Spotlight shines on community’s past for Oshkosh History Week

The Oshkosh Public Library and the Oshkosh Seniors Center bring together popular local historians, highlight local resources and present special free events to tell fascinating stories of Oshkosh past during Oshkosh History Week, April 19-24.

Oshkosh History Week is the first event of a new partnership between the library and seniors center. The goal of the partnership is to design programming that will appeal specifically to seniors, though all ages are welcome to attend Oshkosh History Week programs.

“Seniors are an active group in the community who enthusiastically engage in lifelong learning,” says Janice Dibble, Head of Reference and Adult Services at the Oshkosh Public Library. “We are always interested in developing programs and services at the library that seniors will find interesting and worthwhile.”

While some seniors use both the library and seniors center, others are familiar with just one of the organizations. “The library and the seniors center each have loyal groups of users,” explains Molly Yatso-Butz, Wellness Coordinator at the Oshkosh Seniors Center. “We would like to encourage more crossover so that local seniors can take advantage of the resources of both institutions.”

In addition to Oshkosh History Week, the library and seniors center will present Senior Leisure & Recreation Week, Nov. 8-13.

Oshkosh History Week will include the following free programs:

Monday, April 19

What You May Have Missed (@ Snapshots of History)

Learn the history behind the photos at the museum exhibit.

6:30 p.m.

Oshkosh Seniors Center - South

Larry Spanbauer, Oshkosh Memorabilia Club


Wednesday, April 21

Oshkosh: The Past & Present

One of the community’s favorite local historians shares colorful memories of Oshkosh past.

1 p.m.

Oshkosh Seniors Center - North

Clarence “Inky” Jungwirth, Oshkosh historian

Memories of the Grand Opera House


Enjoy stories of the Grand Opera House and the amazing performers who graced its stage.

7 p.m.

Oshkosh Public Library, Lower level

Julie Johnson, Oshkosh author

Thursday, April 22

Civil War Soldiers of Oshkosh & Wisconsin

Learn about the life of Union foot soldiers from the Oshkosh area.

1 p.m.

Oshkosh Public Library

Mike Breza, Assistant Director, Oshkosh Public Museum

Online history collections

A look at the library’s digital collections of historic postcards, photos, maps & more.

7 p.m.

Oshkosh Public Library, Lower level

Sharon Schwartz, Digital Librarian

Friday, April 23

Creating a Family Cookbook

Learn how to preserve family history by creating a cookbook, scrapbook or journal.

1 p.m.

Oshkosh Public Library, Lower level

Bill Bollom, Winnebago County Historical & Archaeological Society

The Winnebago County Historical Society also participated in this event, providing two of the program speakers. The Society’s future fundraising activities include the ever-popular Historic House Tour on June 27 and “Pie on the Porch” and tours of the 1884 Morgan House on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 5 – Sept. 25.

Ongoing activities related to Oshkosh History Week include special local history displays on the second floor of the Oshkosh Public Library and the Snapshots of History exhibit at the Oshkosh Public Museum, featuring more than 50 large-scale panoramic photos and artifacts from Oshkosh in the 1910s.

Detailed program information is available at the Oshkosh Public Library and the Oshkosh Seniors Center and at http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/.