The Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative summer cohort started their project work last month. This summer, we’re working with four new organziations and graduate students to digitize some very unique Wisconsin local history collections. We’re excited to work with Racine Public Library to digitize and provide online public access to materials from their Racine local history collection, specifically their community’s oldest high school yearbooks and photos that document Racine history.
Leading the effort this summer is graduate student intern McKenzie Weaver and host site supervisor Rebecca Leannah. Welcome McKenzie and Rebecca!
McKenzie Weaver is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, currently pursuing a certificate in Archives and Records Management through the School of Information Studies. She is passionate about increasing access to cultural and historical resources, organizing information, and uncovering the stories preserved in archival collections. Through this fieldwork opportunity at the Racine Public Library, she’s looking forward to building practical skills and contributing meaningfully to the field of archival work.
Rebecca Leannah is an adult services librarian at Racine Public Library and the local history collection librarian and curator. One of the cornerstones of the library, the local history collection includes photos, maps, school yearbooks, city directories and records, and other archival collections that uniquely document Racine’s history. Although the room is not currently open to the public, local history and genealogy patrons may contact Rebecca or adult services library staff to make an appointment and review collection materials in person. More information about the collection and access is available on their website.
The Racine Public Library takes pride in its “Beyond Books Collection,” which includes tools, hobby supplies, and other non-traditional items available for borrowing. Additionally, the library offers an Innovation Lab with free access to technology for community members and a “Library GO!” program that includes outreach libraries and home delivery services. And, of course, the local history room and collection!
Welcome Team Racine Public Library! Much gratitude to our partners at the UW-Milwaukee SOIS and UW-Madison iSchool and the state of Wisconsin for enabling this opportunity in Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025.
For further details, visit Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative or contact Vicki Tobias at vicki@wils.org.
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