Politics, Society & Government

Door County / Milwaukee / Lifesaving Medal / Port Washington / Sheboygan County / Racine County / Ozaukee County / Milwaukee County / Manitowoc County / Kenosha County / Two Rivers / Related Stories / Region 8 - South East / Region 5 - Center East / Sheboygan / Kenosha / Racine / Manitowoc / Manufacturing & Trade / 1840-1860 / Politics, Society & Government / Nature & Environment / Transportation & Tourism

Early Lifesaving Stations in Wisconsin

A Slow Beginning As maritime commerce grew in the early 19th century, the loss of vessels and crews to shipwreck increased. In 1848, the federal government, through the United States Revenue Marine, established its first lifesaving stations along the New Jersey coast. The…

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May 21, 2018

Cupping Kit / Related Stories / Appleton / Region 5 - Center East / Outagamie County / Politics, Society & Government / 1840-1860 / 1860-1880 / Science & Medicine / 1880-1900 / 1900-1920 / Education

Dr. James T. Reeve

The owner of this particular cupping kit was Dr. James T. Reeve. Dr. Reeve was born near Goshen, New York, on April 26, 1834. Despite losing his father at age five and his mother five days before graduating medical school, J.T Reeve received his…

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May 3, 2018

Lapham Peak Observation Tower. Photo credit: Cole Roecker.

Lapham Peak Observation Tower / Delafield / Region 8 - South East / Waukesha County / Politics, Society & Government / Science & Medicine / 1900-1920 / Object Histories / Nature & Environment

OBJECT HISTORY: Lapham Peak Observation Tower

At first glance, you might recognize this iconic Southeastern Wisconsin tower. Yet, under its wooden beams lies a rich foundation of Wisconsin’s history, including one of the state’s first scientists and a state agency responsible for construction works you probably use everyday.…

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February 9, 2018

Draft Drum / Region 8 - South East / Ozaukee County / Politics, Society & Government / 1860-1880 / Object Histories

OBJECT HISTORY: Draft Drum

The hollow metal cylinder sits on the rusted, triangular metal base. A latch and a small hinged door are open, exposing a small square hole where the names of potential draftees could be placed. A thin metal crank protrudes from the center of the cylinder ready to be turned at any moment. This is a…

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November 9, 2017

Door County / Door County Book Mobile / Region 5 - Center East / Related Stories / Politics, Society & Government / Education / 1940-1960 / Transportation & Tourism

Creating the Door County Bookmobile

Door County Library Bookmobile service began in 1950 through a Wisconsin Free Library Commission experiment called the Door-Kewaunee Regional Library Demonstration. The Demonstration was developed to explore the possibilities of providing library service to remote areas of the state. This was during a nationwide movement to…

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November 1, 2017

Oconto County / Related Stories / Oconto / Region 2 - North East / Migrant Worker's Cabin / Politics, Society & Government / Nature & Environment / 1940-1960

Wisconsin’s Migrant Housing Laws

Before World War II, most of the migrant workers in Wisconsin’s pickle fields were single young men, and pickle companies provided housing for workers in large dormitories. After World War II, however, farmers began to hire more families to harvest pickles in…

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September 1, 2017