Wisconsin 101

Object History: Butch Vig’s Drum Set

When the Beatles performed on the February 9, 1964, "Ed Sullivan Show," teenage girls in the studio swooned and those at home went crazy with excitement. Adolescent boys, however, couldn't keep their eyes off band member Ringo Starr's Ludwig drum kit with…

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July 13, 2022

Ino / Object Histories / Bayfield County / Ethnicity & Identity / Curators' Favorites / Global Connections / Region 1 - North West / 1900-1918 / Society & Religion

OBJECT HISTORY: Slovak Catholic Altar

During the 19th and early 20th century, immigrants from all across Europe began coming to Wisconsin. Some had heard of economic opportunity from industries like mining, logging, or farming. Some were being treated unfairly in their home countries because of their race or religion.…

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October 6, 2020

Agriculture / Madison / Dane County / Education / Object Histories / Curators' Favorites / Manufacturing & Trade / 1918-1945 / Society & Religion / Region 7 - South Center

OBJECT HISTORY: Jar of Marbles

Today, the Wisconsin State Fair is full of attractions, rides, and great food, but in its early years, it was a place for farmers to gather and share ideas about the agricultural industry. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the state…

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October 6, 2020

Read more about the article OBJECT HISTORY: Beaver Felt Hat

Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Fur Trade / Prairie du Chien / Industry / Green Bay / Crawford County / Columbia County / Brown County / Object Histories / Clothing, Apparel & Fashion / 1787-1848 / Curators' Favorites / Everyday Life / Global Connections / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / Region 5 - Center East / Region 6 - South West / Region 7 - South Center

OBJECT HISTORY: Beaver Felt Hat

The beaver felt hat was one of the main reasons for the success of the fur trade in northern states, such as Wisconsin, and in Canada. But why was this hat more popular than others? Clothing allows for people to choose their…

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October 6, 2020

Blanchardville / Object Histories / Clothing, Apparel & Fashion / Everyday Life / Curators' Favorites / Lafayette County / 1918-1945 / Region 6 - South West

OBJECT HISTORY: Permanent Wave Machine

Prior to the twentieth century, a woman with straight hair who desired curls had to spend hours heating curling irons over a flame or sleep with rags and pins in her hair in order to achieve waves. If she could not attain…

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September 10, 2020

Sports & Games / Milwaukee / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Milwaukee County / Object Histories / Ethnicity & Identity / Clothing, Apparel & Fashion / Everyday Life / Curators' Favorites / Global Connections / 1987-2011 / Region 8 - South East / Earlene Fuller's Bowling Shirt

OBJECT HISTORY: Earlene Fuller’s Bowling Shirt

This shirt, which features an African kente cloth print, was designed, made and worn in the mid-1990s by Milwaukee's Earlene Fuller, an African American bowler and seamstress.

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September 8, 2020