Historical Map of Wisconsin

Painting

Milwaukee Public Library

Name/Title

Context

Illustrated map depicts local tribes, white settlement, and various 'firsts' in Wisconsin history. From top left corner proceeding from left to right and down, vignettes include: "French Fur Trader"; "Chippewa Indians" [sic]; "Paul Bunyan"; "Lumbering at its height" (1876); mink, skunk, weasel, and bear around a tree; "Mammoths of Ice Age"; "Deer"; "Menominee Indians"; "Sioux Indians" [sic]; "Old Abe and Eighth Wisconsin Regiment Leave. 1861"; "Early Settler"; "Nicolet 1634"; "Perrot's Trading Post 1685"; ducks, fox, badger, and rabbit around a tree; "Winnebago Indians"; "Fort Howard 1816"; "First Newspaper Green Bay 1833"; man milking cow; "Sac and Fox Indians"; "Kickapoo Indians"; "Fort Winnebago 1828"; "Early Mail Route"; "Milwaukee in 1870; "Fort Crawford 1828"; "Early Lead Mines 1836"; "First Capitol at Madison 1837"; Wisconsin's First Capitol 1830 Belmont"; "First Train to Waukesha 1851." The map depicts the "Chippewa Indians," "Menominee Indians," "Sioux Indians," "Winnebago Indians," "Sac and Fox Indians," and "Kickapoo Indians." The Sac and Fox called portions of the Midwest including now-Wisconsin home but were forcibly removed by the end of the 1800s. The Menominee, Ojibwe ("Chippewa"), and Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) remain present in Wisconsin as federally-recognized Native nations. The Kickapoo were pushed into Wisconsin by the mid-1600s and then gradually pushed out as a result of white settlement. The 'Sioux' prefer "Lakota" or "Dakota"; Dakota communities trace their roots back to northern Wisconsin. Despite intertribal warfare, white settlement, and land cessions via treaty which forced many Dakota out of Wisconsin, significant populations of Dakota remain in Wisconsin, though no Dakota in Wisconsin have federal recognition status.

Collection

Wisconsin Art Collection, Artwork Collection, Federal Art Collection

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Works Progress Adminstration Federal Art Project

Made/Created

Artist Information

Richard Jansen

Works Progress Adminstration Federal Art Project

William Lang

Date made

1939

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Signature and Date

Location

Lower left

Transcription

"R.L. Jansen & Willy Lang / 39"

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Framed Size

Height

109-3/4 in

Width

91-3/4 in

Research Notes

Notes

From page 3 of the September 1972 issue of the MPL Booktruck: ""That large, history-with-pictures map has been moved from the old local history room to the entrance to local history on the second floor. The unique map depicts forts and various Indian settlements in the state, along with other historical highlights: first train to Waukesha, 1851; first newspaper, Green Bay, 1833; first Capitol, Belmont, 1830. Dated 1939 and painted by Richard Jansen and Willy Lang, the painting was donated to the library by the Works Progress Administration." The Gallery of Wisconsin Art has a photograph of Jansen painting either a preliminary version of this map or a related work on their website (see weblink).