Join other Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society on the Internets social networking website, Facebook. Just a click or two will get you the Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society calendar of events, photos of Friends and other useful information. The page was created and is being maintained by Friends of WHS board member from Mineral Point, Lisa Hay.

So if you’re not on Facebook yet, sign up now. It’s easy and it’s free. While you are there, “friend” the Friends of WHS. Go to Facebook and search for “Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society”.

Save the dates of September 19-22, 2011 for the annual Autumn History Excursion sponsored by the Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society. The 2011 history tour will be centered on the theme The Wisconsin Ethnic Settlement Trail and will draw on cooperative efforts between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Final plans for the history excursion are being made and more information on the exciting trip will be forthcoming.

Membership information letters for Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society should be arriving in December. An attempt will be made to reach all current members, including those with lifetime memberships, to update them on their membership status. In addition, the membership letters will provide information for renewing memberships that are due in 2011. Current WHS Friends’ membership rolls list 189 regular members, nineteen lifetime members and nine complimentary or staff members for a total of 217. New membership brochures are being made and a membership form to download from this website will soon be available.

The Rock County Historical Society and M&I Bank will present the 53rd Annual Tallman Arts Festival, Sunday August 8, 2010 on the grounds of the historic Lincoln-Tallman House at 440 N. Jackson St. Janesville, Wisconsin.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., rain or shine. Admissio: $3.00 for adults & children under 12 are free.

Tours of the Lincoln-Tallman House will also be available: $5.00 for adults & $3.00 for students in addition to the general festival admission.

Over 90 artists and vendors are participating this year, including a number of local Janesville artists who are new to the festival. The festival is juried and draws artists from throughout the Midwest to display fine arts and studio crafts in a variety of media and styles

The Society will also hold their traditional Ice Cream Social, featuring homemade pies and cakes. 

A variety of foods will be served this year including hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats cooked by our own chefs.  Elmer’s Kettle Corn, Mocha Moments, Edible Arrangements, The Speakeasy, The Pit Stop, and Cakes by Sheila are some of our local food vendors.  Soda and water will be sold and beer will be sold courtesy of Grays Brewing.  New this year will be a wine tasting featuring wines from Northleaf, Staller, and Stone’s Throw wineries. 

This year’s entertainment on the main stage will begin at 10:00 a.m. with Mike Boyd who will be our M.C. for the day followed by Winkler and Hatfield from 10:30 to 11:30, Richard Wiegel from Noon to 1:45, Enroute from 1:45 to 3:00, and Old Tin Can String Band from 3:30 to 5:00.

This year’s “Young at Art” project will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Kids are welcome to paint flowers, moons, suns, butterflies, handprints, and what else strikes their fancy on several of our picnic tables.  The ‘picnic table art’ will enhance the grounds throughout the year.

Silent Auctions will run throughout the day featuring works by participating artists and donations from the community.  The Tallman Arts Festival is the largest fundraiser for the Rock County Historical Society, funding our programs, activities, and exhibits. www.tallmanfestival.org

You will: Trace the area’s history from the Ice Age to the Superbowls at the Neville Public Museum which has one of the state’s largest history, art and science collections.

Not even the threat of bad weather would keep the women of the FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society from gathering visitors around them and marching for Women’s Suffrage through downtown Sharon, Wisconsin at Model A Days this year. Bev Wassum and Sandee Beaman brave the weather to march for Women.

Sure there was opposition from some of the male trouble-makers, but the women would not give up their cause to get the vote for women at last! Frank Beaman is pictured giving Bev a hard time, but Bev returned a word or two!

Don’t you wonder what fun awaits us and next year’s Sharon Model A Days event? Who knows what the FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society are cooking up. Stay tuned to find out how to have fun with history.

Ladies come to Sharon Wisconsin and join the rally!!

Sure, there will be rabblerousing protests from some of the men, but we can out-shout them, Ladies!

The period clothing, the antique cars,  and all the special things that take you into the past at this event will make the Suffrage Movement come alive! Join in the parade and kick up your heels!

