Books for the Hunkered Down History Lover: Winter 2024 Edition

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Leventhal Named Wisconsin Historical Society Press Director

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society announced in November that Josh Leventhal has been named the new director of the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. Leventhal takes the helm from director Kate Thompson and is charged with continuing the Press’s 168-year-long dedication to connecting people with the past by publishing the best in Wisconsin history and culture.

“We are delighted to announce that Josh Leventhal has come on board to lead the Society Press and help move us forward through this pivotal and exciting time in our organization’s history,” said Angela Titus, assistant deputy director and chief program officer for the Wisconsin Historical Society. Leventhal will direct the ways that Press books bring the past—and unique Wisconsin stories—to general, academic, and educational audiences of all ages throughout Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the nation. He will continue to build the Press’s reputation for producing award-winning publications with enduring historical and cultural value as part of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s mission to collect, preserve, and share the state’s history.

Josh Leventhal

“I am truly thrilled and honored to be joining the Wisconsin Historical Society Press as its director,” Leventhal said. “The Press has such a deep and well-respected tradition of publishing informative and engaging books about Wisconsin and the larger region. It is an exciting time to be coming on board as the Press expands the stories and voices it shares to present a full picture of Wisconsin’s history, peoples, and culture.”

Prior to coming to WHS Press, Leventhal served for seven years as director of the Minnesota Historical Society Press and for two years as an acquisitions editor there. He has more than 30 years of experience in publishing, working as an editor of nonfiction books at a variety of presses in New York, Portland (Ore.), and the Twin Cities.

Kate Thompson, who served as Press director from 2018 to 2023, is returning to her role as Acquisitions Editor at the Press, a role she held for 15 years. “We are so grateful to be retaining Kate’s talents within the Press as we grow our children and young adult list, and in anticipation of the new history center opening in 2026,” said Titus. “She has done a phenomenal job and laid a great foundation for Josh. This move allows her to return to her first love, acquiring books that share Wisconsin’s distinctive stories.”

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Wisconsin Historical Society Announces History Makers Tour and Public Launch of New History Maker Space

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society is pleased to announce its traveling History Makers Tour kicked off in October in conjunction with the public launch of the History Maker Space on Capitol Square in Madison. Together, the transition space and statewide tour position the Society to continue serving Wisconsin students and communities in the time leading up to the completion of a new state-of-the-art, 100,000-square-foot history center in late 2026. The statewide tour was made possible by generous support from Culver’s and a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“The History Makers Tour and History Maker Space both play a critical role in continuing to serve young learners and history lovers while we are building a new history center,” said Angela Titus, assistant deputy director and chief program officer for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “We are excited to try out new programs and bring our state’s stories into local communities over the next three years.”

Starting with the south-central region of Wisconsin, the History Makers Tour will travel to all areas of the state before concluding in the northeast region in early 2027. The Society will work with local history organizations, libraries, cultural venues and other partners to bring history directly to communities through pop-up exhibits, artifact displays, author talks, special events and more. The History Makers Tour makes its first stops in the cities of Beaver Dam, Jefferson, Monticello, New Glarus and Sun Prairie.

“Wisconsin has a rich and deep history,” explained Craig Culver, co-founder of Culver’s. “It is a pleasure to support these efforts which will celebrate and share that history in so many different ways and in such a variety of areas of the state. I love Wisconsin and am very proud to be a Cheesehead.”

For Madison residents and visitors, the new History Maker Space (pictured below) also has now opened and is located on the main level of the US Bank Plaza on Capitol Square. The space houses pop-up exhibits, special events, history center sneak peeks and a refreshed retail shop, along with an interactive education space for school groups. The temporary location allows the Society to continue hosting school field trips and pilot new public programming during construction of the new history center. The Society began welcoming school groups to the expanded education space in September.

“As the new school year kicks off, we are excited to welcome students into a dynamic education space, where young learners will become history makers themselves as they design their own exhibits and dig into the many hands-on history experiences we have waiting for them,” said Titus.

Visit www.wisconsinhistory.org/historycenter for more details and tour information.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (Grant Number MA-253159-OMS-23) and by Culver’s restaurants (visit www.culvers.com).

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Marathon County Historical Society Awarded Thwaites Trophy from Wisconsin Historical Society

Wausau, WI – The Wisconsin Historical Society is pleased to announce the Marathon County Historical Society (MCHS) has received the Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy in the 2023 Board of Curators Awards. The annual awards program recognizes exceptional work from across the state aligned with the Society’s mission and the Thwaites Trophy is presented each year to a local history organization for continued excellence and overall service to its community over a period of at least five years. The MCHS will hold onto the honor for one year before the trophy moves to the next winner in 2024.

