For more than 100 years the WCHSM has dedicated itself to preserving and sharing the county’s cultural heritage.
The artifact and archival collection includes more than 18,000 objects, 250,000 images, millions of archival materials, and innumerable stories that make up the community of Waukesha County.
Exhibits
Adopt an Artifact
Become part of our collections care team!
With an annual donation of $25 you’ll support the direct cost of collections care including: storage cartons & boxes, protective foam, digitization tools, environmental monitoring, and conservation & cleaning.
Thank you to:
Abigail Kean
Adopted artifact 2012.006
Oconomowoc High School Uniform
c. 1974
Donated by the Oconomowoc High School
Ellen Demers
Adopted artifact 0256
Waist Dress made by Melinda Aumiller
c. 1880
Donated by L. V. Coles
Andrew Clark
Adopted artifact 00504.01
Camera, Univex
c. 1930
Donated by Warren O’Brien
David Simpson
Adopted artifact P0569
Daguerreotype of John Andrews – early pioneer of Mukwonago.
Donated by Charles Schultis
Flash & Mary Ann Gordon
Adopted artifact 01843
Warrant Office Uniform – worn at Waukesha Nike site.
c. 1971
Donated by James Moldenauer
Diane Voit
Adopted artifact 0921
Certosport Camera
c. 1910
Donated by the State of Bryon Merton
John Knoebel
Adopted artifact 00495
Army Officer Korean Winter Uniform
c. 1950s
Donated by William Dehnel
Thomas & Rebecca Platz
Adopted artifact 00481B
Butter Paddle
c. 1880s
Donated by Peter Mitchell
Gladys Manke
Adopted artifact 06348
Milk Tester
c. 1890s
Donated by Estate of James Boyd
Tony & Andrea Bryant
Adopted artifact 00469
Woman’s Army Uniform (WAC)
c. 1956-1958
Donated by Helen Smart Engel
Anonymous
Adopted artifact 2010.0873.002
Waukesha Milk Co Milk Can
c. 1920
Donated by John Schoenknecht
Heidi Platz Clifton
Adopted artifact 01842
Summer Red Cross Uniform
c. 1943 -1945
Donated by Helen Thatcher
Anonymous
Adopted artifact 00214
Fox Head 400 Stein
c. 1937
Donated by Mrs. Alfred G Boedecker
Rocky Schaefer
Adopted artifact 2019.031.076
O’Brien photo of Waukesha Motor Company
c. 1929
The Basting Family
Adopted artifact 1171
Stoneware Butter Churn
c. 1900
Richard Whitaker
Adopted Artifact 2009.011.189
Bottle. Olive green glass bottle. Embossed: “Hygeia” and features the image of a toga dressed woman with a dipper pouring water.
c. 1890s
Carol Riches
Adopted Artifact 2001.013.1
Oneida / Ho Chunk Ceremonial Bandolier
c. 1880s
Janice Ferguson
Adopted Artifact 12901
Civil War Uniform Coat
c. 1860s
Kenneth Klauck
Adopted Artifact 06679
Bethesda Springs – Grillwork
c. 1890s
Kenneth Klauck
Adopted Artifact 05705
Brookhill Farms – Cap
c. 1934
Kenneth Klauck
Adopted Artifact 00012
Fox Head Brewery Bass Drum
c. 1955
Kenneth Klauck
Adopted Artifact 01394
Civil War Dress Uniform
c. 1862-1865
Flash & Mary Ann Gordon
Adopted Artifact 00627 A-B
WWI Summer Uniform
c. 1918
Scope of Collections Statement
Christmas Parade Memorial Collection
The Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum is working with the City of Waukesha to preserve memorial items left in honor and memory of the victims of the Christmas Parade Tragedy on Nov. 21, 2021.
To learn more about this collection and our work with the city, you can read our Scope of Collections Statement.
Donating Materials to the Artifact & Archival Collections
If you have an object you think would meet our mission to preserve Waukesha County history please contact waukeshamuseum@gmail.com or call 262.521.2859 x225.
Prospective Donor Info Sheet
Please know that not all materials can be accepted into the collection. Condition, conservation needs, along with historic relevance are considered by our collections committee before accepting an item into the collection. Due to over representation in the collection we are not able to accept: wedding gowns, baptismal gowns, petticoats, typewriters, sewing machines, pianos, or pump organs unless they demonstrate a significant historic relevance to Waukesha County.
