McFarland Historical Society

McFarland Gold Star Mothers

McFarland residents Mrs. Ole (Mary Lyster) Nelson and Mrs. Theodore Edwards were among the Gold Star Mothers who made a U.S. government-sponsored pilgrimage to France in 1930. Both Nelson and Edwards lost sons during World War I. This collection includes a diary, scrapbooks, letters, photographs and ephemera from the voyage as well as letters and photos from Helmer Nelson and Alvin Edwards’ World War I service.

Skare Collection

The Skare Collection at the McFarland Historical Society comprises over one thousand objects related to the Norwegian immigrant experience collected by Albert Skare of McFarland, Wisconsin. The digital collection provides access to selections from this extensive collection, focusing on household goods and folk art brought to Wisconsin by Norwegian immigrants in the 19th century.