Wisconsin State HistoricalSociety Resources
Compiled and Edited by Michael R.Reilly
Last Revised 08/15/2015
Online Exhibits, Resources and Collections
- Wisconsin Electronic Reader Stories, essays, letters, poems, biographies, journals and tidbits from Wisconsin history. A cooperative digital imaging project of the University of Wisconsin-Madison General Library System and the Wisconsin Historical Society.
- John Nolen’s Madison: A Model City An imaging project of the General Library System of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Madison: A Capital Idea An exhibit celebrating the history of Madison. Developed by Historic Madison, Inc.
- Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865
General Wisconsin History
- Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin
- Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Association, Inc.
- “Stories of theBadger State“
Local Historical Societies & Libraries
- For a list of Wisconsin local historical societies on the Web,
visit the Local History Directory - Pauline Haass Public Library
- Maude Shunk Public Library -Menomonee Falls, WI.
- The Wisconsin Historical Society, the University of Wisconsin System, and the Superior Public Library cooperate in a network of Area Research Centers located at UW campus libraries throughout the state, at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and at the Superior Public Library. Each Area Research Center serves a specific geographic region. Records created in and focused on the region served by a particular ARC are housed permanently at the appropriate Center. The Society maintains a courier service which allows members of the network to borrow collections housed elsewhere for use by their local patrons.Milwaukee Urban Archives
Golda Meir Library, Room W250
PO Box 604
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0604Phone: 414/229-5402Hours: Contact the Milwaukee Urban Archives for current hours of operation.
Contact
Tim EricsonThe ARC is a cooperative effort of the University and the Wisconsin Historical Society to preserve historical records in a five-county area and to make them available to researchers. These counties are:
Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, and Waukesha.University students and faculty, local historians, researchers, and genealogists are encouraged to use the center.
Holdings
More than 100 series of local government public records include the tax rolls from Milwaukee County (1868-1970) and from Waukesha County (1848-1940), Village of Greendale board minutes and incorporation papers (1938-1966), and extensive Town of Milwaukee records (1846-1955).
The ARC holds over 500 collections of papers and records produced by private organizations and individuals. Among them are the Henry S. Reuss Papers (1959-1982); the Lloyd Barbee papers (1933-1982); Milwaukee-Downer College Records (1852-1964); City Club of Milwaukee records (1909-1969); United Community Services of Greater Milwaukee Records (1903-1966); and the records of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 311 (1906-1967). The ARC also holds many other personal, family, business, and organizational records and papers.
Finding Aids
ARC holdings are described in a published Guide to Archival and Manuscript Collections in the Milwaukee Urban Archives (1994). More detailed research tools at the ARC include registers and inventories for larger collections and an online catalog listing of all holdings. Other specialized finding aids include the Register of Records of the Henry W. Maier Administration (1960-1988) (1993); Guide to the Records of the Chancellor’s Office at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1995) and the Guide to the Henry S. Reuss Papers (1995). The ARC also has published guides to the holdings of the State Historical Society.
Network Transfer Provisions
It is possible to transfer most materials from the Wisconsin Historical Society to the ARCs, and between ARCs. This service makes available in Milwaukee one of the nation’s richest collections. Requests for temporary transfers of materials should be made to the curator of the Milwaukee ARC.
Related research resources in the Golda Meir Library
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee archives; the Fromkin Memorial Collection on the quest for social justice in America (1865-1940); the American Geographical Society map collection; the UWM Manuscript Collection, including the Kwasniewski Photo Collection (1907-1947) consisting of more than 30,000 prints and glass plate negatives from the Polish Community and Milwaukee’s south-side; as well as rare books and other special collections.
The Milwaukee Urban Archives has a website. Check here for more information.
Historical Societies nearthe Sussex – Lisbon Area
(Information below from the Wisconsin State Historical Societywebsite)
Compiled and Edited by Michael R.Reilly
Last Revised 08/15/2015
Southeastern Region
Elmbrook Historical Society (SE)
P.O. Box 292
Brookfield, WI, 53008-0292
Web site: http://www.elmbrookhistoricalsociety.org/* Dousman Stagecoach Inn Museum
1075 Pilgrim Pkwy, Brookfield, 53005
Phone: (262) 782-6312 (tour chair)
Open May-Oct, First and Third Sundays, 1-4pm.
Advance reservations requested for group
tours. Special children’s tours.* William Donaldson House Visitors Center
* Blacksmith Wagon Shop, Smoke House & Ice House
Note: As of November 2014, the Board of Directors voted to dissolve the SocietyHartland Historical Society (SE)
P.O. Box 54
Hartland, WI, 53029* Hartland Depot
22 Pawling Avenue, Hartland
Under restoration.
Hawks Inn Historical Society (SE)
P.O. Box 180104
Delafield, WI, 53018
Web site: www.hawksinn.org* Hawks Inn
426 Wells Street, Delafield
Phone: (262) 646-4794
Open May-Oct, Saturdays, 1-4pm.
Group tours by appointment.* 1846 Greek Revival Stage Coach Inn
Authentically restored 18 room inn, furnished with Federal, American Empire, and early Victorian Antiques. On national Register of Historic Sites.
