A bibliography of books and other resources about Madison's history, from the University of Wisconsin to Grace Episcopal Church to historical maps.
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Biographical Directories
A history of Madison's cemeteries with biographical sketches of many Madisonians buried at Forest Hill.
"Biographical sketches of pioneer and leading citizens."
An alphabetical collection of biographical sketches of Dane County residents. Many of their ancestors were Madison pioneers.
This [1858] is the first issue of the Madison City Directory. An interesting source of early Madison history. The collection also includes the Madison City Directory from 1866 to the present.
This collection of photographs and commentary illustrate everyday life in early Dane County.
Biographies
This University of Wisconsin professor and authority on the history of the West, arrived in Madison in 1878.
Lyman Draper arrived in Madison in 1852. Four years later he became Secretary of the State Historical Society, a position he held until his retirement in 1886. It was during this time that the Society developed and flourished.
Biography of a young English physician who settled in Madison in 1854.
An autobiography of a Madison lawyer and politician. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1870 and later joined the law school faculty.
This autobiography offers insight into the politics of early Madison.
A biography of a Madison lawyer and politician who, with his parents, settled here in 1850.
Originally published in London in 1842, the author offers a brief account of his stay in Madison in the summer of 1841.
A biography of the son of Madison's first mayor. Lucius Fairchild was governor from 1866 to 1872.
A detailed account of Doty's scheme that resulted in Madison being selected as the capital.
Education
A year-by-year account of the University of Wisconsin's first thirty years.
The first volume of this four-volume set is a detailed account of the very beginnings of the university.
Prepared at the request of the Board of Education, the author portrays the early times of the Madison schools from interviews with pioneers, correspondence with former students and teachers, as well as researching school records.
This history of the university from 1839 to 1900 includes a history of each department, and biographical sketches of faculty members, regents and alumni.
Historic Buildings
In this history of the Findlay house the reader also learns about the development of a Madison neighborhood and the importance of the quarry industry.
This is a well-footnoted history of buildings on campus, with wonderful photographs.
This is a catalog of sorts with pictures of historic buildings in the downtown area. There are short descriptions of the buildings and information about the first inhabitants; also includes brief descriptions of the neighborhoods.
This is an architectural and social history of Big Bug Hill.
Walking Tour Booklets
The following walking tour booklets are complete with histories of Madison's early neighborhoods, photographs and descriptions of the historic buildings. (Most of these can be found in the Local History Room collection at the Central library.)
Histories
A richly-detailed history of Dane County with lengthy excerpts from diaries and recollections of Madison's early settlers. Another unique feature is the inclusion of the names of members of early social, business and governmental organizations. The volume concludes with biographical sketches.
A small, fascinating volume. In addition to identifying place names, the author includes pronunciation, spelling variances and name changes, as well as tracing the appearance of the names on maps.
This little work was prepared at the request of the Common Council. Its purpose was to portray the history, conditions and prospects of Madison as a "worthy political metropolis." Also includes reminiscences.
A history of early Madison, detailing the contributions of innumerable Madison residents. Includes wonderful reminiscences.
Volume two contains a cultural history of Dane County. The third and fourth volumes contain biographical sketches.
A wonderful collection of recipes, nostalgia, photographs and line drawings of early Madison.
Index to Vol. I: 1975 -Vol. X: 1990, Historic Madison: A Journal of the Four Lake Region, 1995 - date
A journal devoted to articles about our city's history.
[published irregularly]
This Dane County history, edited by a prominent Madisonian, is a detailed description of the early days of Madison and its selection and development as the capital of a new state.
In addition to a history of Madison, this volume includes a sketch of each of the towns of Dane County. An index was added to the reprint edition.
This newspaper format volume identifies early Madison institutions, organizations and businesses. Contains many photographs.
The flavor of Madison can easily be seen in this volume. Following a brief description of the city are photographs and articles about local businesses.
At Camp Randall the Wisconsin troops were trained for battle in the Civil War. The conditions at the camp are well-portrayed.
This history of Madison is a fully documented social history from its beginnings to 1920. It has become the first source to consult regarding Madison history.
Richly illustrated history of Madison covering its founding through the Great Depression.
Archaeological data is used to trace the history of Dane County's inhabitants from the earliest known occupation to 1830.
A thesis illustrating the influences that affected the changing conditions as Madison grew from a village to a city.
Originally written in 1900 by the distinguished Wisconsin historian Reuben Thwaites, this is a portrayal of early Madison which concludes with a chronology of events from 1879 to 1899.
Libraries
This is an interesting discussion of the beginning of the library movement in Madison. It began with the private collection of the Madison Institute, and evolved into the public library.
This is a discussion of the evolution of the Madison Public Library from a collection of books kept in temporary offices to the library as it is today.
Religion
A history of the church beginning when Rev. Jackson Kemper arrived in Madison in 1838.
A historical sketch of one of Madison's first churches.
A short history of the Madison Jewish community beginning in 1851.