How do bunk beds hold the history of agricultural production in Wisconsin?
After World War II, agricultural production in Wisconsin was growing, and farms needed more workers. Large companies brought in workers from southern states to harvest fruits and vegetables, which spurred the creation of migrant worker camps. Harsh working conditions and poor accommodations led workers to organize and demand better from their employers.
Let's take a look
Questions to consider
Why did migrant workers start coming to Wisconsin in the 1940s?
What does a bunk bed have to do with migrant farmworkers in Wisconsin?
How did workers fight for better working and living conditions?
Meet the historians
Get to know the historians. Each historian in this episode has a card with information about that historian.
There are 2 cards to read.
Sergio González
History Professor
I research and teach about the history of Latinos in the Midwest.
Nick Hoffman
Public Historian
I get to share our fascinating history and culture with the world!
Quote from a historian
“The reality was that for many migrant farm workers who arrived in these camps, the conditions were not very good.”
Sergio González
Episode credits
Producer
David Boffa
Coordinating Producer
Mia Forslund
Hosts
Sergio González
Nick Hoffman
Research and Writing
David Boffa
Sergio González
Director of Photography
Ryan Hendricks
Videography
Ryan Hendricks
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Lina Soblytė
Editing
David Boffa
Ian Glodich
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Translation Services
Rev
Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Kate Melberg
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Web Development
John Vieth
Graphic and Motion Design
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Danielle Riseley
Additional Production Support
Philip Ashby
Al Barcheski
John Dachik
Angie Hause
Kurt Kaspar
Andy LaValley
Doug May
Will Salzmann
Executive Producer
Director of Education
Megan Monday
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society
Special Thanks
Scott Roller
Educator advisors
Debbie Burmeister
Neenah, WI
Peoria, AZ
Erin Ermis
Neenah Joint School District
Neenah, WI
Toni Heinowski
Muskego, WI
Tanya Schmidt
Oshkosh Area School District
Barb Shaver
Kettle Moraine School District
Wales, WI
Funding provided by
Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout
Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin