Inquire and Inspire: Invite our librarians to give a presentation at your organization's next meeting or event. Learn about the library itself, a local history topic, or a topic that interests you.
Librarians are not experts on all topics, but they are trained to take in a query, do research, synthesize info, and relay it back in a meaningful way, and our librarians can do that for you! Requests for original topics require advanced notice.
- For Local History and Genealogy topics, contact Local History Librarian, Michael McArthur: 920.236.5205.
- For inquiries about other topics, contact Community Engagement Librarian, Sandy Toland: 920.236.5206.
Local History topics available to request:
Discovering Oshkosh City Directories
City directories are one of the most useful and interesting resources for genealogists and local historians. They are not just a list of names and addresses, but a snapshot of a place at a specific point in history. Learn how to use these resources to further your genealogy or answer your local history question.
Genealogy for Free
Genealogy can be a rewarding but expensive hobby. Want to start your genealogy but are not ready to commit to hundreds of dollars a year to it? See what resources the Oshkosh Public Library can provide genealogists for free both online and on the shelves.
Finding Winnebago County Maps
Maps can be one of the most interesting and beautiful resources for genealogists and historians. Learn what kinds of maps are available in the library and online and how they can help your research.
The Athearn Hotel
No building is mourned more than The Athearn Hotel. Built during Oshkosh’s boom years, the hotel symbolized Oshkosh’s rise as the 2nd largest city in Wisconsin. Learn how what was once the greatest hotel outside of Milwaukee came to be and how and why it came crashing down in 1965. Most important, could it have been saved?
Manufacturers of Oshkosh: More than Sawdust
Although Oshkosh was known as the Sawdust City, it’s icon manufacturing history goes beyond wood. Learn about the history of several icon Oshkosh businesses including Oshkosh Trunk, Diamond Match Company, Oshkosh B’Gosh, and The Dunphy Boat company.
Steins
For two decades, Oshkosh had one of the most unique retail experiences. An upscale lady’s boutique and café, housed in a mansion, right on Church Street. Learn about the wonderful shop known as Steins.
Terrell’s Island
Terrell’s Island refers to the decades long project of the Butte Des Morts Conservation Club to restore the wetlands that were forever changed after the damming of the Fox River in Neenah and Menasha in the 1850s. Learn about the effects of the dams on Lake Butte des Morts and how conservationists are working to restore the natural environment.
Twentieth Century Club
Learn about one of the oldest women’s study groups in Oshkosh. The Twentieth Century club was founded in 1896 just as the Progressive and Women’s Suffrage Movements began to gain momentum. Learn how the 20th Century Club fit into this historic time and how the club evolved throughout the years.
Railroads of Oshkosh
While the Fox River and Lake Winnebago gave rise to Oshkosh, it was the well-timed arrival of the railroad that allowed Oshkosh products, particularly lumber, to be exported, giving rise to the Sawdust City. This presentation looks at the three railways that defined Oshkosh, the Soo Line, Chicago Northwestern, and the Milwaukee Road, how they affect the city's development and how they affected the cityscape and life in Oshkosh.
Washington Avenue Historic District
Established in 2016-2017, The Washington Avenue Neoclassical Historic District captures Oshkosh at the turn of the century, during the last period of commercial and public building before the Great Depression. The District includes The Oshkosh Public Library, The Masonic Temple, The Fraternal Reserve Association Building, The Wisconsin Life Insurance Building, Goettmann Printing Company, and The Post Office.