Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 44 - Historical societies and historical preservation.
44.02 - Historical society; duties.

44.02 Historical society; duties. The historical society shall:
(1) Serve as trustee of the state in the preservation and care of all records, both printed and written, and all articles and other materials of historic interest and significance placed in its custody, and interest itself constructively as the agent of the state in the preservation and care of all similar materials wherever they may be.
(2) Collect by gift, exchange or purchase books, periodicals, pamphlets, records, tracts, manuscripts, maps, charts and other papers, artifacts, relics, paintings, photographs and other materials illustrative of the history of this state in particular and of the West generally.
(3) Conduct research in the history of Wisconsin in particular and of the West generally.
(4) Inculcate through publications, museum extension services and other media a wider and fuller knowledge and appreciation of the history of Wisconsin and its significance.
(5) Keep its main library and museum rooms open at all reasonable hours on business days for the reception of the residents of this state who may wish to visit the library or museum. Except as provided under subs. (5g) and (5m), the historical society may collect a fee from residents and shall collect a fee from nonresidents for admission to historic sites or buildings acquired, leased or operated by the historical society, including areas within state parks or on other state-owned lands which incorporate historic buildings, restorations, museums or remains and which are operated by the historical society by agreement with the department of natural resources or other departments, or for lectures, pageants or similar special events, or for admission to defray the costs of special exhibits in its several buildings of documents, objects or other materials not part of the historical society's regular collections but brought in on loan from other sources for such special exhibitions or for use of the main library. The historical society shall take action on a continuing basis to raise funds from private sources for the operation of its main library. The historical society may procure and sell or otherwise dispose of postcards, souvenirs and other appropriate merchandise to help defray the costs of operating its several plants and projects.
(5g)
(a) Not charge a fee for use of the main library by any member of the historical society, any member of the faculty or academic staff of the University of Wisconsin System, any student enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or any other person exempted by rule of the historical society. The historical society may not charge a fee for use of the main library by any other person unless the historical society submits a fee schedule to the joint committee on finance that includes the specific fee to be charged to different categories of persons and an identification of any persons exempted by rule of the historical society. The fee schedule of the historical society shall be implemented if the committee approves the report, or does not schedule a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the report within 14 working days after receipt of the report.
(b) Charge a fee for research services provided by the historical society to any nonresident who is not specifically exempted under par. (a).
(5m) Not charge a fee for admission to the Wisconsin Historical Museum located at 30 N. Carroll Street in Madison until construction of a new museum is completed. Fees collected from admissions shall be used to support public programming and operations of the new museum.
(5s) Except as provided in s. 16.84 (2), have responsibility for security at the Wisconsin Historical Museum located at 30 N. Carroll Street in Madison.
(6) Thoroughly catalog the entire collections of the society for the more convenient reference of all persons who have occasion to consult the collections. The society may loan to libraries, educational institutions and other organizations or to private individuals in good standing items from the collections of the society.
(8) Bind, except when microfilmed or transferred to optical discs or electronic format, the unbound books, documents, manuscripts, pamphlets, and especially newspaper files in its possession.
(9) Take an active interest in the preservation and use of the noncurrent public records of historical importance of counties, cities, villages, towns, school districts and other local governmental units and courts.
(10) Conduct a research center in American history for the benefit of the students and faculty of the University of Wisconsin System as well as for members of the general public and to facilitate the further understanding by the general public of the significance of the American experiment.
(11) Work with the auxiliaries, affiliates and chapters established under s. 44.03 in the encouragement, stimulation and development of worthwhile historical projects and undertakings at the county and local level.
(12) Be the custodian of the official series of the portraits of the governors of Wisconsin under s. 41.53 (1) (g) and maintain the portraits in proper condition. The society may permit any or all of the portraits to be exhibited in such state buildings for such periods of time as it deems feasible.
(13) Faithfully expend and apply all money received to the fulfillment of its duties and purposes as directed by law.
(14) Hold all its present and future property for the state.
(15) Promote a wider appreciation of the American heritage with particular emphasis on the collection, advancement, and dissemination of knowledge of the history of Wisconsin and of the West.
(16) Collect, embody, arrange, and preserve in authentic form, a library of books, pamphlets, maps, charts, manuscripts, papers, paintings, statuary, and other materials illustrative of the history of the state.
(17) Preserve the memory of its early residents and pioneers, and obtain and preserve narratives of their exploits, perils, and adventures.
(18) Exhibit faithfully the antiquities, and the past and present condition, and resources of Wisconsin.
(20) Have authority to operate, maintain, acquire and develop outdoor historic sites related to the outdoor recreation program under s. 23.30.
(21) Serve as the principal historic preservation agency of the state and in that capacity carry out a program of preservation of historic properties as specified under subch. II of ch. 44.
(22) Acquire, maintain and operate historic properties representative of this state's rural and urban heritage.
(23) Identify any archaeological site, including contiguous land necessary to protect the site, in this state that is listed in the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places and that is not cataloged under s. 157.70. Any information collected under this subsection the disclosure of which would be likely to result in the disturbance of an archaeological site is not subject to s. 19.35 (1).
(24) Promulgate by rule procedures, standards and forms necessary to certify, and shall certify, expenditures for preservation or rehabilitation of historic property for the purposes of ss. 71.07 (9m) and (9r), 71.28 (6), and 71.47 (6). These standards shall be substantially similar to the standards used by the secretary of the interior to certify rehabilitations under 26 USC 47 (c) (2).
(25) In cooperation with and upon request of the board on the U.S.S. Wisconsin, maintain a permanent exhibit at a suitable location in this state relating to the history of the 2 battleships named “Wisconsin".
(26) With the department of administration, promulgate rules identifying historically significant materials and obtain historically significant surplus materials under s. 16.72 (5) (c).
(27) Administer the historical markers program under s. 44.15.
(28) Annually distribute the amount appropriated under s. 20.245 (1) (b) as a grant to the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum to fund the operations of that society and museum.
(29) Support the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission as provided for in s. 45.13 (4).
History: 1971 c. 125; 1977 c. 26, 29; 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27, 395, 399; 1989 a. 31; 1989 a. 56 s. 259; 1989 a. 359; 1991 a. 39, 226, 269; 1993 a. 437, 471; 1995 a. 3, 27; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 196; 2017 a. 222; 2021 a. 95, 249.