“On behalf of the Society and Board of Curators, congratulations to the Marathon County Historical Society for their exemplary service to the community,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “For 125 years, the Wisconsin Historical Society’s affiliation program, the first of its kind in the country, has served to connect local, regional, and state organizations to share our state’s stories and connect people to the past.”

The trophy, named for the Wisconsin Historical Society’s second director who launched the organization’s affiliation program more than a century ago, was last awarded to the MCHS in 1958 and 1989. The prestigious award recognizes the impact of their services and the important role MCHS has played in preserving and sharing the unique history of the area.

The MCHS was founded in 1952 and today still carries out its mission to collect, preserve, and share materials related to the history of Marathon County to help people learn about Northwest Wisconsin and explore their own historical connections. The organization operates two historic structures, the Yawkey House Museum and Woodson History Center, in Wausau.

Over the last several years, MCHS staff members have led an ambitious schedule averaging 220 programs, events, lectures, and walking tours annually. Through public programming and attendance at the Woodson History Center, they serve an average of 16,381 people per year with programs designed to reach various age groups at locations throughout the county. The organization’s Little Red School House program serves between 1,500-1,700 students each year and made sure fourth grade students had access to education outreach kits for teachers to use in their classrooms during the pandemic. The MCHS also launched two new online lecture series, History Chats and History Speaks on the Air, during the pandemic reaching 10,000 viewers in 2020 and 2021.

The Marathon County Historical Society’s thoughtful and innovative approach to reaching new audiences, designing exhibits and programs that serve a wide variety of Marathon County residents, and adapting core programs and services during the pandemic demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to community education and outreach. The MCHS also demonstrates careful stewardship of collections and an ongoing commitment to the care and preservation of the historic structures managed by the Society.

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Phil’s Take on Viewing the Lake

By Phillip Schauer, Past President

June brought a large dose of air pollution to many areas of the state. The ever-burning Canadian forest fires had finally been swept south, giving rural and small town residents perhaps their first dose of fire-generated air pollution. Dare I say smog! As I was headed east to Kenosha I thought that perhaps the large openness of Lake Michigan would act as a clearinghouse and chase the bad air away. However, the farther east I drove the landscape became more shrouded. Sure enough, the smoke-laden air only intensified the closer I got to the lake.

I was traveling to the FRIENDS of the Wisconsin State Historical Society’s annual meeting. It offered visits to the Civil War Museum, the Kenosha Public Museum with its extensive displays of the city’s automotive and industrial heritage, and also the 1867 Light Station keeper’s house and museum, including the 1866 Southport Lighthouse with a chance to trek up inside the lighthouse to catch the view. At 55 feet tall (plus a hilltop location added up to 74), thick Milwaukee cream brick walls, and a semicircular cast iron stairway, it was too good to pass up for myself along with past president of FRIENDS and wife Gwen. We carefully plodded up the 72 steps and were rewarded with a magnificent vista—the city, harbor, and a great lake!

Although the horizon was partially obscured by the smoke that I naively thought would be cleared by lake breezes, all was enjoyable! Perhaps I will return in the future and be able to fully appreciate the publicized view—“3 counties, 2 states, 1 Great Lake, and an unobscured Chicago skyline” on the distant horizon!

Posted in Tours & Trips | Leave a comment

Anaem Omot Listed in the National Register of Historic Places

Marinette County, WI. – The Wisconsin Historical Society, in partnership with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, announced the listing of Anaem Omot in the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 2023.

Anaem Omot is a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) of the Menominee Nation. This is a place associated with the cultural practices and beliefs of a living community that are deeply rooted in the community’s history and are important in maintaining the cultural identity of that community. This TCP is directly associated with the Menominee people and the place of religious, cultural, and sacred practices stretching back from time immemorial to present day. This landscape has a spiritual and traditional importance to the Menominee people and is integral in the maintenance of their cultural identity. Anaem Omot contains sites important for understanding the significance of the Menominee Tribe and their continued use. Anaem Omot embodies the history of Native Americans that live and continue to use the area, and is an example of their cultural endurance and continuity.

The Menominee Tribe is indigenous to the state of Wisconsin, and they have an extraordinary history with their creation beginning at the mouth of the Menominee River. Their five clans that originated here include the ancestral Bear, Eagle, Wolf, Moose, and Crane. Anaem Omot is the formal name for the ancestral home of the Menominee Tribe located in close proximity to their reservation. As the site of religious, cultural, and sacred practices, the stories and traditions emanating from this place are integral elements in the continuation of the Menominee heritage and way of life.

Anaem Omot retains exceptional integrity. As the cultural landscape of the Menominee Nation, it is important to recognize and preserve their cultural identity and community’s history.

“The listing of Anaem Omot in the National Register of Historic Places showcases the close work of Wisconsin’s State Historic Preservation Office and our tribal partners,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “This designation recognizes a cultural site of incredible significance as the ancestral home of the Menominee people.”

