History is an ongoing conversation about the past. You’re invited to take part in that conversation and help build a shared history of our state. There are many ways to get involved!
This spring and summer, we’re collecting your memories of work and play in Wisconsin.We’re looking for stories and photos of your first job, what you make or do now, or what lessons your work life has taught you. Tell us about your summer vacations or your summers at camp. Just about any topic is welcome within the theme of Wisconsin at Work, Wisconsin at Play as long as it is a personal narrative with a strong connection to Wisconsin.
We’re using the photo-sharing website Flickr to uncover local histories from across the state. You’re invited to use our Flickr group to share your own historic photos of Wisconsin people and places—farms, schools, neighborhoods, celebrations, family portraits, vacation spots—anything that helps tell the story of your Wisconsin past.
All libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other Wisconsin cultural heritage institutions that hold materials related to Wisconsin history and culture are invited to become contributing partners of Recollection Wisconsin by building digital collections and sharing digital content.
No special expertise is required–Recollection Wisconsin provides contributing partners with guidelines and training for all the steps involved in building digital collections, including planning, copyright, imaging, metadata, and digital preservation. We can also recommend software solutions to help you organize and display your digital collection.
Please note: At this time, Recollection Wisconsin can partner with libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other cultural heritage institutions to build digital collections, but not private individuals. If you have a personal collection of materials you want to share, we encourage you to connect with your local library or historical society to discuss options for providing access to your content.
Sharing our stories. Exploring our past.
Recollection Wisconsin is a place to discover and share your Wisconsin story. You can use this website to search and browse a growing set of historical resources from collections across the state. You’re also invited to contribute your own memories, images, knowledge and thoughts.
from Wisconsin communities, including photos, postcards, maps, letters, diaries, books, artifacts, oral histories and more. Enter a term or terms in the box below to start your search, or get help with searching.
from Wisconsin libraries, archives, museums and historical societies. Sort collections by category or explore collections on a map to find resources near you.
Add a story or a photo and help build a collaborative history of our state. Or contribute a comment and add your voice to an ongoing conversation about Wisconsin's past.
Share
History is an ongoing conversation about the past. You’re invited to take part in that conversation and help build a shared history of our state. There are many ways to get involved!
Share a story
This spring and summer, we’re collecting your memories of work and play in Wisconsin.We’re looking for stories and photos of your first job, what you make or do now, or what lessons your work life has taught you. Tell us about your summer vacations or your summers at camp. Just about any topic is welcome within the theme of Wisconsin at Work, Wisconsin at Play as long as it is a personal narrative with a strong connection to Wisconsin.
Start sharing your own stories or read stories contributed by others.
Share a photo
We’re using the photo-sharing website Flickr to uncover local histories from across the state. You’re invited to use our Flickr group to share your own historic photos of Wisconsin people and places—farms, schools, neighborhoods, celebrations, family portraits, vacation spots—anything that helps tell the story of your Wisconsin past.
Find out how you can share your historic photographs.
Share a collection
All libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other Wisconsin cultural heritage institutions that hold materials related to Wisconsin history and culture are invited to become contributing partners of Recollection Wisconsin by building digital collections and sharing digital content.
No special expertise is required–Recollection Wisconsin provides contributing partners with guidelines and training for all the steps involved in building digital collections, including planning, copyright, imaging, metadata, and digital preservation. We can also recommend software solutions to help you organize and display your digital collection.
Learn more about how your organization can get involved.
Please note: At this time, Recollection Wisconsin can partner with libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other cultural heritage institutions to build digital collections, but not private individuals. If you have a personal collection of materials you want to share, we encourage you to connect with your local library or historical society to discuss options for providing access to your content.