About Wisconsin Biographies
Wisconsin Biographies
Wisconsin is shaped by people who have made history: the freedom seekers, community builders, innovators of industry, land protectors, and more. The Wisconsin Biographies collection brings their stories to life for learners today with short animated videos, digital books, historical images, and extension activity ideas that support academic standards. Visit the Educator Resources page for a quick-start chart for the collection, and guides for each story.
Learning Goals
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Discover
Discover life stories from Wisconsinites of the past and recognize their contributions to history.
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Interpret
Interpret informational and multimodal texts in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
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Relate
Identify connections between past and present, and relate to the lives of people who made Wisconsin history.
Story Spotlight
Vel Phillips & James Groppi
The Fight for Fair Housing
1924-2018 1930-1985
Vel Phillips and Father James Groppi did not shy away from the problem of housing discrimination in Milwaukee. They showed up and listened, and then carried forward the fight for justice, marching through the streets of the city, and proposing legislation. They were ultimately successful in achieving official recognition of the importance of fair housing in their city, and brought people together in the process.
Explore the Collection
Partners
Funding provided by
Quotation
“We must include a variety of perspectives to make history fascinating enough for our students to make a connection. This collection helps instill curiosity about the past, shows that the improbable can actually become possible; and may even inspire the life of the learner.”