“We are so very thankful to the National Park Service for including this site on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Gena Kakkak, Menominee Tribe Chairwoman. “Our ancestors can now rest better in their places of burial. Our original spiritual and ceremonial grounds are recognized and our children can continue to learn and find their heritage in our places of origin.”

The National Register is the official list of historic properties in America deemed worthy of preservation and is maintained by the National Park Service in the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Wisconsin Historical Society administers the program within Wisconsin. It includes sites, buildings, structures, objects and districts that are significant in national, state or local history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture.

For additional information on Anaem Omot, visit:

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2742.

For more information on the Menominee Tribe, visit:

www.menominee-nsn.gov.

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Wisconsin Historical Society Secures Temporary Programming Space on Madison’s Capitol Square

Pop-up exhibits, future history center sneak peeks, a new retail storefront and more coming in 2023

Madison, WI – The Wisconsin Historical Society is excited to share that temporary space has been secured to continue offering public and school group programming during the design and construction phase for the new Wisconsin history center. The dynamic temporary space will be conveniently located in the main level of the US Bank Plaza at 1 S. Pinckney Street, across the Capitol Square from the former Wisconsin Historical Museum, which closed its exhibits late last year. The Wisconsin Historical Society will begin hosting school groups at the new space in March, followed by a full programming launch this fall that will include pop-up exhibits, author talks, history center sneak peeks, a new retail shop and more.

“We have exciting plans in the works to stay connected to communities across the state as we prepare for the new history center, and this pop-up space on the Capitol Square is particularly ideal for continuing to serve school groups,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth & Hartley Barker Director and CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “This venue allows us to continue engaging with people from all corners of Wisconsin while we build a new, modern facility where history is accessible, relevant and shared through powerful storytelling.”

Funding for the temporary space has been provided in part by Urban Land Interests, the site’s property management and development firm. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation is seeking additional community partners to raise funds for multi-year programming to be offered in the Madison space as well as pop-up experiences planned for other regions of the state.

“We are excited to partner with the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Historical Foundation to provide a temporary space to continue serving school groups and communities statewide while Wisconsin’s new history center is designed and built,” said Brad Binkowski, co-founder of Urban Land Interests.

Exhibitions at the former Wisconsin Historical Museum were closed in November 2022 due to rapidly deteriorating building conditions and to allow for the careful process of transferring artifacts into secure storage at the State Archive Preservation Facility in Madison.

Demolition of the existing building and construction of the new history center are expected to begin in 2024 and be completed in late 2026. The Society announced the selection of industry-leading exhibit designers Ralph Appelbaum Associates, international engineering and planning firm SmithGroup, and the award-winning Continuum Architects + Planners for the project. The future history center will more than double the exhibition space of the current museum with more than 200,000 visitors expected annually.

The Wisconsin Historical Museum’s existing retail store remains open until it moves to the new temporary space this fall. The Wisconsin Historical Society will continue to host the museum’s popular lineup of walking tours and school-age day camps this summer.

For the latest updates on the new history center or to donate to the project, visit wisconsinhistory.org/historycenter.

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Wisconsin Historical Society Receives $499,999 Grant to Save Historic Circus World Building

7615

Baraboo, WI – The Wisconsin Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $499,999 Save America’s Treasures grant by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

The funding will be used for the restoration and preservation of the Ringling Bros. Circus’ 1901 Animal House, a National Historic Landmark building on the grounds of Circus World in Baraboo. Circus World, one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums, is located on the former site of the Ringling Bros. Circus headquarters and wintering grounds.

“Circus World is an international leader in celebrating the timeless heritage of travelling circuses, the circus arts, and the vibrant stories of the people and animals who made ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ possible,” said Scott O’Donnell, director of Circus World. “This significant Save America’s Treasures grant will allow us to continue sharing this dynamic circus history with the public by transforming the amazing historic buildings on our site into spaces of exploration and education.”

This announcement follows last year’s Save Americas Treasures grant of $499,999 for the restoration of the 1901 Ringling Bros. Office on the site. Work on that National Historic Landmark building began in the summer of 2022.

“We are grateful for this significant and impactful Save America’s Treasures funding, as Circus World is indeed one of America’s treasures,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “It allows the Society to move forward with a vision to revitalize these historically important structures and turn Circus World into a year-round attraction for generations to come.”

Historically, animals were a central element in American circuses, and when the show was not on the road, the animals were housed in structures designed to meet their specific needs. The Animal House, a heated brick structure, provided 4,536 square feet of additional winter quartering space for the Ringlings’ animal troupe, which included monkeys, giraffes, birds, ostriches, antelope, zebras and rhinos.

“The Animal House was a critical piece of the Ringling Bros. Circus empire, but without swift action to stabilize and repair the building, this piece of circus history would be lost,” said O’Donnell. “This grant funding helps cover repairs needed to preserve a rare American treasure so that future generations can experience Wisconsin’s unique circus legacy.”

