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Frequently
Asked Questions
about the Fox/Wolf History Project
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What
is the History Project about?
The Fox/Wolf Rivers Environmental History Project is a non-profit,
non-governmental organization. Since 1989 we have been recording
and popularizing history about the environment. Our geographic
focus is a 6,400-square mile area drained by the Fox and Wolf
rivers of northeast Wisconsin. This area includes the cities
of Green Bay, Appleton, Fond du Lac, New London, Shawano,
Keshena, Crandon, Ripon, Green Lake and New Berlin.
Our
members are volunteers who collect stories of past environmental
conditions and of attempts to protect or restore the natural
environment. How do we collect our stories? We conduct oral
history interviews, search old newspapers, technical documents,
existing community history books, and receive contributed
accounts. Stories are extracted and have been used in two
videotapes, a music CD, slide presentations, and published
articles. If you have stories to share, please send them to
riverhistory@yahoo.com
or call 1-888-FOXWOLF.
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Are
there other river history projects in my part of Wisconsin?
Not that we know of. However, we are working to foster the formation
of projects in other Wisconsin river basins. And we encourage
watershed history groups from anywhere in the world to contact
us for possible information-sharing alliances. The Columbia
River basin of the U.S. Pacific Northwest has a similar project.
If you need help starting a similar project in your watershed,
please contact us at riverhistory@yahoo.com
or 1-888-FOXWOLF. |
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Where
can I see stories collected?
This website has some stories sorted by sub-watershed. See "Explore
Your Watershed" on our homepage www.wisconsinwaterhistory.org.
Longer articles have been published in Voyageur, the magazine
of northeast Wisconsin history, and in Transactions, the journal
of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. [A
Transactions article is available on this site in PDF format.]
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Over
the long term, where are the stories, newsclips, etc., going
to be stored?
We have deposited our collection of oral history tapes, newspaper
clippings from throughout the 20th century, photographs and
other items at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Cofrin
Area Research Center. Funds are now being sought to make this
collection usable by the public. |
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the History Project provide information in audio or video
forms?
Yes. Our website features downloadable narratives and music
from our CD, "The River Rocks-Northeastern
Wisconsin's Environmental History in Music." The River
Rocks is a collection of 10 original songs based on historical
events. Lyrics for the songs are also on the website.
Our
videos, "Of Time and the River" and "The
Day They Blew Up the Bog," are used in schools throughout
Wisconsin. We encourage classroom, nature center and school
district use! Permission is granted, without royalty or fee,
to copy the videos or song recordings for any non-commercial
use. Permission is also granted to use the music, CD narrative
or videos for a single-use, one-time broadcast by a commercial
radio, cable, TV or web-based organization. To get a copy
($10 plus shipping), call 1-888-FOXWOLF.
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So
there are songs about the Fox/Wolf basin. Is there also poetry?
Yes, glad you asked. The Fox/Wolf basin has a strong poetry
following, and our board member Matt Welter is a well-published
poet and organizer of poetry readings. Over the years we have
collected several poems from area poets focused on aspects of
the basin, its natural beauty, and special places. Work is in
progress to get these on a page and in audio form. We are also
working with Wisconsin's poet laureate, Ellen Kort, to put print
and audio versions of some of her poems on this website. If
you have a poem to contribute, write riverhistory@yahoo.com
or call 1-888-FOXWOLF. |
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Is
there another way to learn about the History Project's stories?
We offer slide presentations to service clubs, conservation
groups, teacher in-service seminars and civic organizations.
Museums are encouraged to contact us for assistance on northeast
Wisconsin environmental history. In the past, exhibits based
on the collection have been featured in local museums (including
Green Bay's Neville Public Museum) and at environmental education
centers. |
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