The Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative (RWDI) connects libraries, archives, and cultural organizations across the state with graduate student interns to digitize local history collections. Through these partnerships, RWDI helps ensure that photographs, yearbooks, published histories, and archival materials documenting Wisconsin communities are preserved and shared online for anyone to explore.
We’re thrilled to welcome our fall cohort participants!
Appleton Historical Society
UW-Madison iSchool student, Morgan McFadden, will lead the work at Appleton Historical Society. Morgan is an MLIS student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, focusing on Archives and Records Management. Her interest in local history grew through her work at Minnetrista in Minnesota, where she discovered how engaging community history can be. She currently works as a Reference Manager at the CAI Morgridge Hall Library and brings a background in English literature, editing and publishing, administration, and digitization to her work with Recollection Wisconsin. She looks forward to helping make more of Appleton’s history accessible to a wider audience. Outside of work and school, Morgan enjoys swimming, reading, and journaling.
Gwen Sargeant, host site supervisor, directs the archival collections at Appleton Historical Society. Gwen graduated from Lawrence University and runs her own family business, Appleton Bicycle Shop, which has been in business since 1939. Gwen worked with Appleton Historical Society members to create an Images of Appleton book. She serves as the President of Appleton Historical Society. Gwen enjoys riding state bicycle rail trails with her husband Joe and attending local history events at the Appleton History Museum.
Fond du Lac Public Library
UW-Madison iSchool student, Jessica Russell, will lead the work at Fond du Lac Public Library. Jessica is an online MLIS student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, returning to school after 20 years and excited to begin a new chapter. She lives and works in the Fox Cities and brings a love of learning and trying new things to her project with the Fond du Lac Public Library. Outside of work and school, Jessica enjoys traveling, reading, watching Formula 1, and spending time with her spouse, two children, dog Ariel, and guinea pigs Hamish and Potato.
John Serrano, host site supervisor, is the local history and genealogy librarian for Fond du Lac Public Library. He is interested in helping to build a usable digital collection for researchers and identifying new, creative outlets, for patron engagement with local history.
Mequon-Thiensville Historical Society
UW-Milwaukee SOIS student, Maria Muto, will lead the work at the Mequon-Thiensville Historical Society. Maria is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is in her third year of the coordinated Art History/MLIS program. Her master’s thesis analyzes paintings of witchcraft by seventeenth-century Italian artist, Salvator Rosa. She is also the manager and curator of the Union Art Gallery in Milwaukee.
Rachel Muchin-Young, host site supervisor, is the Library Director of the Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon-Thiensville. She previously served as director of Franklin Public Library and Public Services Coordinator at Manitowoc Public Library. Rachel also serves on the Mequon-Thiensville Historical Society Board, where her involvement helped grow the Library’s local history collection, and mentors newer library directors through the Wisconsin Library Association. She holds an MLIS from UW–Milwaukee. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, knitting, gardening, and spending time with her four grandchildren.
Pritzker Military Museum and Library
UW-Milwaukee SOIS student, Elsie Chinavare, will lead the work at Pritzker Military Museum and Library. Elsie is pursuing an MLIS and an MS in Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Her experience with data management sparked a passion for making information more accessible, particularly archaeological data for descendant communities and the public. As the child of a military service member, Elsie is especially excited to work with the Pritzker Military Museum & Library to make its collections more accessible to service members, their families, and researchers.
Dustin DePue, host site supervisor, is the Director of Museum Collections at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, where he oversees collection management and development, exhibits, and digitization for the museum and archival collections. He has a Masters in Library and Information Science from Dominican University.
Thank You, Wisconsin partners!
Our sincere thanks to the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, UW-Madison iSchool, UW-Milwaukee SOIS and WiLS and Recollection Wisconsin staff and leadership for their continued support of our Digitization Initiative. Their commitment makes it possible for libraries and cultural organizations across the state to preserve community history while mentoring the next generation of information professionals. These partnerships play a vital role in keeping Wisconsin’s local stories accessible, discoverable, and meaningful for years to come.
For more information about the Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative, visit https://recollectionwisconsin.org/rwdi.
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