Curators’ Favorites

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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April 6, 2020

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

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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April 6, 2020

Milwaukee County / Milwaukee / Ethnicity & Identity / Related Stories / Curators' Favorites / 1900-1918 / 1918-1945 / Politics & Government / Region 8 - South East / Victor Berger Campaign Banner

Wisconsin’s 1918 Special Election for Senate and the Trial of Victor Berger

In 1918, Wisconsin held a special election to fill the seat of recently deceased Senator Paul Husting, who had been elected in 1914. The election was a three-way race between Democrat Joseph E. Davies, Republican Irvine L. Lenroot, and Socialist Victor L. Berger. Running under federal indictment, Berger placed third. He won 26% of the vote statewide in the April Senate election, winning 11 counties.

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September 10, 2018

Milwaukee County / Milwaukee / Related Stories / Curators' Favorites / 1877-1900 / 1900-1918 / 1918-1945 / Politics & Government / Region 8 - South East / Victor Berger Campaign Banner

Victor Berger and the Sewer Socialists

Victor Berger, one of the "Sewer Socialists," became the first Socialist to serve in the United States House of Representatives, winning the election in Wisconsin’s 5th congressional district in 1910.

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September 10, 2018

Health & Medicine / Dairy Industry / Agriculture / Education / Science & Technology / Industry / Dane County / Madison / Related Stories / Curators' Favorites / 1877-1900 / Manufacturing & Trade / Babcock Butterfat Tester / Science & Medicine / Region 7 - South Center

How Does a Babcock Tester Work?

Simplicity, Simplicity, SimplicityIn 1890, few farmers had ever taken a science class, and even if they understood the potential benefit, most lacked the cash to pay an expert for laboratory testing. Babcock’s great accomplishment was to develop a powerful, reliable test that was simple…

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December 1, 2013

Dairy Industry / Agriculture / Madison / Education / Food & Cooking / Dane County / Industry / Related Stories / Curators' Favorites / 1877-1900 / Manufacturing & Trade / Babcock Butterfat Tester / Science & Medicine / Region 7 - South Center

The Babcock Tester and the Wisconsin Idea

Free As Well WaterIn 1894 Adolph Schoenman of Plain, Wisconsin, published a booklet extolling the virtues of the Babcock butterfat test. In a parable explaining its benefits, an astonished Farmer Jones exclaims, “Isn’t that a dandy little machine, though? I suppose, of…

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December 1, 2013