In Wisconsin's early years, most of the wealth generated through trade, manufacturing, and land sales was directed toward construction projects and land investment, leaving few resources to develop cultural and intellectual institutions. As a predominantly producing and distributing center, Milwaukee exhibited a pattern of building construction centered primarily on the stores, hotels, warehouses, and factories needed to supply the local trade and to accommodate the immigrants pouring in through the harbor. Despite the more practical and functional economic objectives of Wisconsin's early white settlers, however, many also expressed an underlying concern for cultural and social improvement.
| Catherine Beecher and the development of Milwaukee-Downer College |
|
| Missionaries defend American-style schools for Indian children in the 1830s. |
|
| A Green Bay girlhood in the 1820s. |
|
| A newspaper produced by prisoners at Waupun, 1886 |
|
| An early description of the Milwaukee Public Museum (1891) |
|
| Electa Quinney, Wisconsin's first public school teacher |
|
| Madison parties in 1837 |
|
| A college student begs for cookies from home in 1867 |
|
| Letters from Milwaukee in its infancy, 1836-1846 |
|
| Recollections of Old Superior |
|
| A look at the life and legacy of Frances Willard |
|
| A former student recalls Milwaukee Female College in the 1860's |
| The infant state legislature writes its own rulebook, 1853. |
|
| Susan Frackelton recalls the Wheelock School for Girls (1926) |
|
| Baraboo women found their own cultural organization, 1880 |
|
| Population figures for every Wisconsin community, 1850-2000 |
|
| An account of the First Congregational Church, Prairie du Chien, Wis., 1834-1891 |
|
| Opening of the La Crosse Public Library, 1888 |
|
| Women's charitable work before 1876 |
|
| Conditions in state prisons, schools, and hospitals, 1955 |
|
| The Stockbridge-Munsee Constitution, 1857 |
|
| A guide to the Wisconsin Historical Society headquarters, 1900 |
|
| A short history of prison industries, 1852-2002 |
|
| An Abolitionist Recalls Anti-Slavery Days in Wisconsin |
| Pictures of Wisconsin school buildings, 1868-1950 |
|
| Increase Lapham examining a meteorite, ca. 1868 |
|
| Classroom rules for Milwaukee public schools, 1846 |
|
| Prairie du Chien merchant and judge James H. Lockwood, 1856. |
| The Milwaukee Public Museum is born, 1848. |
|
| Northern settlers try to join Minnesota, 1847 |
|
| An Episcopal bishop's diary of his 1834 visit to an Indian mission. |
| Stonefield, home of Gov. Nelson Dewey and the State Agricultural Museum |
|
| The University of Wisconsin's first building, North Hall |
|
| The State Historical Society of Wisconsin |
|
| The University of Wisconsin's Red Gym |
|
| The first kindergarten in the United States |
|
| Frederick Pabst helps to build a theater in Milwaukee |
|
| Lumber riches fund a Menomonie theater |
|
| Wisconsin Gazetteer from 1853 |
|
| A history of women's education at the University of Wisconsin |
|
| An Italian missionary recounts his work in the upper Great Lakes |
|
| Collected historical documents from the Wisconsin Historical Society |
|
| A historical, documentary, and descriptive history of Wisconsin to 1854 |
|
| Wisconsin Blue Books |
|
| A history of UW- La Crosse |
|
| Rev. W.G. Miller describes missionary work in the Fox Valley, 1845-75. |
|
| Memoirs of an influential Kenosha schoolteacher |
| Biographical sketches and writings of some Wisconsin pioneer women |
|
| A timeline and history of Beloit College |
|
| Documents and images of Milwaukee schoolchildren, 1887-present |
|
| The history and development of Lawrence University |
|
| Documents relating to child welfare organizations |
|
| Theater posters from a Madison opera house, 1890s |
|
| An 1861 guide to the University of Wisconsin |
|
| Images of schools and libraries in central Wisconsin |
|
| Broadside describing the organization of the University of Wisconsin, 1868 |
