Highlights Archives
Online Image Collection Reaches 30,000
Wisconsin Historical Images, the Society's online image database, recently reached a major milestone — 30,000 images scanned and made available online. What began as 200 popular and/or historically significant images six years ago, has become both an important source of revenue for the library and archives as well as a way to expand the reach and visibility of the Society's rich visual collections. Wisconsin Historical Images has also extended beyond the Society Web site, displaying and selling images on Flickr as well as spreading the word through a monthly email newsletter.
Wisconsin Historical Images began in 2001. The original 200 images were selected from the most frequently ordered images as well as from several outstanding photo collections such as those of Andreas Dahl, Charles Van Shaick and H.H. Bennett. Society staff also suggested images. These scanned images are then made available for viewing on the Society Web site and for purchase as high-quality giclée prints or as digital images for publication.
Wisconsin Historical Images documents — in the form of posters, paintings, photographs and other printed material — virtually all aspects of the rich ethnic, social, economic and political history of Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest as well as those ethnic groups who helped shape its history. Daily life, lumber operations, farming and railroad transportation are just a few of the many subjects that can be found in the collections. In addition to regional history, the collections have a national focus in the areas of 19th-century exploration, Native Americans, mass communications, and labor and civil rights. Images are selected for inclusion for many different reasons, but decisions are primarily made on reference request, for conservation purposes, to commemorate certain anniversaries, or as special projects for students and volunteers. About one-fifth of the images in the collection are from the McCormick collection. Each month, Society staff members select a theme or collection of images to highlight in a feature gallery. Past galleries have included Tall-Tale postcards, cars in Wisconsin history, the circus, Wisconsin women, the State Fair, and Senator William Proxmire.
Wisconsin Historical Images continues to grow and to try to reach people in order to spread the word about the Society's collections in new ways. The Society recently collaborated on a project with Tandem Press to do, first, an exhibit on the history of flight and currently one on Frank Lloyd Wright at the Dane County Regional Airport. They also printed a large number of reproduction H.H. Bennett images for the Chula Vista condos in Wisconsin Dells.
Currently, less than 2 percent of the Society's total visual materials collections — more than 2 million images — are available online, but hundreds are added each month.
Interested in learning more about the online image collections at the Wisconsin Historical Society? Subscribe to the monthly email newsletter and tune in to the featured gallery exhibits and special image highlights today.
Reproduction images also make a great holiday gift! Order your quality giclée prints today.
:: Posted October 10, 2007
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