Sunday, December 15, 2024
How the Wisconsin Historical Society Collects Political History in an Election Year
Growing Wisconsin’s historical repository with ephemera from upcoming National Conventions and battleground campaigns, the Society preserves stories for future generations
MADISON, Wis. – As stewards of one of the nation’s most significant historical collections, the Wisconsin Historical Society is gearing up to grow its political history collection this election year as Wisconsin and the Midwest are poised to play a critical role in determining who will be the next president. The Wisconsin Historical Society is not affiliated with any political party but will serve as an apolitical participant in official activities leading up to election day, collecting documents, campaign posters and buttons, photographs and other items representative of current events as Milwaukee and Chicago prepare to host the National Conventions of the country’s leading political parties.
Why Does the Wisconsin Historical Society Collect Political History?
Established in 1846 and chartered in 1853, the Wisconsin Historical Society is the oldest historical society in the U.S. to receive continuous state funding and is guided by its mission to connect people to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. Today, the Society is known for its distinguished collection of 290+ million manuscripts, maps, government records, photographs, films and physical objects. This collection will be increasingly accessible to the public when the future Wisconsin History Center opens its doors in 2027 and through extensive digitization initiatives in progress.
With its extensive library, robust archives and knowledgeable staff, the Society’s resources support research in nearly every field of American history from the nation’s beginnings to modern day events. Per state statute, the Society serves as Wisconsin’s trustee in the preservation and care of all records, articles and other materials of historic interest and significance.
Just as the Society’s founding members had the foresight to collect important history in the moment for the benefit of future generations, the organization continuously adds to the collection preserving relevant items with a story to tell. For example, campaign posters and handouts can offer insight into a candidate’s key platforms, showcasing language and imagery intended to connect with voters. By acquiring and preserving this kind of material today, the Society ensures that students and researchers have access to primary sources of information tomorrow, ten years or even a hundred years or more into the future.
“National elections shape the course of American and Wisconsin history, influencing culture, policy and public discourse,” said Abbie Norderhaug, State Archivist and Director of Acquisitions for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “The Society collects items connected to momentous events like presidential elections to capture a moment in time, preserving modern day stories that are destined to become turning points in history.”
How is the Wisconsin Historical Society Collecting Political History in an Election Year?
The Wisconsin Historical Society has designated staff members to attend important political events and collect memorabilia onsite, equipped with a pre-planned list of target items. As the Republican National Convention gets underway in Milwaukee this July, credentialed Society staff will be on site to thoughtfully gather and document items. Staff will also collect at the Democratic National Convention taking place in Chicago in August, and the Society will send a credentialed photographer to capture images and document moments from both events.
“Every four years, voters gather with their parties to rally behind their candidates ahead of election day. This civic activity is history-in-the-making, and we’re right in the heart of the action with Wisconsin hosting the Republican National Convention and a neighboring state hosting the Democratic National Convention,” said Jill Sterrett, Collections Division Administrator for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “As the state’s memory organization, we are collecting in real time knowing our actions today will allow future generations to explore and share these lasting stories of key moments in our nation’s history.”
Items collected during these events are carefully reviewed and documented before officially getting acquired into the Society’s collections and are subsequently transferred into safe storage at the State Archive Preservation Facility or Wisconsin Historical Society headquarters in Madison. 2D items like documents and photos may be digitized and uploaded to the Society’s website for public viewing, while 3D items may be photographed for the same purpose. Archivists will also collect political history through other channels during this election cycle, such as by adding to the Society’s newspapers collection—the second largest in the U.S., second only to the Library of Congress.
More Political History Resources and Further Reading
The Society offers a variety of political history resources helpful for students, independent researchers, journalists, and anyone who wants to learn more about how politics shaped both past and present. Wisconsin has a rich heritage of civic engagement—the birthplace of the Republican Party is in Ripon, Milwaukee fostered a strong socialist movement in the early 20th century, and Wisconsin is a longtime swing state with significant sway in the outcome of national elections—and the Society is proud to offer an array of articles, images, collection highlights and online exhibits that help share these stories. Check out the resources listed below for more information and click here to access our historic image gallery featuring key people, places and moments in political history.
- Homepage – Celebrate BIG Moments: Political History in Wisconsin
- View Political History content from the Society Press, including some recent titles:
- Wisconsin For Kennedy by B.J. Hollars
- Make Way for Liberty: Wisconsin African Americans in the Civil War by Jeff Kannel
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
