Introduction to the Dane County Historical Society
The Dane County Historical Society is a private non-profit, 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. In January 1961, DCHS affiliated with the Wisconsin Historical Society. Our charter meeting was held on February 13, 1961, at the Dane County Fairgrounds. In our first year, 143 people were awarded “Charter Memberships.”
Dane County Historical Society Elects
The Society’s mission is to preserve and promote the history of Dane County. We do this in several ways:
The Otto Schroeder Archives and Record Center
Newspaper article announcing the end of a successful fundraising campaign by DCHS to secure a location in the Lussier Family Heritage Center.
The Dane County Historical Society collects published and unpublished materials, as well as primary and secondary sources, relating to Dane County’s history. The Otto Schroeder Archives and Record Center is located on the lower level of the Lussier Family Heritage Center, where our collections are housed. Amy Gilliland’s generous gift of $50,000 allowed DCHS to participate in the Lussier Family Heritage Center building project. In honor of Amy’s gift, DCHS named the Otto Schroeder Archives and Records Center after Amy’s grandfather.
We want everyone to use our materials. Making an appointment is as simple as emailing us at danecountyhistory@gmail.com. However, it is best to review our online catalog before making an appointment.
In some cases, we may be able to copy the material you want. Copying might involve a charge for staff time, but it may save you the cost of a trip to the archives. Additionally, you can find a growing number of our archival collections online at Recollection Wisconsin, a statewide portal accessible to local historical societies and libraries.
1968 newspaper article about the formation of the Dane County Records Center.