FAQs

407 South Second Street, Alma, WI 54610

Phone:608-685-6290, Email: historical@buffalocounty.com

1. What is the BCHS Schools Project?

2. Is there a cost to participating in the BCHS Schools Project?

3. What types of information would the Society like?

5. How can I help with this project?

1. What is the BCHS Schools Project?

The Buffalo County Historical Society board of directors feels that the history of schools in Buffalo County is something that is quickly disappearing from the minds and homes of Buffalo County residents and relatives. This project will allow the BCHS an opportunity to bring as many records about Buffalo County Schools as possible into one location for local historians and genealogists to research. We also hope to publish a comprehensive book that gives a general history of each of the schools and Buffalo County education in general. Our goal is to compile as much information as possible about each of the over 120 schools in Buffalo County's 150+ years of history.

2. Is there a cost to participating in the BCHS Schools Project?

No, there is no cost for participating in the BCHS Schools Project. However, there are incidental costs that may reach $500-1,000 by the time the entire project is completed for storage of artifacts and archives as well as indexing the new information. The book that we may publish will not be until the very end of this project, so any money made from book sales will be much later.

3. What types of information would the Society like?

The Buffalo County Historical Society is looking for any information on Buffalo County Schools. This could be student names, textbooks, yearbooks, homework assignments, pictures, stories or anything else you may think would be of interest. If you feel you would like to be interviewed or interview people, we will be coming up with a list of questions for a guide.

4. Do I have to donate my items?

No, items brought to the Society do not have to be donated. Donations are easier for the Society to handle as we can get the items into museum quality storage for long term preservation, but the BCHS also will take loaned items and/or make reproductions of such things as written materials or photographs if you would like.

5. How can I help with this project?

You can help the BCHS Schools Project by contacting our office with anything that you feel would be appropriately connected to the building, operating or otherwise of any school or schools within the limits of Buffalo County. This would include, but is not limited to the items listed in question 3. We also would like help with the organization and study of these items as they are received. Some things, such as class lists, must have all the students' names listed in our computer software to make those items accessible to everyone in the future. This can be time consuming, yet it is a wonderful project to help you learn more about Buffalo County history.

We are also looking for people willing to conduct interviews and be interviewed. Specifically, we are hoping that interviews with former students, teachers, employees and others touched by Buffalo County schools will help us fill in any holes we come across as well as add the flavor that makes a project like this so successful.