Wisconsin 101

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

Read more about the article OBJECT HISTORY: La Crosse Normal School Fireplace

Children in the La Crosse Normal School model kindergarten sitting before the fireplace. Image courtesy of Leslie Crocker, "We've Hung the Lanturn," (2013) pg. 33.

La Crosse Normal School Fireplace / La Crosse County / Region 3 - Center West / La Crosse / Home Furnishings / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Object Histories / 1900-1920 / Education

OBJECT HISTORY: La Crosse Normal School Fireplace

UW- La Crosse was once a smaller school that went by a different name. The original school, La Crosse Normal, was originally a training school for prospective teachers. It opened on September 7, 1909. Parts of the Normal School can still be seen on the UW-La Crosse campus, though they can be difficult to spot.…

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April 9, 2018

Read more about the article OBJECT HISTORY: Lapham Peak Observation Tower

Lapham Peak Observation Tower. Photo credit: Cole Roecker.

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

Grant County / Region 6 - South West / James D. Williams' Windlass / Platteville / Manufacturing & Trade / 1860-1880 / 1880-1900 / Object Histories / 1900-1920 / Nature & Environment

OBJECT HISTORY: James D. Williams’ Windlass

This is a machine used to lower and raise miners and materials through mine shafts in the lead mining region around Platteville, Wisconsin. Made from wooden supports with a wooden barrel shaft and crank attached to a rope with a bucket, a…

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January 9, 2018

Region 2 - North East / Hamburg / Fromm Fox Fur Coat / Marathon County / Manufacturing & Trade / Clothing & Fashion / 1900-1920 / Object Histories / 1920-1940

OBJECT HISTORY: Fromm Fox Fur Coat

This coat was made from the fur of foxes raised on the Fromm Fur Farm in Hamburg, Wisconsin. The jacket is covered in light-silver fox fur and lined with a taupe fabric. Straps allow the coat to also be worn as a cape. In the early decades of the 20th century, it was fashionable to use…

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December 9, 2017

Sheboygan County / Region 5 - Center East / Greenbush / Manufacturing & Trade / 1840-1860 / 1860-1880 / 1880-1900 / Science & Medicine / 1900-1920 / Object Histories / Nature & Environment

OBJECT HISTORY: The Muley Sawmill

If you grew up in Wisconsin, you may be familiar with some of Wisconsin’s forests like the Black River forest, Menominee forest, or the Chequamegon-Nicolet forest. For hundreds of years these forests have provided Wisconsin with lumber used for building homes, factories,…

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September 10, 2017