Studying Wisconsin

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The Life of Increase Lapham, Early Chronicler of Plants, Rocks, Rivers, Mounds, and All Things Wisconsin

Martha Bergland and Paul G. Hayes

A detailed and compelling account of one of Wisconsin’s most notable, influential, and often-overlooked naturalists.

424 pages, 6 x 9, 70 b&w photos and illustrations
Hardcover: $26.95 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-648-1
Ebook: $15.99 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-649-8
Publication Date: 6/3/2014

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Description

Curiosity and discipline marked the life of Increase Allen Lapham. After his arrival in Wisconsin in 1836, Lapham quickly became the territory’s most regarded naturalist. His life and work left a permanent imprint for those who followed, such as John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Lorrie Otto, and Gaylord Nelson. He may have been Wisconsin’s most respected citizen of the mid-nineteenth century, yet he and his legacy are largely overlooked today. In Studying Wisconsin, authors Martha Bergland and Paul Hayes bring his achievements to light with this first full-length biography of Lapham and the first effort to explore his life before he arrived in Wisconsin.

Increase Lapham’s ability to observe, understand, and meticulously catalog the natural world marked all of his work, from his days as a teenage surveyor on the Erie Canal to his last great contribution as Wisconsin's state geologist. Self-taught, Lapham mastered biology, botany, geology, archaeology, limnology, mineralogy, engineering, meteorology, and cartography. He identified and preserved thousands of botanical specimens. He surveyed and mapped Wisconsin’s effigy mounds. He was a force behind the creation of the National Weather Service, lobbying for a storm warning system to protect Great Lakes sailors. A prolific writer, his 1844 guide to the territory was the first book published in Wisconsin. Asked late in life which field of science was his specialty, he replied simply, “I am studying Wisconsin.”

Told in compelling detail through Lapham’s letters, journals, books, and articles, Studying Wisconsin chronicles the remarkable life and achievements of Wisconsin’s pioneer citizen-scientist.

Author Bios

Martha Bergland

After her retirement from teaching English at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Martha Bergland wrote an article on Increase Lapham for Milwaukee Magazine and continued to study Lapham for the next five years. She is also the author of The Birdman of Koshkonong: The Life of Naturalist Thure Kumlien, published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, as well as two novels, A Farm Under a Lake and Idle Curiosity, both published by Graywolf, and is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize. She lives in Glendale, Wisconsin.

Paul G. Hayes

During his thirty-three years at The Milwaukee Journal, science reporter Paul G. Hayes often relied on the work of Increase Lapham, whose home had been three blocks north of the newspaper office. After retiring in 1995, Hayes continued to write, often referring to Lapham and his contributions. This biography is a fitting finale to a fifty-year acquaintance. Hayes and his wife live in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

‘Studying Wisconsin’ is the long-overdue biography of a legendary figure in the state’s history. . . . Relying heavily on Increase Lapham’s own voluminous papers, Bergland and Hayes do a masterful job of bringing this pioneer man of science to life. Their account demonstrates how Lapham blended his ravenous curiosity with an equable temperament and a passion for detail to create a legacy that is still relevant today.

John Gurda

Milwaukee historian and author

“Bergland and Hayes’s engaging writing enlivens thorough research, revealing an unusually dedicated and passionate man whose wide ranging observations and publications contributed to many emerging scientific fields.”

—Robert A. Birmingham, former Wisconsin State Archaeologist

“As Wisconsin’s first patron of the sciences, Increase Lapham carefully documented the nature of Wisconsin’s land, lakes, weather, and climate. With the publication of Studying Wisconsin, Lapham’s vision for lifesaving weather services and tireless efforts to document, understand, and predict Wisconsin’s weather has come full circle.”

—Louis Uccellini, former director of the US National Weather Service

Studying Wisconsin

Discussion Guide

Whether you’re enjoying Martha Bergland and Paul Hayes’s Studying Wisconsin on your own, for a class, or as part of a book club or discussion group, this companion guide will enhance your reading experience and encourage you to dive deeper into the life and legacy of Increase Lapham.

Discussion Guide