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WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK 1985-1986


permanent records of the state and its political subdivisions. Its collections
include more than
75,000 cubic feet of records and more than 1,000,000 photographic images.
   Editorial is responsible for the editing and publication of all the scholarly
and popular materi-
 als issued by the society.
   Historic Preservation administers a comprehensive program of historic
preservation in the
 state, including - in partnership with the National Park Service- the National
Register of
 Historic Places in Wisconsin. It surveys the state to identify and locate
places or architectural,
 historic, and archeological significance, and nominates them to the National
Register; adminis-
 ters federal grants from the Historic Preservation Fund for survey, planning,
and rehabilitation
 and restoration of historic properties; reviews federally funded and licensed
projects for their
 impacts on historic and prehistoric properties; certifies projects for federal
income-tax credits to
 rehabilitate historic income-producing buildings; and certifies local governments
to participate
 directly in state and federal historic preservation programs. It also carries
out a statewide educa-
 tional and informational program on relevant aspects of Wisconsin history
and prehistory, and
 on historic preservation programs.
   Historic Sites combines all 6 of the historic sites under one administrator
for uniform and
improved direction, logistical management and interpretive development. The
sites are: Old
World Wisconsin at Eagle, Old Wade House at Greenbush, Madeline Island Historical
Museum
at La Pointe, Villa Louis at Prairie du Chien, Pendarvis at Mineral Point,
and Stonefield Village
at Cassville. Each site reflects a major theme of Wisconsin's development,
such as mining, farm-
ing, fur trade, exploration and transportation. They are one means by which
Wisconsinites may
develop a sense of life as it was in historic Wisconsin. A seventh historic
site, Circus World
Museum at Baraboo, is operated by the Historic Sites Foundation and offers
one of the most
exciting and extensive collections of circus memorabilia to be found anywhere.
  Library collects, catalogs and makes available information based on the
printed and
microform materials in the historical collection. The collection consists
of more than 230,000
volumes; 450,000 pamphlets; 350,000 government publications and 700,000 reels
of microfilm
and microform sheets on the history of Wisconsin, the United States and Canada.
The library is
the official repository for publications of the State of Wisconsin, and its
holdings include numer-
ous U.S. government publications as well. Extensive genealogical holdings
are also included in
the overall collection.
  Local History assists more than 192 local affiliated historical societies
and museums through-
out the state with the legal requirements of incorporation and offers technical
assistance and
consultation through field visits, workshops, special programs and a newsletter.
Under the aus-
pices of the Wisconsin Council for Local History, the state society assists
in the organization of
regional and state conventions of local societies.
  Museum collects and preserves artifacts of historical significance. The
free public museum
contains exhibits tracing Wisconsin's past from prehistoric to recent times,
assembled from the
museum's more than 700,000 artifacts. The museum regularly presents public
programs for all
interests and ages, and museum-school outreach programs and materials extend
statewide. In
early 1986, as a response to the growth of the collections, the society will
open a new state
historical museum on the Capitol Concourse (at 30 North Carroll Street),
containing new mu-
seum exhibits, museum education and public programs, and the museum gift
shop.
  Administrative Services plans building space needs, handles personnel matters
and employe
contract administration, supervises property management, insurance, payroll,
financial and bud-
getary matters of the society, supervises clerical services, and manages
the physical plant and
security of the society headquarters building.
  Interagency Relationships: The society director, together with representatives
from the Depart-
ment of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, the State Superintendent
of Pub-
lic Instruction, and the Department of Development form the Historical Markers
Council,
which selects and erects historical markers across the state. Under a cooperative
agreement, the
society writes the markers' texts and arranges for the production of the
markers.
  The society's archivist sits as a member of the Public Records and Forms
Board, which man-
ages a state records retention program in cooperation with the Department
of Administration
and other state agencies. The archivist's role in the program is judging
the historical value of
records slated for destruction and arranging for the storage of historically
useful records in the
state archives.