Fond du Lac, Wisconsin History Manuscripts

SOURCE OF THE LAKE
Preface

This book of essays had its origin in a reevaluation of the History and Broad Field Social Studies curricula that was undertaken by the members of the History Program at Marian College in the spring of 1994. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year, History majors and Broad Field Social Studies majors were required to prepare an ori-ginal historical essay, making use of primary sources, as the capstone to these major programs at Marian College. In 1997, it was decided to transform this capstone into a three-semester sequence of courses in order to permit students the necessary time for research, writing, and polishing of the essay. More than two years ago, I decided to undertake this book project as a contribution to Fond du Lac’s celebration of its sesqui-centennial.

From the beginning, students have been encouraged to pursue topics in local history in order to take advantage of the rich resources available in state and local reposi-tories and to permit full and effective use of documentary collections by undergraduates who typically lack the resources or the time for travel to more remote collections. In recent years, local history has left far behind the largely unfair characterization that it appealed only to those interested in genealogy or antiquarianism. Paralleling changes in attitudes of professional historians that have led to the emergence of social history and women’s history, and growing from the perspectives of the French Annales school that have emphasized the importance of the rhythms of “ordinary” life, local history has found an increasingly significant place in historical studies. From the perspective of Marian College students, most of whom are preparing to teach in Wisconsin schools, an intensive exploration of historical resources available in the community and State also makes a great deal of sense.

These essays all have stemmed from this Marian College History Program pro-ject. Focused on Fond du Lac County and the vicinity, they explore varied aspects of the community and its development. Adaptations to rural life, race relations, diversity, social reform movements, gender in society, political conflict, immigration, community icon-ography, impact of technology on the community, and commercial development and change are all themes that are explored in these essays, which have been loosely grouped into three categories: Society and Culture, Politics, and Economy and Business. Each essay makes an individual effort to explore dimensions of the evolution of a multifaceted American community that has experienced enormous change and a variety of rhythms of growth and decline over a period of a century and a half.

One of the distinct pleasures of editing a volume such as this is the opportunity to work collaboratively with many others. In directing the research and writing of the papers and subsequently in editing them for publication, I have received the assistance, advice, and wisdom of many other people, whom it is my pleasure to thank here.

Librarians play a key role in historians’ efforts, and several have been involved in the evolution of this book. Mary Ellen Gormican, Library Director, and Carolyn Colwell and Nima Ingle, reference librarians at Marian College’s Cardinal Meyer Library, have been the first resource for beginning students. John Ebert and Sally Albertz, of the Adams House Resource Center at the Fond du Lac Historical Society, have dazzled everyone with their command of the large and complex collection of materials that is available in Fond du Lac. Mary Georgeff, of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison, has been kind enough each semester to provide an introduction to one of the finest state historical archives in the country and to conduct electronic searches of the State Historical Society data bases for the students who were involved in writing these papers. All these individuals have given much time and effort in supporting the students’ research on their topics.

Other faculty members of the Marian College History Program, including Dr. James Ford, Dr. Mary Gross, Father Ron Jansch, Sr. Marie Scott, and Dr. Richard Whaley, all played roles in the completion of this project. They have read and commented on the papers and attended the presentations of completed research. Dr. Whaley carried on the direction of those papers that were in progress while I was on leave from Marian to teach in Europe in 1998-99, and he provided excellent background for all the students through his course on Wisconsin History. Father Ron and Dr. James Ford have been proofreaders nonpareil.

Jeff Kuhnz of Action Printing was most helpful in providing advice on preparing the photographs for the printer. Angie Mies, Desktop Publisher at Marian College, designed the cover, which incorporates the official logo of the sesquicentennial.

Several students, past and present, assisted in preparing the manuscript. Ashley Bruckschen and Natalie Ogasawara typed portions of the text that were not available on disk. Sally Albertz identified appropriate photographs and background information on the Mark Harrison paintings that are reproduced among the illustrations, and Gayle Kiszely and Edie Birschbach assisted with the major task of editing and proofreading. And of course there would be no book at all without the sixteen authors whose work is represented here.

Finally, this book represents a community effort made possible through its fund-ing as a part of the Fond du Lac sesquicentennial celebration. Generous contributions have been made by the Fond du Lac Public Library, through its Bernice and Robert Seefeld Fund, for which I thank Leslyn Shires, Director, by the members of the Fond du Lac County Historical Society, and by Marian College of Fond du Lac, through the efforts of President Richard I. Ridenour, M.D., and of Vice President for Academic Affairs Sheryl Ayala, who both have been consistently supportive of this project.

Whatever virtues this book possesses are the result of the combined efforts of the individual authors and the people listed above. While in such a collaborative work it might also be tempting to share the responsibility for any shortcomings that remain, its faults, I must confess, are the consequence of my own limitations as an editor.

Clarence B. Davis
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
February 5, 2002

Copyright 2002 by Clarence B. Davis. All Rights Reserved. Printed by Action Printing, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Electronic publication by Fond du Lac Public Library has been approved by Clarence B. Davis.

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