Highlights Archives
Wisconsin at Play: Archives Week 2006
How do we know that people were curling on the Milwaukee River in the 1840s? Or that enthusiasm for the bicycle led to the creation of a biking journal called The Pneumatic? We know because of primary sources — the original manuscripts, photographs and other unpublished records that the Wisconsin Historical Society's archives and 13 Area Research Centers collect to preserve the past for future generations.
October 15 through 22 is Wisconsin Archives Week, the time each year when original historical documents get out of the vaults and in front of the public. This year's theme, "Wisconsin at Play," highlights the recreational activities, leisure pursuits, sports, hobbies and games that Wisconsinites have enjoyed in their off hours for centuries. The week provides an opportunity for institutions statewide to showcase their historical treasures through public programs.
Archives Week celebrates the value of these records and the people who care for them in dozens of organizations around the state. These documents tell the stories of our families, communities, businesses, civic organizations and government institutions. Sponsored by the Society and the Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board (WHRAB), a volunteer board appointed by the governor and the Society, Wisconsin Archives Week is one of many such events across the nation that promote the mission of archives. The Society maintains one of the premier archival collections in the country, with more than 30,000 separate collections of unpublished records. These collections are open to anyone and are used annually by thousands of students, genealogists, scholars and many others with a need to reconnect with the past.
Join us as we celebrate "Wisconsin at Play" and the community of people who collect, share, preserve and enjoy these unique resources. A special exhibit devoted to play will be on display at the Society headquarters in Madison from October 15 through January 15, and the Wisconsin Historical Museum's new exhibit Toy Stories opens on October 17. That same day is also Home Movie Night in the Society's auditorium. Find out more about your family history during Family History Night on October 20. You can also see historic photographs of Wisconsinites at play in a new online gallery.
Find an event in your area in the online calendar.
:: Posted October 13, 2006
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