HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES_WWI Commemoration Committee_05-31-17 Oshkosh WWI Commemoration Committee Minutes
5/31/17
Oshkosh Public Museum
Present: Austin Frederick, Steve Cummings, Karla Szekeres, Scott Cross, Brad Larson, Gabe
Loiacono, Sandra Toland, Patrick Bertram, Becky Matzke
NOTES
Chris Gauger and Beth Potter of UWO presented their research and draft slides for the
"standees" of Oshkosh figures from World War I. The committee discussed the particulars of
the designs and potential locations for the standees. Gabe Loiacono, Beth, and Chris have put
together a preliminary list of places around town to approach about hosting a standee; we may
also have all the standees together in one place for particular events, such as Gallery Walk.
Each standee will include a link to oshkoshmuseum.org, and Karla Szekeres will link them to the
museum's current virtual exhibits on these historical figures. Gabe will share all of the standee
slides online with the committee members, who can make editing suggestions and help to pare
the list down to 10 total standees.
Brad Larson reported that the OPM is planning a temporary exhibit on World War I for the
summer of 2018. More details will be worked out after the museum's current major project is
in place later this summer.
Sandy Toland reported that a historian from the Wisconsin Veterans' Museum will do
genealogy workshop at the Oshkosh Public Library on Aug. 14. Brad Larson will also be doing a
presentation on his work on the Doughboys, which will be scheduled soon.
Sandy also passed out list of WWI movies that can be shown under the library's movie license.
The committee discussed potential months for a WWI film festival at the library and thought
January and February may be best— potentially on Sunday afternoons. We may do a series of
four or five movies, shown over the course of a month or two, with accompanying books and
perhaps introductory history talks. Committee members can vote for their preferred movies.
Sandy will work on scheduling.
Steve Cummings reported talking to Winnebago County Supervisor Mark Harris about moving
the courthouse memorial plaques; the County Board would need to approve moving these.
Mike Hurt of the Oshkosh Patriotic Council said the group could help with funding. Steve and
Austin Frederick will follow up on this, potentially talk to Reinke or other monument businesses
for design of new displays for the plaques. They will check out fundraising possibilities and also
investigate how the plaques might be removed from the building. When things are lined up,
this committee could make a proposal to the County.
Becky Matzke noted that the Oshkosh high school choir directors would like to help with
student performances of WWI music. The committee decided that an event or two the week of
Nov. 11 to 18, 2017 would work, possibly at both the OPM and the library. The standees could
also be displayed at such an event. Becky will check on dates with the teachers. Patrick Bertram
suggested that high school singers could also perform at a Gallery Walk at which the standees
were displayed.
Austin Frederick is moving forward with creating WWI history webcasts, including one on his
current research into Oshkosh liberty loan drives. Sandy said the library has technology
available to create those. These could be put on the OPM's website, as could recorded public
presentations set up at the library.
The committee will meet again later in the summer.
Becky Matzke