Related Records

1. An Outing of Waukesha Men in the Wilds of Wisconsin 9/27/1900 - An article telling of a fishing trip to the Manitowish waters and surrounding area. Interesting references: Dan Devine, George Buck, water levels, Divide's logging camp, Lafin's on Big Lake, moonshine, plus many others. The author of the article, A.H.Y., could be the Waukesha Freeman owner, author Henry Youmans.

   1900

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. Carl Christensen oral history interview transcribed. 1930-1993 - Carl Christensen narrative of his personal history in Manitowish Waters. Narrative transcribed from an oral history interview conducted in 1993. Available at Koller Library.

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. Domestic life of the Chippewa Indians. 1871 - Domestic life of the Chippewa Indians in Odanah, WI. Image shows wigwam and canoe. In the background is the sailboat of the photographer, Charles Zimmerman

   Record Type: Photo

   
4. Early maps related to the Flambeau Trail, the early indigenous route from Lake Superior to Lac Du Flambeau. 1700s-1890 - These are research documents collected by Jim Bokern. Jim's PowerPoint presentation of the history of the trail is linked.

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. Excerpt from 1824 journal of early missionary Jedediah Stevens. - Missionaries impacted Great Lakes and Northwoods Indigenous communities. The attached journal of American Board Commissioners of Foreign Mission (ABCFM) Protestant missionary Jedediah Stevens stands out in delivering keen insights on early Northwoods History. For two centuries Catholic missionaries connected to the French fur trade dominated mission work.Importantly, some recent research and analysis directly challenges the intent and actions of missionaries upon the Ojibwe and other tribal communities.This journal is local to the Northwoods and illuminates how missionaries helped document area history and tried to shape the Ojibwe culture. Link for additional information: https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/24/resources/2708

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. Excerpt from 1832-1833 journal of early missionary Sherman Hall. Also included are two letters written in 1832 while Sherman was in Lac du Flambeau. - Missionaries impacted Great Lakes and Northwoods Indigenous communities. The attached journal of American Board Commissioners of Foreign Mission (ABCFM) Protestant missionary Sherman Hall stands out in delivering keen insights on early Northwoods History. For two centuries Catholic missionaries connected to the French fur trade dominated mission work. Importantly, some recent research and analysis directly challenges the intent and actions of missionaries upon the Ojibwe and other tribal communities.This journal is local to the Northwoods and illuminates how missionaries helped document area history and tried to shape the Ojibwe culture. Link for additional information: https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/24/resources/2708

   Record Type: Archive

   
7. Famous fishing guide Chief Basil DeCoteau (Dakota) in Look magazine. June 1950 - The magazine did a section titled "Wisconsin Wonderland" featuring Vilas & Oneida County. They have misspelled "DeCoteau", "Spider Lake" refers to the name of the town before renamed Manitowish Waters. DeCoteau is Native American from the Bad River Chippewa tribe in Odanah, WI and was a famous guide in the Manitowish Waters area.

   Record Type: Photo

   
8. Fayette Buck's narrative about moving to Wisconsin for trapping and later establishing the Divide and Spider Lake Resorts with his father. 1874-1908 - This was written by Fay and cut from the brochure for the Divide Resort. A PDF is attached for easier reading- see below See record # 2019.3.7 in the Archives Catalog for a complete image of the inside of the brochure which includes this narrative and map.

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. Generations of Ilg's prospered in Manitowish Waters By Jean Rein for the Lakeland Times 6/22/1999 - An article talking about the long history of the Ilg family and their resort on Rest Lake as Joe Ilg, Jr., the last family member living on the property, prepares move to Washington State.

   6/22/1999

   Record Type: Archive

   
10. Giclee print of painting done by Frances Badger. Depicts Ojibwa people harvesting wild rice on Rice Creek near Big Lake. 1930s - Ms. Badger spent summers at her family's estate on Big Lake beginning as a young girl in 1908. In the 1930s she was an artist employed by Franklin D. Roosevelts's Work Projects Administration (WPA) to paint murals of "American Life".

    Print

    Record Type: Object

    
11. Giclee print of painting done by Frances Badger. Depicts Ojibwa people processing wild rice at their camp on Rice Creek near Big Lake. 1930s - Ms. Badger spent summers at her family's estate on Big Lake beginning as a young girl in 1908. In the 1930s she was an artist employed by Franklin D. Roosevelts's Work Projects Administration (WPA) to paint murals of "American Life".

    Print

    Record Type: Object

    
12. Historical overview of Manitowish Waters published in the 2013 and 2014 Chamber of Commerce guides.

    2013-2014

    Record Type: Archive

    
13. Historical overview of Manitowish Waters published in the 2015-2019 Chamber of Commerce guides. - The 2018-2019 narrative is the same as the 2015-2017; only images were changed.

    2015-2019

    Record Type: Archive

    
14. Historical overview of Manitowish Waters published in the 2020-2022 Chamber of Commerce guides. - Slight change in text and layout each of these years.

    2020-2022

    Record Type: Archive

    
15. "In Island Lake- A Party of Evansvillians Enjoying Fishing" 1895 - A group of Indiana men travel to the Manitowish chain of lakes for a week of fishing and hunting. They stayed at LaFave's Island Lake Resort.

    10/6/1895

    Record Type: Archive

    
16. Jim Bokern's 1987 master thesis on "The history and primary canoe routes of the six Chippewa Bands from the Lac du Flambeau district". 1600-1900 - The canoe routes, trails, portages and Ojibwe villages are documented throughout the paper. Ojibwe warfare, seasonal rounds and citations supporting these activities are highlights of the research shared.

    1987

    Record Type: Archive

    
17. Joe Ilg Sr. family photos from Rest Lake ca 1902-1915 - Joe Ilg Sr. first came to Rest Lake in 1891. He married Leonore in 1898. They camped on the river at Reed's house (relatives of Leonore). They later camped on the site of the boat landing by the dam, which become the site of the Northern Lights Hotel in the late 1920s. In about 1915 they purchased their resort property down the shore to the east.

    Record Type: Photo

    
18. Letters from MW Historical Society and the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Preservation Office to the DNR rejecting the proposed name change to Manito Island. 10/2017 - This record includes the letters recommending the name of the island be officially changed to "Manito Island" as well as documentation supporting the name selected and why the proposed request to call it "Monkey Island" was rejected.

    2019

    Record Type: Archive

    
19. Mary Burns: The Dream Weaver by Kay Krans - Article about award winning weaver and fiber artist Mary Burns. You will learn about her long family history in the Manitowish area as well as how living in the Northwoods inspires her creations.

    March 2024

    Record Type: Archive

    
20. Native American graves - Voss Photos Small structures. Photo has caption stating "Indian Graves in Northern Wis"

    Record Type: Photo