Portraits of Wisconsin workers

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The thirteen photographs in this slideshow depict farm laborers, factory employees, and other Wisconsin workers from the 1890s to the 1970s. Looking at these images, we wonder: what was on the minds of these now-anonymous men and women as they posed for the photographer? Were they proud of their work, their uniforms, their employers? Were they pleased to have a break or anxious to get back to the task at hand?

  • American Brass Company employees outside the Kenosha plant, ca. 1913. Kenosha County Historical Society.
    Employees of the American Brass Company assembled outside the Kenosha plant, ca. 1913. Source: Kenosha County Historical Society.
  • Employees pose outside of H. J. Ammann Cigar Factory with the founder's photo in the foreground, Kiel, ca. 1900. Heritage Collection, Kiel Public Library.
    Employees pose outside of H. J. Ammann Cigar Factory with a portrait of company founder Henry Ammann in the foreground, Kiel, ca. 1900.  Source: Heritage Collection, Kiel Public Library.
  • Workers at City Hall construction site, Milwaukee, 1896.
    Workers at City Hall construction site, Milwaukee, 1896. Source: Milwaukee Public Library.
  • Warner Dredging Company, Adams County, ca. 1912. Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
    Warner Dredging Company work crew, Adams County, ca. 1912. Photo by Taylor Brothers. Source: UW-La Crosse.
  • Two paper counters at the Bergstrom Paper Mill, Menasha, ca. 1910. Menasha Public Library.
    Two paper counters at the Bergstrom Paper Company, Menasha, ca. 1910. Source: Menasha Public Library. Read more about Wisconsin’s history of paper manufacturing in the Fox Valley Memory Project.
  • Jiffy-Jell employees posed around and on a train car, Waukesha, 1917. Waukesha County Historical Society.
    Pure Foods Company employees with a shipment of Jiffy-Jell (a precursor to Jell-O) destined for France, Waukesha, 1917. Photo by Warren O’Brien. Source: Waukesha County Historical Society.
  • Women employees of the Globe Shipbuilding Company ca. 1942. Jim Dan Hill Library, University of Wisconsin-Superior.
    Globe Shipbuilding employees, Superior, ca. 1942. Globe built ships for military use during World War II. Source: UW-Superior. Read more about wartime shipbuilding in the Dictionary of WI History.
  • Cranberry harvesters, 1912. South Wood County Historical Corporation.
    “Gaynor’s Rakers” – harvesting crew for Gaynor Cranberry Company, Wisconsin Rapids, 1912. Photo by Taylor Brothers. Source: South Wood County Historical Corporation.
  • Stacking crew, Cornfalfa Farms, Waukesha County. Source: New Berlin Historical Society.
    “The stacking crew” posed in front of a haystack, Cornfalfa Farms, Waukesha County, early 20th c. Source: New Berlin Historical Society.
  • Badger Auto Service attendants, Milwaukee, 1936. Milwaukee Public Library.
    Badger Auto Service attendants, Milwaukee, 1936. Source: Milwaukee Public Library.
  • Bus drivers for the Milwaukee County Transit System, 1952. Milwaukee Public Library.
    Bus drivers for the Milwaukee County Transit System, 1952. Photo by Fred Stanger. Source: Milwaukee Public Library.
  • Staff of the Bank of Brodhead, 1960s or 1970s. Brodhead Historical Society.
    Staff of the Bank of Brodhead, 1960s or 1970s. Photo by Truman Olin. Source: Brodhead Historical Society.
  • Logging crew in the bunkhouse, 1900-1920. Langlade County Historical Society.
    A logging crew relaxes in the bunkhouse, unidentified Northwoods location, 1900-1920. Photo by A. J. Kingsbury. Source: Langlade County Historical Society.

Sources

The images in this slideshow come from the following digital collections. Follow the links to browse and search the full collections.