Sauk County Historical Society
Vision Statement
“Enriching the people of Sauk County and beyond by sharing history and cultivating connections to the past.”
Mission Statement
“The mission of the Sauk County Historical Society is to preserve, protect, maintain and disseminate the history of Sauk County, and to assist other historical societies and local history related endeavors in Sauk County.”
SCHS Core Values
Leadership: Serve as a leader among heritage organizations in Sauk County.
Integrity: Strive to be an organization that is worthy of the public’s trust.
Creativity: Engage the public through creative and artistic approaches
Stewardship: Assure that materials documenting our heritage will be saved for future generations through responsible collections management practices and sharing
Inclusion: Explore the history of all peoples of what is now Sauk County through programs that appeal to diverse ages and interests
BOARD
Kristin White Eagle - Baraboo
Jack Vogel - Baraboo
Seth Taft - Baraboo
Kathy Breunig - Prairie du Sac
Kathy Roloff - Reedsburg
Karen Zimmerman, President - Baraboo
Bev Vaillancourt, Vice President - La Valle
Bill Schuette, Recording Secretary - Reedsburg
Sandy Snow, Treasurer, Baraboo
Angela Lowe - Reedsburg
STAFF
Paul Wolter, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Executive Director manages the SCHS on a daily basis and is in charge of financial management, fund raising and staff supervision. In addition, the Executive Director oversees the society’s insurance, maintenance and operation of the Society’s facilities, and represents the Society at community and governmental meetings. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors at their meetings.
Sara Oostdik CURATOR
The Curator is responsible for the intake process and collection management of artifacts and archives donated to SCHS.
Oversees the procurement Deed of Gifts from Donors or Staff Members.
Catalogs incoming Collections.
Prepares artifacts for storage and maintains location records. Interacts with the public on matters related to collections.
Responsible for storage, movement, cleaning, repairs, and use of artifacts in the Permanent Archival and Artifact Collections
Linda Levenhagen OFFICE & RESEARCH MANAGER/BOOKKEEPER
The Office & Research Manager facilitates public access to the history center and provides basic office & clerical support for Society functions. The Office & Research Manger also assists researchers with requests for information or directs them to the proper research volunteer.
The SCHS Bookkeeper keeps track of day to day financial operations and works with the SCHS Treasurer to ensure proper financial records are maintained.
Beth Hays MUSEUM KEEPER
The Museum Keeper serves as the primary staff person at the Sauk County Historical Museum at the Van Orden Mansion and is responsible for managing public access, overseeing the museum environment, and providing accurate reporting.
Sauk County Historical Society Goals and Objectives
Serve as a safe repository for historic Sauk County materials.
Provide structured public access to historic resources through a research facility, museum exhibits and traveling displays.
Preserve and maintain SCHS properties including two significant historic buildings and three Native American heritage sites, including the only man-shaped effigy mound in existence.
Teach citizens and visitors to Sauk County, respect and appreciation for the varied lives of people who have gone before us—both in recent times and in pre-historic cultures, and how they shaped our world.
Promote understanding of Sauk County’s unique history and culture, including nationally important people, events, and landmarks.
Teach children how to use first hand historic documents to make observations about people and events and engage them around history with interactive, hands on displays.
Society Programs
OUTREACH
Circus Days Festival, Exhibit – July
Badger Steam and Gas Show, Exhibit – August
Newspaper articles
Bi-monthly Newsletter
Social media sites
EVENTS
Wm. H. Canfield Day and History Award – April
Archeology Month Event - May
Founders’ Day Picnic - June
Sunday in the Cemetery, Living History Tour – June (Alternate Years)
EDUCATION
Lecture Series – January – May
Outreach lectures
Sauk County History readers and videos - grades 3 - 5
Mills and Dams of Wisconsin -grades 4 - 6
Mines and Railroads of Wisconsin - grades 4 - 6
Voices of the Civil War - high school
Museum Group Tours
Workshops
Museum exhibits
Tour of Historic Baraboo Homes - June (Alternate Years)
Annual Meeting and Banquet – October
Christmas Social – December
Edwardian Christmas Celebration – December