One thing I’ve learned in my residency so far is that history travels. It’s scattered everywhere, and there’s no one singular place that holds it all. Which is good, but it also means you have to put a little more effort into the search. So far I’ve explored the Pfister’s personal archives, stored in a vault (yes, a vault, more on that later), and the Milwaukee Public Library. While those two spots supplied a lot of what I was looking for, I still had a few other things I wanted to find, and I generally wanted to see what else was out there. So I made an appointment to visit the Milwaukee County Historical Society. Here’s what I took away, and why I think it’s worth a visit for anyone interested in local history:
It’s like an interactive museum where you can rummage like you’re at an antique shop. Sure, you can’t purchase the items, but that’s not a bad thing. It feels good to know there’s an establishment filled with dedicated people keeping the history of this city alive.
You learn a lot. Not only about whatever history you’re trying to uncover, but also the best practices in archiving. People in these specialized fields are always so happy to share their knowledge.
It’s beautiful, and peaceful too. There’s something so calming about entering a historic building. It was so quiet upstairs in the archive room. I felt enveloped by the molded ceilings, the rows of books towering around me, and all the natural sunlight. The tactile nature of looking through physical archives is satisfying too. You’re able to slow down and really observe the pieces in front of you.
You can still take a piece of history with you, digitally. Many history museums will make scans of images, manuscripts, and more. You just need to follow whichever guidelines they have in place for using them in media. The guidelines are pretty clear, but always double check.
A big thank you to the Milwaukee County Historical Society for having me and for being so generous with their time and knowledge. If local history is something you love (or think you might), I’d encourage you to make the trip yourself. It’s worth the appointment.
— Megan