Menomonee Falls Historical Society (SE)
P.O. Box 91
Menomonee Falls, WI, 53052
Web site: www.shoppingthevillage.com/history.htm* Old Falls Village Museum
N96 W15791 County Line Road, Menomonee Falls, 53051
Phone: (262) 250-5096
Open May-Sept, Sat & Sun, 1-4pm and by appointment.
Muskego Historical Society
W180 S8100 Racine Avenue
PO Box 137
Muskego, WI 53150Jerry Hulbert, President262-679-1173
Gerry Jacques,Treasurer262-679-0859
Laura Mishefske,Historian414-529-2694
website: http://www.muskegohistory.org/
New Berlin Historical Society (SE)
Email: cbowers@newberlin.com* New Berlin Historical Museum
19765 West National Avenue, New Berlin, 53146
Phone: (262) 542-3643 (Tour Chair)
Open 1-4pm, call for days. Special group tour appointments. Special open houses: July 29, Ice Cream Social; Sept 7 Historic Day; Oct 5, Applefest.
Oconomowoc Historical Society (SE)
P. O. Box 969
Oconomowoc, WI, 53066-0969
Web site: www.oconomowoc.org/Library/Outreach.htm* Oconomowoc and Lake Country Museum
103 West Jefferson Street, Oconomowoc, 53066-0969
Phone: (262) 569-0740
Open to general public early May to mid-December, Fri-Sun, 1-5 pm.. Open year-round by appointment.
Pewaukee Area Historical Society (SE)
P.O. Box 105
Pewaukee, WI, 53072* Museum
206 East Wisconsin Avenue, Pewaukee, 53072
Phone: (262) 691-0233
Open June-Sept, Sun, 1-4pm, year-round, Wed, 7-9pm, or by appointment.
Sussex Antique Power Association, Inc.
Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum (SE)
101 West Main Street
Waukesha, WI, 53186-4811
Phone: (262) 521-2859
Fax: (262) 521-2865* Waukesha County Museum
101 West Main Street, Waukesha, 53186-4811
Phone: (262) 521-2859
Fax: (262) 521-2865
Open all year except major holidays, Tues-Sat, 10am-4:30pm.
Call for Research Center hours.
Waukesha Engine Historical Society (SE)
1000 West St. Paul Avenue
Waukesha, WI, 53188* Historical Room
Waukesha Engine
1000 West St. Paul Avenue, Waukesha, 53188
Phone: (262) 542-3930 (President)
Open by request.
East Central Region
Germantown Historical Society (EC)
P.O. Box 31
Germantown, WI, 53022Our Museum is not named after the Society. It is shown by name below. We are located in the DheinsvilleHistoric Park at the convergence of Holy Hill Road, MapleAvenue and Fond du Lac Avenue (Hwy 145).
Christ Church Museum
Open Sundays Only, June 1 – Oct. 1
1-4 pmJeffris Research Library/Valentine Wolf Haus
Open Wed. and Sunday, June 1 – Oct. 1
1-4 pmBast Bell Museum
http://www.bastbellmuseum.com/
Open Wed. through Sunday, April 1 – Nov. 1
1-4 pmContact information
Email atinfo@bastbellmuseum.com or seehttp://www.bastbellmuseum.com/
“Snail-mail” at the address above
Phone (262) 628-3170 (Voicemail is available at any time.)
Richfield Historical Society (EC)
P.O. Box 268
Richfield, WI, 53076* Mayer’s Mill
Annual Thresheree, September 21 & 22.
Mill under restoration. For more information, call (262) 628-1074Washington County Historical Society (EC)
320 South Fifth Avenue
West Bend, WI, 53095-3333
Web site: www.historyisfun.com* Old Jailhouse
340 South Fifth Avenue, West Bend, 53095
Built in 1886.* Old Courthouse Square Museum
320 South Fifth Avenue, West Bend, 53095
Phone: (262) 335-4678
Open Wed-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sun, 1-4pm for tours.
Built in 1889.
Research and business offices on third floor.
Milwaukee Metropolitan Region
Milwaukee County Historical Society (M)
910 North Old World Third Street
Milwaukee, WI, 53203
Web site: www.milwaukeecountyhistsoc.org* Milwaukee County Historical Center
910 North Old World Third Street, Milwaukee
Phone: (414) 273-8288
Open all year except major holidays, Mon-Fri,
9:30am-5pm; Sat, 10am-5pm; Sundays, 1-5pm.* Lowell Damon House
Wauwatosa* Jeremiah Curtin House
Greendale* Kilbourntown House
ShorewoodFor more historical societies in this Region please click here.Others in the WisconsinLocal Historical Society Directory (From the Wisconsin State Historical Society website)
StateHistorical Society of Wisconsin www.shsw.wisc.edu
Waukesha County GenWeblocated at www.linkstothepast.com/waukesha
Milwaukee CountyGenealogy located at www.linkstothepast.com/milwaukee
Spanish-American WarVeterans located at www.linkstothepast.com/saw
History of the GreatLakes-Captains, Shipping, Lighthouse Keepers and Marine Biographies located at www.linkstothepast.com/marine
Manitowoc County GenWeblocated at www.2manitowoc.com
Historical Marker Database – Wisconsin
MilwaukeePublic Museum www.mpm.edu
HistoryChannel www.historychannel.com
HistoryPlace www.historyplace.com
TheHistory Net www.thehistorynet.com
AncestryMagazine www.ancestery.com
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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