Pickard House is also the Society headquarters. In Pickard House, volunteers carry out many of the functions that keep the organization going–from accessioning artifacts and documents to mounting exhibits and assisting people with research. The meeting room in the 1999 addition and the archives are accessible by elevator. Our programs, school visits, and board and committee meetings convene in the meeting room. The meeting room also houses a library that gives insight into the lives of past generations of Riponites through the books they read and saved.
The Museum
Our museum collection, featured in permanent and changing exhibits, includes Victorian and early twentieth century furniture and furnishings, men’s and women’s clothing; quilts and coverlets; tools and equipment for various trades and occupations; dishes and glassware; works of art by Ripon artists; wedding attire; children’s toys, games, and dolls; and war memorabilia.
Each building has an interesting history. Follow these links to see pictures of the houses and read their stories:
| Pickard House | Pedrick-Lawson House |
Our museum exhibits change regularly, and we typically offer displays from the archives to support them. Pictures from one such exhibit may be seen here.
The Archives
The basement area and the West bookcase in the library are devoted to one of the most extensive local history archives in Wisconsin.
Samuel Pedrick gathered and organized an extensive collection of documents relating to Ripon in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The Society’s ongoing efforts to collect scrapbooks, family histories, business records, professional and social organization histories, newspaper articles, and obituaries began with the work of Mr. Pedrick, one of the Ripon Historical Society’s founders.
The museum and archives are open only at scheduled times, posted on this website as Upcoming Events, and by appointment. Interested persons may arrange to visit by calling (920) 748-5354 and leaving a voice mail message or using the Contact Form.
The archivist and museum curator often work together on special exhibits, so that each exhibit also tells a story supported by documents from the archives and library. Other times an exhibit might be drawn entirely from the archives. One such exhibit is the postcard exhibit. See the story of the development of postcards through this exhibit of Ripon postcards.