Go to: sharonmainstreet.com for details or call FRIENDS Board Member Frank Beaman 608-987-1199.

The spirit lives on in Sharon.

The Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society will present an
educational event in Sharon, WI on Sunday, June 6, 2010, designed to
broaden public understanding of the widespread demonstrations in the
struggle for the right of women to vote.

The FWHS  event will be a part of the 14th Annual
celebration of “Model A Day” in Sharon. A large group of women in the
costumes of the suffrage movement will stage a parade through the
heart of the vintage cars parked along Sharon’s main street.  The
parade would culminate at the town circle, where the marching women
will form a semi-circle behind the “featured speaker” as a backdrop
for her impassioned soap box remarks. Her speech, delivered by a
professional actress and composed of actual quotations from suffrage
literature, will make strong arguments for women’s right to vote,
which became law in 1920.

As part of the reenactment, a storefront near the speaker’s
site will be converted into the headquarters for the opposition, men
organized to fight the women’s vote initiative.
The event fulfills the educational mission of the Friends of
WHS, support organization for the state’s historical society.

Photos courtesy Sharon Main Street Assn.

Plan on joining us to celebrate at the Governor’s Executive Residence on Wednesday, June 23^rd, 2010.

Following our Annual Meeting lunch in the Governor’s dining room, you will be transported to the Wisconsin Historical Society for all sorts of history at your fingertips.  This will include a “behind the scenes tour,” National History Day participants fresh from their competition in Maryland, rare look at rare books, meeting the Director of WHS, and experiencing the restoration of an architectural gem ~ the Library Reading Room.

 For this extraordinary day FWHS Members $50.00 and non-members $55.00. Mail your check, name, address, phone number(s) and meal choice: Cheese Tortellini or Roast Pork Loin, or Stuffed Chicken Breast to: L. Cramer 407 N. Rochester St. Mukwonago, WI  53149.

 Questions? Call 608-258-0297 and leave a message ~ we will return your call. 

PREVIEW NIGHT

Festivities made everyone a winner Treasures to behold, special silent auction treasures, door prizes galore, good food and great company! Karl Gates tipped off the crowd to secrets of appraising antiques and kept the audience in stitches. [Pictured: Audience listens in rapt attention to Speaker Gates]

AUCTION EVENT

Treasure Hunters

The Auction successfully produced funding for Wisconsin Historical Society projects and netted appreciative homes for treasured tales from the past. Auctioneer Boge’s expert touch and rapid-fire auction action kept the audience on their toes. Mr. Boge was assisted by FWH members and volunteers. [Pictured: Treasure hunters pictured assessing their bids before Auction begins]

THANK YOU’S

We wish to thank all who donated Antique and Vintage treasures for this benefit Auction to raise funds for the work of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Your stories have been passed along for more generations to enjoy.

All of us appreciate the support of Auctioneer Boge, Speaker Karl Gates, Marzion Realty, and WADA. Thanks also to those we advertised with for this event. We also thank the dedication of the Auction Committee, and the helping hand from Old World Wisconsin, The Old World Wisconsin Foundation, and the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Mostly we thank you for coming to support the work of the Wisconsin Historical Society in a way that is delightfully gratifying ~ and an enjoyable way to “touch history” on a personal basis. 

We wish to thank all who donated Antique and Vintage treasures for this benefit Auction to raise funds for the work of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Your stories have been passed along for more generations to enjoy.

All of us appreciate the support of Auctioneer Boge, Speaker Karl Gates, Marzion Realty, and WADA. Thanks also to those we advertised with for this event. We also thank the dedication of the Auction Committee, and the helping hand from Old World Wisconsin, The Old World Wisconsin Foundation, and the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Mostly we thank you for coming to support the work of the Wisconsin Historical Society in a way that is delightfully gratifying ~ and an enjoyable way to “touch history” on a personal basis.

           Just a sample of the delights that await you…

… this special Preview Night offering

By Lynn Casper.

See below for how to get your piece of the action at Preview Night