Selected Publications (and how to buy them)

The Making of Milwaukee

A richly illustrated history of the city known for beer, bratwurst, and bowling … and also for Socialist mayors, world-class industry, and elaborate summer festivals. This new standard history is available from Amazon, but more money stays home if you order on-line or by mail from the publisher:

Milwaukee County Historical Society
910 N. Third St.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
414-273-8288
www.milwaukeecountyhistsoc.org
$29.95

The Making of Milwaukee DVD set

When Milwaukee Public Television aired the Making of Milwaukee documentary in October 2006, the series made MPTV the most-watched public TV station in America all three nights running. The high-definition program is now available in a three-DVD set that tells Milwaukee's story in five hours of Emmy Award-winning television.

MPTV Friends
12560 W. Townsend St.
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-781-4998
www.mptvfriends.org
$34.95

Cream City Chronicles: Stories of Milwaukee's Past

A collection of 63 historical essays that first saw light as Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columns. Extensively revised and richly illustrated, they cover topics that range from ice harvesting to iron workers and from political scandals to pioneer love stories.

Wisconsin Historical Society,
816 State St., Madison 53706
888-999-1669
www.wisconsinhistory.org/shop
$26.95

One People, Many Paths: A History of Jewish Milwaukee

A comprehensive and fully illustrated look at one of Milwaukee's most interesting ethnic and religious communities. Golda Meir, Bud Selig, and Gene Wilder all grew up in the city. Who knew?

Jewish Museum Milwaukee
1360 N. Prospect Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-390-5730
www.jewishmuseummilwaukee.org
$35.00

Miller Time: A History of Miller Brewing Company, 1855-2005

Pretty enough for the finest coffee table (or back bar), Miller Time charts the growth of a legend in the American beer business. In 1855, a German immigrant named Frederick Miller purchased a bankrupt brewery for $2,370. It survived competition, Prohibition, and consolidation to become the second-largest producer in America.

Girl in the Moon Gift Shop
42nd and State, Milwaukee (Miller tour center)
414-931-2337
www.millerbrewing.com
$39.95

Forging Ahead: A Centennial History of Ladish Co.

Ladish is a super-sized blacksmith shop that has been pounding out parts for everything from automobiles to space shuttles since 1905. This is industry at its heaviest — Ladish’s equipment includes the largest forge hammer on earth.

Ladish Co.
5481 S. Packard Ave.
Cudahy, WI 53110
414-747-0792
$25

Silent City: A History of Forest Home Cemetery

The story of the final resting place of brewers and barristers, mayors and manufacturers — a virtual “Who Was Who” of Milwaukee’s history. Livelier than you’d think.

Forest Home Cemetery
2405 W. Forest Home Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53215
414-645-2632
$12.95

Neighborhood Poster Series

In the 1980s, the City of Milwaukee published a highly popular series of posters, more than two dozen in all, that featured neighborhood images by designer Jan Kotowicz. I wrote a capsule neighborhood history for the back of each poster which, if buyers chose to hang the artwork, never again saw the light of day. Most titles are still available.

Department of City Development
809 N. Broadway
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-286-5701
$3 each

Milwaukee history column

Since 1994, I’ve written a local history column for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that appears on the first Sunday of each month. Look for it in the Crossroads (op-ed) section or on-line at: www.jsonline.com.

John Gurda