Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS)
Agency overview
Formed1846
JurisdictionWisconsin
Headquarters816 State Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Agency executive
  • Christian W. Øverland, Ruth and Hartley Baker Director
Parent agencyState of Wisconsin
Websitewisconsinhistory.org

The Wisconsin Historical Society (officially the State Historical Society of Wisconsin) is simultaneously a state agency and a private membership organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West.[1] Founded in 1846 and chartered in 1853, it is the oldest historical society in the United States to receive continuous public funding.[2][3] The society's headquarters are located in Madison, Wisconsin, on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The Wisconsin Historical Society's building in Madison was designed by Ferry & Clas.
  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1985). "The Executive Branch". State of Wisconsin 1985–1986 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 460. Founded in 1846 and chartered in 1853, the State Historical Society of Wisconsin is the nation's oldest historical society to receive continuing grants of state funds
  3. ^ About page at the Wisconsin Historical Society website.