This project is supported through the Save America’s Treasures grants program, provided by the Historic Preservation Fund, as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior. The grant program was established in 1998 and is a national effort to protect “America’s threatened cultural treasures, including historic structures, collections, works of art, maps, and journals that document and illuminate the history and culture of the United States.” The grants are awarded with funding to be matched by state and/or private entities.

The Wisconsin Historical Society maintains seven historic buildings at Circus World, which will remain open throughout the work. The buildings will be restored to the 1915 era, which is within the period of significance for the National Historic Landmark district.

“The revitalization and restoration of Ringlingville is in full motion and we cannot wait to share this exciting future with the public,” said O’Donnell. “The future has never been brighter at Circus World.”

Posted in News | Leave a comment

All About the October Behind the Scenes Event

Members of FWHS were at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle to enjoy our special “Silent Auction and Tour Event” on Friday, October 7, 2022. This event was an adventure to cherish the past and to build a baseline for history to come.

It was open to the public too; Old World welcomed FRIENDS, friends, relatives, and neighbors. A group of visitors from other states that was staying at the Eagle Centre House Bed and Breakfast, including the director of the Lutheran Seminary Museum, attended as well. Judging from feedback and observations, everyone enjoyed all that the event offered.

IMG_1336

Not only were many treasures and items of interest on the tables for the silent auction, but the new Old World Brewery offered us a great place to meet, a summary both of the site’s growth and brewing techniques, and samples of a delightful full-bodied beer. A unique Wisconsin Fish Fry was enjoyed by one and all in the Clausing Barn.

IMG_1332

Attendees stated that they felt the brewery was a very attractive architectural example. Many stopped by during the dinner to comment how great the fish fry was and that the silent auction items were interesting or even amazing.

366f5ce2-366b-4f06-9593-06fe6608fb63

There were antique and vintage offerings, and FWHS board members also offered hand-created things from a shawl that Frances Kavenik knit to amazing cookies with crafted pictures on each cookie by Linda White. Simone Maussen from Cambridge, Wisconsin has a shop where she sells her hand-crafted hats; one of those incredible treasures was included in this event. Sandy Fisher donated a gift certificate to the silent auction for the famous Al Johnson Sister Bay Restaurant and Gift Shop and bought the shawl…and a door safety bar for traveling.

IMG_1339

Cool diversity…and wide variety! Did I mention that vintage wine and breweriana items contributed to carry forward the Brewery theme?

d81ba431-ef09-4aa6-809e-c4a1f894444d

Bonnie Sekulivich found the brewery tour and talk by the brewer Rob Novak really interesting. She was also amazed by the things that folks donated for fund raising via the silent auction – especially the stained glass. Bonnie wasn’t the only person I interviewed who was amazed by the great variety of silent auction items. Everyone I chatted with mentioned the same thing.

more fun for kids at auction

Sue Galkowski enjoyed the variety of experiences at the event as well. As a professional basket-weaver artist, she was happy to donate one of her pieces of art to the event.

IMG_1338

Guests from Waukesha, Madison, Oak Creek, Kenosha, Genesee Depot, etc., had a great time comparing notes and purchases with guests from Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Connecticut.

Thank you to everyone who made this event happen, from planners and contributors to visitors and clientele!

CHEERS!

-Laura Cramer

P.S.: Just how popular were these silent auction items? Well, even this deer was seen sniffing out some of them in the garage where they were being held before the event!

deer loves antiques

 

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Recent FWHS Projects and Accomplishments

FRIENDS, you have been busy! Here are some of your recent projects and accomplishments:

-Restored 5 paintings important to Wisconsin’s history and a parlor piano at Wade House in Greenbush (in partnership with Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association)

-Provided 2 equally rare Steipp Brewery steins, an embossed bottle, and an antique Steipp Brewery advertising/serving tray to Black Point Estate, Lake Geneva. Restored furnishings including a show-place pool table and outdoor seating

-Purchased period artifacts, with emphasis on time-correct fabrics, for restoration of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle

-Provided updated state-of-the-art electronics and conference room furniture for the Sellery Room at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison

-National History Day award sponsors, inclusive of the Dr. Fannie Hicklin travel stipend for advancement to National competition

-“Hands on History” sponsors, 4th grade, Ashland

-Restored piano and floor model stereo card viewer at Rock County Historical Society, Janesville

-H.H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells grant awarded for antique backdrop and front drop-cloth replacement

-Provided history-compatible furnishings for Stonefield Village, Cassville

-Funded the restoration of a horse-drawn Doctor’s buggy, a vintage bicycle salvation, and inventory assistance at the Gift Shop at Old World Wisconsin, Eagle

-And much more!

 

Posted in News | Leave a comment