Turning Points
in Wisconsin History
"The Wisconsin Idea" (1912)
The Wisconsin Idea
As head of the newly established Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library, Charles McCarthy helped to write many of the major reform laws of the Progressive era, including the workers' compensation law and workplace safety law of 1911. McCarthy believed that knowledge could have a practical impact on the needs and aspirations of the people, and he advocated the use of university resources to address societal issues, an innovative educational approach that became known as the "Wisconsin Idea." McCarthy's book, "The Wisconsin Idea," published in 1912, describes the major problems facing the country, some of the Progressive reforms already passed, and his guiding vision for the future.
| Related Topics: |
The Progressive Era Progressivism and the Wisconsin Idea |
| Creator: | McCarthy, Charles |
| Pub Data: | Wisconsin Electronic Reader |
| Citation: | McCarthy, Charles. The Wisconsin Idea. (1912); Online facsimile at: http://www.library.wisc.edu/etext/WIReader/Contents/Idea.html; Visited on: 5/8/2024 |
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