Wisconsin 101

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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April 13, 2020

Milwaukee / Milwaukee County / Related Stories / Curators' Favorites / 1877-1900 / 1900-1918 / Politics & Government / 1918-1945 / 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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April 13, 2020

Milwaukee / Object Histories / Food & Cooking / Milwaukee County / Ethnicity & Identity / Everyday Life / Global Connections / 1900-1918 / Society & Religion / Region 8 - South East / Settlement Cook Book

OBJECT HISTORY: Settlement Cook Book

The first edition of The Settlement Cook Book was published on April 1, 1901 with an original printing of 1,000 copies. Copies not distributed to the settlement’s cooking school students were sold at the Boston Store in Milwaukee for 50 cents each and sold out within the first year. Kander made notes on the recipe for Mocha…

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February 10, 2020

Art & Design / Milwaukee / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Milwaukee County / Object Histories / 1900-1918 / Politics & Government / Region 8 - South East / Victor Berger Campaign Banner

OBJECT HISTORY: Victor Berger Campaign Banner

Milwaukee teacher and newspaper editor Victor L. Berger was arguably the most successful Socialist politician in the United States. This large poster documents Berger's campaign for United States Senate in a special election in April 1918.

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September 10, 2018

Maritime Industry / Kenosha / Racine / Manitowoc / Milwaukee / Kenosha County / Sheboygan / Two Rivers / Port Washington / Milwaukee County / Related Stories / Door County / Ozaukee County / Racine County / 1848-1877 / Manitowoc County / Nature & Environment / Politics & Government / Sheboygan County / Region 5 - Center East / Transportation & Tourism / Region 8 - South East / Lifesaving Medal

Early Lifesaving Stations in Wisconsin

A Slow BeginningAs maritime commerce grew in the early 19th century, the loss of vessels and crews to shipwreck increased. In 1848, the federal government, through the United States Revenue Marine, established its first lifesaving stations along the New Jersey coast. The system…

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May 21, 2018

Industry / Maritime Industry / Milwaukee / Milwaukee County / Related Stories / 1848-1877 / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / Transportation & Tourism / Region 8 - South East / Lifesaving Medal

The Wreck of the Tanner

The Wrecked VesselThe Tanner was a barque, or three-masted ship, whose foremast was square-rigged and whose main-and mizzenmasts were fore-and-aft rigged. It measured 156.38 feet long by 31.75 feet in breadth. The ship was built in 1863 by the Milwaukee shipbuilding firm Ellsworth & Davidson and…

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May 21, 2018