Wisconsin's online state publication

The second online quarterly issue of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Newsletter has been posted. (A print version is still available on request.) The state society page itself is set up as a wiki, and the word is that "almost 190" people have signed up. What the newsletter really needs is contributions. In her column, president Mary Rieder particularly requests articles about Wisconsin families, up-to-date cemetery transcriptions, upcoming events, and resources of interest to Wisconsin researchers. July issue contents:

"What's Up in Your District?" a compendium of reports from local societies around the state.

"Come Wiki With Us," by Mary Rieder, introducing the site's features.

Two installments of "Get To Know Your Wisconsin Resources":

The Barron County Genealogical Society's library is now housed in a commodious if somewhat remote old jail cell.

Useful research information on the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay Archives, covering all 16 counties of northeast Wisconsin.

"Florence County: Special Schedule of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors and Marines and widows from the 11th (1890) census," tr. Mrs. John M. Irvin

"Museums on the Lawns," a report on Minda Powers-Douglas's presentation on cemetery symbolism to the Green County Genealogical Society.

"Waushara County: North Dakota Cemetery..." tr. Wayne and Alta Guyant

Gems from 1844 and 1860

Illinois Harvest (previously blogged here) has recently digitized two goodies:

First, we have the 1903 "Souvenir [re]Publication" by T.F. Bohan of the General Directory and Business Advertiser of the City of Chicago for the Year 1844, with a Historical Sketch and Statistics extending from 1837 to 1844, by J. W. Norris (Chicago: Ellis & Fergus, 1844).

True to the title, the actual directory of individuals occupies only 45 of the 132 total pages; much of the rest is business cards. Somehow the history is padded out to 16 pages, including this passage from page 6: "What the destiny of Chicago is to be, the future can alone determine. Judging by the past, it seems difficult to assign a limit to its advancement." My step-grandmother's maternal-line ancestors, the then-prominent Lowe family, are well represented.

NOTE: Images of the 45 directory pages only are available at Old Directory Search, which also has Cleveland and Ohio City 1837, and Monroe (Green County), Wisconsin, 1891.

And then there's the 994-page Illinois State Business Directory 1860, compiled by Smith and DuMoulin (Chicago: J. C. W. Bailey & Co., 1860).

I'm not sure their downstate coverage is that great, but if nothing else this cross-section of business life just before the Civil War can add color to just about any Midwestern story. The list of businesses covered is worth the price of admission alone: Artificial Limbs, Mnfrs. of; Axe Helves, Mnfrs. of; Basket Makers; Bathing Saloons; Bell Hangers; Bird Stuffers; Brass Cocks and Gauges; Candle Moulds (Metallic) Mnfrs of; Chandlers; and so many more.