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Historical Essay

Civil Rights Movement in Wisconsin

Brief history of the Civil Rights Movement in Wisconsin.
Historical Essay

Desegregation and Civil Rights in Wisconsin

Housing and Racism
Discover the history of the struggle for Civil Rights in Wisconsin
Historical Essay

Paine, Byron, 1827-1871

Civil Rights Law
Learn about the Milwaukee based lawyer who won two of Wisconsin's most important civil rights cases and was on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Historical Essay

Barbee, Lloyd A. (1925-2002)

Civil Rights Advocate and Legislator
Biography of Lloyd A. Barbee, Milwaukee civil rights advocate and legislator.
Historical Essay

Old Abe and the Iron Brigade

Wisconsin in the Civil War
Discover how a pet eagle named Old Abe helped Wisconsin serve the Union in the Civil War
General Information

March On, Milwaukee

Educator Resources on the Milwaukee Fair Housing Marches for Grades K-12
Learn about the Society's ongoing partnership with March On, Milwaukee to commemorate the fair housing movement and to promote education on local topics.
Historical Essay

Ku Klux Klan in Wisconsin

Brief history of the Ku Klux Klan in Wisconsin.
Historical Essay

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights Movement in Wisconsin

Learn about the LGBT rights movement in Wisconsin. This article also contains links to other articles about the history of the LGBT movement in WI.
Historical Essay

Father Groppi 'Denial of Absolution' Collage

Wisconsin Historical Museum Object – Feature Story
Collage featuring likeness of civil rights activist Father James Edmund Groppi by artist Gloria Adair of Milwaukee, 1966. (Museum object #1993.37.1)
Historical Essay

Gillespie, Ezekiel (1818-1892)

Black Voting Rights Activist
Biography of Ezekiel Gillespie who was active in Milwaukee's small Black community, especially on voting rights issues.
Historical Essay

Black History in Wisconsin

Read about Black history in Wisconsin. There are many links to original documents, pictures, eyewitness accounts, and other primary sources.
Historical Essay

Martin Luther King and Wisconsin

The Civil Right's Leader Shows his Support
Discover the connection Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King had with the 1960s protests in Milwaukee.
Historical Essay

Anneke, Mathilde, 1817-1884

This woman founded the first feminist newspaper in the United States. Read about her dedication to women's rights and her opposition to slavery.
Historical Essay

Women's History in Wisconsin

Provides a comprehensive summary of women's history in Wisconsin and contains primary sources from the 16th century to the early 21st century.
Historical Essay

Vel Phillips's Common Council Desk

Wisconsin Historical Museum Object – Feature Story
Desk used by Milwaukee Alder Vel Phillips, made by the Northwestern Furniture Company for Milwaukee City Hall, 1895. (Museum object #2007.16.1)
Historical Essay

Zeidler, Frank (1912 – 2006)

Last Socialist to Run a Major American City
Learn about Milwaukee's third and last Socialist mayor. Read about the many improvements made to the city of Milwaukee under his leadership.
Historical Essay

Frank P. Zeidler — The Last Socialist to Run a Major American City

Learn how Frank Zeidler propelled social, economic and structural improvements in Milwaukee as America's last Socialist Mayor in 1948 - 1960.
Historical Essay

African American Migration

World War II and it Effect on Blacks
Discover the effects World War II had on Blacks in Wisconsin.
Historical Essay

The Birth of the Labor Movement

How Wisconsin Created the Workday
Discover the history of the labor movement in Wisconsin and how it created the modern work week.

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