The Brown County Library’s Annual Local Series History will kick off its 34th year with An Evening with David Maraniss, a presentation and dinner on Wednesday, September 14 at the Rock Garden Supper Club, 1951 Bond Street, Green Bay.
This special event will highlight Path Lite by Lighting: The Life of Jim Thorpe, Maraniss’ recently released biography of Jim Thorpe whom many regarded as the “Greatest Athlete of the 20th Century.” An Evening with David Maraniss, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, will begin at 5:30 pm, with dinner starting at 6:30 pm followed by Maraniss’ presentation at 7:15 pm. Reservations are required for this popular event – seating is limited. More information about the event, David Maraniss, and Jim Thorpe can be found at BrownCountyLibrary.org/David-Maraniss-Event/. This event is made possible with the support of the Oneida Nation, the Green Bay Packers Give Back, and the Friends of the Brown County Library.
More fascinating Local History Series programs will take place on Thursday evenings beginning September 22. All programs will be held in the lower-level auditorium of the Central Library, 515 Pine Street, downtown Green Bay at 6:30 pm. The auditorium offers a hearing loop to assist the hearing impaired. This series, proudly supported by the Friends of the Brown County Library, offers outstanding programs of regional interest – rich in history, culture, and content.
Thursday, September 22: Changing Borders for Native Americans in Wisconsin
Presented by: Dr. Carol Cornelius of the University Wisconsin Green Bay and the College of Menominee Nation
This program will feature maps and discussion on treaties which will show how the lands of Wisconsin’s Indigenous Nations have changed throughout the past two centuries.
Thursday, September 29: The Packers, My Dad and Me
Presented by: Author Tony Walter This program is based on Walter’s book, The Packers, My Dad & Me, but could just as easily be called, “The Packers, Prohibition, The Depression and Dad.” Diaries from 1925 through 1936 describe what it was like to live through an era in Green Bay when life might have seemed simpler, but certainly not easier.
Thursday, October 6: Restoring a Great 100+ Year Old Home, “The Elms”
resented by: Sandy and David Zochert
Since August 1978 when they purchased the historic home “The Elms”, Sandy and David Zochert began their life-time of old house restoration, preservation and living. It was Sandy’s previous career as a newspaper reporter that first acquainted them with old historic homes, let them to “the Elms”, and, some say mockingly, to its servitude.
Thursday, October 13: Exploring Local History with GIS Mapping
Presented by: Jeff DuMez, Brown County Planning & Land Services Department
Discover how to access and interact with Brown County’s online GIS maps. These maps breathe new life into aerial photos, plat maps, and original surveys; some of which date back as far as the 1830s. Learn how to use these maps to find the locations of historical sites such as Fort Howard, early trails and roads, and more – all in the context of modern-day landmarks.
Thursday, October 20: The Lake Mendota Dugout Canoe
Presented by: Dr. James M. Skibo, Wisconsin State Archeologist and Curator of Archaeology at the Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin State Archaeologist, Dr James Skibo, Curator of Archaeology at the Wisconsin Historical Society, will explore the discovery, recovery, preservation, and research of the Lake Mendota 1,200-year-old dugout canoe. This is the largest nearly intact dugout canoe in Wisconsin. It was selected by the BBC’s Time Team as one of the top archaeological discoveries in the work in 2021.
Thursday, October 27: The Greatest Story in Sports: The Green Bay Packers 1919-2019 Presented by: Author Cliff Christl
Many Packer fans don’t realize that the real story of the Green Bay Packers is not that of the football team itself. The real story is about the team of community members who banded together, in good times and bad, to ensure there would be a Professional Football team in Green Bay.
