidentified members of a rail yard...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:01:53 -0500

Postcard portrait of five unidentified members of a rail yard crew (no date, no location).

via: Langlade County Historical Society

Workers shifting iron ore from rail cars to ore docks, Lake...

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:23:32 -0500

Workers shifting iron ore from rail cars to ore docks, Lake Superior, ca. 1920.

Photographer Hugh McKenzie captured this scene of men balanced on rail cars high above a Lake Superior harbor, moving iron ore shipped in by train onto ships for transport throughout the Great Lakes and beyond.

via: Great Lakes Maritime History Project, University of Wisconsin-Superior

Wisconsinites: What’s the toughest job you’ve ever had? Share your story at recollectionwisconsin.org/stories and you might get featured on Wisconsin Public Radio!

Do you work in a family-owned business in Wisconsin? How has it...

Sat, 11 May 2013 18:01:07 -0500

Do you work in a family-owned business in Wisconsin? How has it changed from your parents’ or grandparents’ generation?

Share your memories and photos of your work life in Wisconsin via Tumblr or on our website and you might get your story featured on Wisconsin Life on WPR!

Photo: C. Liebenow & Son Jewelers, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1898, photographed by Hermann Benke. Manitowoc Local History Collection, Manitowoc Public Library by way of University of Wisconsin Digital Collections.

Mary Lunde (judge) with winners of the Trempealeau County Fair...

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:01:37 -0500

Mary Lunde (judge) with winners of the Trempealeau County Fair cat show, 1976.

One last photo in honor of National Pet Week!

via: Trempealeau County 1976: Images at the Bicentennial, Old Main Historical and Community Arts Center, Galesville, Wisconsin. Photo by Wade Britzius.

Two dogs, Wisconsin Rapids, ca. 1950. Photo by Don Krohn for the...

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:50:27 -0500

Two dogs, Wisconsin Rapids, ca. 1950.

Photo by Don Krohn for the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.

via: South Wood County Historical Corporation

Man and dog sitting in front entrance to Peter’s Pharmacy,...

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:10:23 -0500

Man and dog sitting in front entrance to Peter’s Pharmacy, Milwaukee.

via: Historic Photo Collection, Milwaukee Public Library

Father Anselm Keefe with his dalmatian Great Dane, St. Norbert...

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:15:00 -0500

Father Anselm Keefe with his ~~dalmatian~~ Great Dane, St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin.

via: Mulva Library, St. Norbert College

update: Thanks to readers kupkakekendall and itsverynew for pointing out that Keefe’s dog is a Great Dane, not a dalmatian. I didn’t know Great Danes came with spots! I’ll pass this info on to St. Norbert so they can update their record.

Gayle Jacobson Jagodzinski with a cat, Vesper, Wisconsin, ca....

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:30:33 -0500

Gayle Jacobson Jagodzinski with a cat, Vesper, Wisconsin, ca. 1950.

It’s National Pet Week (this year’s motto: “Love Your Pet, See your Vet”), which gives us an excuse to showcase some adorable photos of pets from the past.

via: South Wood County Historical Museum, Wisconsin Rapids; photo by Lawrence Oliver

John Cody, musky guide from the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe...

Sun, 05 May 2013 10:30:41 -0500

John Cody, musky guide from the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe reservation, and Chicago businessman William E. Martens, Big Sissabagama Lake, Wisconsin.

Musky fishing season begins today in the southern half of Wisconsin (everyone north of Highway 10 has to wait a few more weeks).

via: Stone Lake Area Historical Society

Share your story! Wisconsin at Work, Wisconsin at Play

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:28:18 -0500

Share your story! Wisconsin at Work, Wisconsin at Play:

This spring and summer, we’re looking for your stories of work and play in Wisconsin. Share your story on Recollection Wisconsin and you may be featured on Wisconsin Life, an audio series on Wisconsin Public Radio that explores what makes Wisconsin unique through the voices and stories of its residents.

We’re looking for stories and photos of your first job, what you make or do now, or what lessons your work life has taught you. Tell us about your summer vacations or your summers at camp. Just about any topic is welcome within the theme as long as it is a personal narrative with a strong connection to Wisconsin.

Need a nudge? Here are some ideas to help you get started.

Work:

Do you work in a family-owned business? How has the business changed from your parents’ or grandparents’ time?
Does your job require a special language? Is there a “lingo” unique to your work?
What about any special tools or equipment or clothing needed to do your job? Have you ever built or customized or “hacked” any tools to get the job done?
Housework is work too, of course. Tell us about learning to keep house. Are there tips or tricks learned from previous generations that you still use today?

Play:

Did you spend your summers at camp? Where? Tell us about your adventures (or misadventures).
Did your family have any summer traditions when you were growing up? Or have you created any traditions now? What and why?
Do you have a favorite summertime game or activity? Why do you look forward to it? How did you learn to play?
Did your family have a cabin “Up North”?

Go to Recollection Wisconsin for rules and to submit your story. All approved stories and photos will be archived and publicly accessible through the Recollection Wisconsin website.

You may submit materials at any time, but the deadline to submit stories for consideration for airing on Wisconsin Life is June 15, 2013.

May Day celebrations at Lawrence University, Appleton,...

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:45:35 -0500

May Day celebrations at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin.

“The Queen and Attendants” - ca. 1930
May Pole dance - 1910

via: Lawrence University Archives

Celebrating the first Earth Day, Milwaukee, 1970. Earth Day,...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:51:00 -0500

Celebrating the first Earth Day, Milwaukee, 1970.

Earth Day, formally called the “National Environmental Teach-In,” was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. In Milwaukee, events for the first Earth Day included a speech from Senator Nelson and a performance by local rock group The Ox. Photo for the Milwaukee Journal, April 22, 1970.

via: Remember When… Collection, Milwaukee Public Library

read more: “Earth Day 1970—Mass Movement Begins,” Gaylord Nelson Newsletter, May 1970. Turning Points in Wisconsin History, Wisconsin Historical Society.

Improved map of the territories of Michigan and Ouisconsin,...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:58:00 -0500

Improved map of the territories of Michigan and Ouisconsin, 1835.

On this day in 1818, the land that makes up current-day Wisconsin was officially declared part of the Michigan Territory. The Wisconsin Territory was established in 1836, a year after cartographer John Farmer of Detroit created this map.

via: Historical Maps Collection, Wisconsin Historical Society

Do you have anything on New London?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:54:00 -0500

Not much, unfortunately. If you head to http://recollectionwisconsin.org/guided-search and do a search for New London, you’ll find a handful of items. My personal favorite is this altar rail from the Town of Lebanon (near New London), now at Old World Wisconsin: http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wda/id/2906

If you have a New London connection, you could nudge your local library or historical society to consider sharing some of their materials online!