Object Histories

Region 8 - South East / New Object Histories / Henk Mineral Spring Water Bottle / Waukesha / Waukesha County / Manufacturing & Trade / Food & Cooking / Science & Medicine / 1880-1900 / Object Histories / Nature & Environment

OBJECT HISTORY: Henk Mineral Spring Water Bottle

Henk Mineral Spring Water Bottle. Courtesy of Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum Collection ID: 2009.011.181. Once a small prairie town, Waukesha, Wisconsin became known as Spring City during the late 19th century with the discovery and promotion of healing springs throughout…

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February 19, 2023

2020-2040 / Region 6 - South West / Platteville / Ingersoll-Sergeant Pneumatic Rock Drill / Grant County / 2000-2020 / Manufacturing & Trade / 1880-1900 / Object Histories / 1900-1920 / Nature & Environment / 1920-1940 / Education / 1940-1960 / 1960-1980 / 1980-2000

OBJECT HISTORY: Ingersoll-Sergeant Pneumatic Rock Drill

Picture of Ingersoll-Sergeant Pneumatic Rock Drill, courtesy of Liam Reinicke. The Ingersoll-Sergeant pneumatic rock drill stands in front of the Rountree Hall Apartments in Platteville, serving as an important symbol of Platteville’s mining history. The drill was manufactured by the Ingersoll-Sergeant Rock…

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December 13, 2022

Sauk County / Region 6 - South West / The Canfield Temperance Case / Baraboo / Home Furnishings / 1840-1860 / Object Histories / Religion

OBJECT HISTORY: The Canfield Temperance Case

The straw case pictured here was created by Cordelia Canfield in 1844. Cordelia was the wife of William Canfield, a noted local historian and surveyor of the Baraboo, WI area. Canfield’s case is approximately 1 foot long with its cap on and…

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October 4, 2022

“SMART” Banner by Dennis Nechvatal, Madison, WI, 1983. Courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society ID #2011.63.2

Smart Banner / Dane County / Madison / Region 7 - South Center / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Object Histories / 1980-2000

OBJECT HISTORY: “SMART” Banner by Dennis Nechvatal

“SMART” Banner by Dennis Nechvatal, Madison, WI, 1983. Courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society ID #2011.63.2 Not many people would expect that some of the most legendary music of the late twentieth and early twenty first century was made right here in…

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June 24, 2022

“1909 Harley-Davidson V-twin motor." Courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Archives.

Milwaukee County / Milwaukee / Region 8 - South East / The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine / Manufacturing & Trade / 1900-1920 / Object Histories / Transportation & Tourism

OBJECT HISTORY: The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine

“1909 Harley-Davidson V-twin motor." Courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Archives. When Edward Pennington unveiled the first prototype for what he deemed the “motorcycle” in 1895, inspiration struck the minds of two Milwaukee natives, William Harley and Arthur Davidson. Joined by Arthur’s brother, Walter,…

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June 18, 2022

Drawing of the Kohler Company's "Armeda" toilet. Courtesy of the Kohler Co. Archives.

Sheboygan County / Sheboygan / Region 5 - Center East / The 1904 Kohler “Armeda” Toilet / Home Furnishings / Manufacturing & Trade / Object Histories / 1900-1920

OBJECT HISTORY: The 1904 Kohler “Armeda” Toilet

By the year 1904, when the “Armeda” toilet pictured here appeared in the Kohler Company’s product catalogue, Sheboygan-based Kohler had become one of the largest makers of bathroom furnishings in the United States. Even at this early date in its history, as…

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March 11, 2022