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Wisconsin Magazine of History, Autumn 2011


The artists depicted the modern farmstead with a neat and well-kept house, yard, and buildings including, by 1948, the familiar large red barn and tall silo.

The rediscovery of a series of stunning, large-scale murals developed to showcase Wisconsin's century of agricultural heritage at the 1948 Wisconsin Centennial Exposition provided an opportunity for the Society to exhibit nine surviving murals in an interactive online exhibit. For the first time since 1948, the murals are back in the spotlight, thanks to a collaborative conservation and collecting project with the Kohler Foundation. Because of this project, the Wisconsin Historical Society is currently home to what may be the largest murals ever painted in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Historical Museum Curator of Domestic Life Joe Kapler tells the whole story behind the creation of the murals, their rediscovery and their conservation in Preserving the 'Big Picture' for Wisconsin: The 1948 Centennial Fair Murals in the Autumn 2011 issue of the "Wisconsin Magazine of History." To view the online exhibit, visit 1948 Wisconsin State Fair Murals: 100 Years of Agricultural History.

Other Stories in the Autumn 2011 Issue

The cover of the Autumn 2011 issue of the "Wisconsin Magazine of History"

This issue includes stories on the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Ho-Chunk land restoration campaign, and the history of the NAACP Youth Council's early years (1948–1963). Also included is an excerpt from the new Wisconsin Historical Society Press title, People of the Big Voice: Photographs of Ho-Chunk Families by Charles Van Schaick, 1879-1925.

Award of Merit Winner

The "Wisconsin Magazine of History" is the proud recipient of a prestigious 2010 Award of Merit from the American Association of State and Local History's Leadership in History Awards. The awards are presented for excellence in history programs, projects and people when compared with similar activities nationwide.

Wisconsin Magazine of History a Benefit of Society Membership

The Wisconsin Magazine of History is a benefit of Society membership. Individual issues are available through our online store. Sign up for membership today and start receiving this fine quarterly magazine.

:: Posted September 15, 2011
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