Turning Points
in Wisconsin History
A costume from a Racine Purim carnival
Purim Costume
Wisconsin's Jewish population largely originated in two waves of immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries. German and Alsatian Jews arrived in the 1840s, settling primarily in Milwaukee, Slinger, La Crosse, and later, in the 1870s, in Appleton. Mass migrations from Russia and Eastern Europe in the 1880s and 1890s brought larger numbers of Jews to Wisconsin. Sheboygan became a well-known outpost for Orthodox Jews in the early 20th century, and Jews were similarly successful at community-building in other towns, such as Beloit, Eau Claire, Hurley, Wausau, and Racine. In spring, Jews around the world celebrate the holiday of Purim, often holding carnival-like celebrations and plays. This costume was made for a Purim carnival held in Racine in 1957.
| Related Topics: |
Immigration and Settlement 19th-Century Immigration |
| Creator: | Howard, Annette |
| Pub Data: | Wisconsin Historical Society Museum. (Object #2003.20.2) |
| Citation: | Purim Costume. Wisconsin Historical Society Museum. Online facsimile at: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1144; Visited on: 4/16/2024 |
.