Title: Wisconsin Geological Society Records
Inclusive Dates: 1936-2023

Creator:

• Wisconsin Geological Society

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 409

Quantity: 4.2 cubic ft. (9 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Records of the Wisconsin Geological Society, whose mission is to support communities in scientific discovery and the application of geoscientific knowledge. Contains newsletters, award applications, correspondence, and membership information.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0409

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The Wisconsin Geological Society (WGS) was officially formed in early 1936 with a core group of Milwaukee Public Museum employees in charge of the Museum’s Earth Sciences displays. Meetings were shifted from member’s homes to the Museum’s Trustees room. The WGS was one of three clubs that helped found the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Studies in 1940. Later in 1950, WGS members attended the first American Federation of Mineralogical Societies meeting in Salt Lake City. The WGS has hosted or participated in numerous rock and mineral shows, lobbied for the naming of the state fossil as well as state rock and mineral, established the UWM Endowment Fund scholarship, and publishes a newsletter titled The Trilobite.

The collection consists of award applications, newsletters, correspondence, bills, membership information, minutes, a magazine, constitution, donations, scholarship, scrapbooks, memorials, photographs, trophies and plaques. The All American Federation Club Award applications provide a comprehensive overview of the society’s activities, services, displays, donations, and publications for a given year, though one was not produced for the year of 1995. The collection also contains issues of the newsletter The Trilobite which began in 1944. The majority of Gem and Mineral show information covers 1982 and 1984.

Subjects are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Wisconsin Geological Society Records, 1936-2023, Collection 409. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Bulletin of the Geological Society of America

Jewelry Making Gems and Minerals

The Trilobite

The Wisconsin Speleologist

Bound issues of The Trilobite (1944-2010) were removed and cataloged separately. See Related Materials for the record.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by the Wisconsin Geological Society in 2023. Materials accessioned as a Local History Manuscript Collection.

Processing Information

Processed by Tobias Fudge, 2023.

Box   1 Folder   1	American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, display case booklets, 1939-1985
	Applications to All American Federation Club Award
Box   1 Folder   2-5	1976-1979
Box   2 Folder   1-4	1980-1983
Box   3 Folder   1-7	1984-1990
Box   4 Folder   1-5	1991-1996
Box   4 Folder   6	Board minutes, 1989-2004
Box   4 Folder   7	Constitution and by-laws, 1939-1987
Box   4 Folder   8	Donations and scholarships, 2007-2018
Box   4 Folder   9	Good Samaritan visitations, 1971-1977
Box   5 Folder   1	Manuals, 1991
Box   5 Folder   2	Membership, 1936-2023
Box   5 Folder   3-4	Membership applications, 1987-2018
Box   5 Folder   5	Membership - trial membership, 2017
Box   9 Folder   1	Memorial to Lloyd Brown, 2018
Box   5 Folder   6	Midwest Federation full committee 1984 notes, 1982-1984
Box   5 Folder   7	Midwest Federation Gem & Mineral Show 1982, 1982-1983
Box   5 Folder   8	Midwest Federation Gem & Mineral Show 1984, 1981-1984
Box   6 Folder   1	Midwest Federation Gem & Mineral Show 1984, minutes, 1982-1984
Box   6 Folder   2	Obituaries, 1984-2022
Box   9 Folder   2	Photos of exhibits, field trips, and original members, 1937-circa 1950
Box   8	Plaques and trophies, 1977-1993
Box   6 Folder   3	Rock & Gem v.53 no.3, March 2023
Box   6 Folder   4	Scholarship fund, 1984-2009
Box   6 Folder   5	State fossil bill, 1966-2022
Box   6 Folder   6	State rock and mineral, 1963-1971
	The Trilobite
Box   6 Folder   7-13	2011-2017
Box   7 Folder   1-6	2018-2023
Box   7 Folder   7	Anniversary Edition, 1985
Box   7 Folder   8	Bicentennial Issue, 1976
	Wisconsin Geological Society
Box   7 Folder   9	Certificates, 1961-2000
Box   7 Folder   10	History, 1969-2019
Box   9	Scrapbook, 1960-1973
Box   7 Folder   11	TMJ4 photo, April 2023