New WisArch Newsletter Published!
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Click here to access the WisArch Newsletters!
New WisArch Newsletter Published!
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Please see the Spring 2023 publication here!
Charles E. Brown's Birthday
/Charles E. Brown
October 24, 1872 – February 15, 1946
The name Charles E. Brown is nearly synonymous with the early history of the Wisconsin Archeological Society. Today we mark the 150th anniversary of his birth on October 24, 1872. It was the beginning of a life that would extend for more than 73 years and would contain more accomplishments than would seem possible for just one man.
Brown was among the founders of the Wisconsin Archeological Society in 1903 and would serve for nearly 40 years as its first Secretary. The title “Secretary,” however, does not do justice to vast amount of work he did for our organization. Using today’s terminology, he likely would have held the title of Executive Director for the Society. Along with an extensive correspondence, often done in very readable long-hand script, without the modern conveniences of word processing and email, he also was the editor of the first 40 volumes of The Wisconsin Archeologist, which was then a quarterly publication. Not only did he edit the journal, but he contributed more than 140 articles and reports to its pages. Brown also was a prime organizer of many of the activities of the Society, particularly the well-attended field assemblies at archeological sites throughout the state. These events would often be coupled with an effort to preserve a site such as the field assembly in 1919 at the end of the S. A. Barrett’s first year of excavations at Aztalan. This event would lead directly to the first purchase of land for preservation at that site which would be maintained as Aztalan Mound Park by the Society for a quarter-century before being incorporated into the new Aztalan State Park in 1947.
Although Charles E. Brown can be considered to be the leading light of the Wisconsin Archeological Society during the first third of its existence, he was not a ‘one-man-show.’ He was a wonderful educator and tireless encourager of anyone who sought his assistance. His infectious enthusiasm for Wisconsin’s cultural history would bring a wide and diverse group of citizens from rural farmers to governors to indigenous people to contribute information about sites and artifacts, and to work alongside him for their preservation.
Perhaps the greatest monument to Charles E. Brown’s work is his untiring efforts to save and preserve the effigy and other burial mounds throughout Wisconsin and particularly in the Four Lakes area. Many of the mounds and mound groups that have been preserved in the state are the direct or indirect result of Brown’s efforts. Most notably, Brown played a leading role in the preservation of the Man Mound near Baraboo, now a National Historic Landmark, in 1907 which was acquired by the Wisconsin Archeological Society, the Sauk County Historical Society and the Wisconsin Federation of Women’s Clubs. Thirty years later, in 1937, Ferdinand Heim, would donate the Heim Mound in Middleton to the Society. Twenty-two years earlier Brown had surveyed that mound and encouraged Heim to care for it.
Brown was an inveterate record-keeper of every report of an archeological site that crossed his desk. This would be compiled and published by the Society as the “Record of Wisconsin Antiquities” beginning in 1906 and updated regularly as more information became available. This early effort would evolve into what is now known as the Archeological Sites Inventory, a vast computer database maintained by the Office of the Wisconsin State Archaeologist. Brown’s own records and maps, and invaluable source of information, are maintained in the archives of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Aside from his work for the Wisconsin Archeological Society, Brown had a full career as the first director of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Museum from 1908 through 1944. Prior to that, he had worked at the Milwaukee Public Museum from 1900 to 1908. He also taught archeological and museum studies courses for the University of Wisconsin.
Brown was among the ten recipients of the Wisconsin Archeological Society’s Increase A. Lapham Research Medal when it was first awarded in 1926. After nearly four decades as the Society’s Secretary, Brown was elected the Society’s Vice-President in 1941 and President in 1942. After that, he would serve on the Society’s Advisory Council. His name has been carried on for more than 50 years by the Charles E. Brown Chapter of the Wisconsin Archeological Society that is based at the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison.
A short announcement of Charles E. Brown’s passing was written by a succeeding editor of The Wisconsin Archeologist, Kermit Freckmann:
Archeological and historical students everywhere greatly regret the passing of our beloved associate, Mr. Charles E. Brown, who died on February 15, 1946. The Wisconsin Archeological Society has suffered the loss of one of the greatest scientists and philanthropists that has ever been recorded in its history. Devoted to scientific accuracy, he was not content to merely classify artifacts, but was also concerned with creating interest and imparting knowledge to the average person.
He cheerfully gave 40 years of his life to the Society as secretary, and was editor of The Wisconsin Archeologist for the same period. Mr. Brown’s contributions to the archeology of the state were such that they, perhaps, will never be equaled. His contagious enthusiasm and smiling countenance, as he spoke for many years before our society, will never be forgotten, and his memory shall always be cherished in the hearts of all of the members who knew him.
While there are likely few, if any, members of the Wisconsin Archeological Society who knew Charles E. Brown during his lifetime, we have all benefited from his work. May we, on this sesquicentennial of his birth, commit ourselves to do what we can to carry on his legacy in our own work.
Robert P. Nurre
President
Wisconsin Archeological Society
Much of the information in this short tribute to Charles E. Brown comes from an article by Robert A. Birmingham, “Charles E. Brown, Wisconsin Archaeologist” published in The Wisconsin Archeologist, 1999, 80(1):14-23.
Join the Wisconsin Archeological Society at the Historic Indian Agency House (HIAH) on Saturday, August 13!
/On August 13th the WAS will be hosting a social event at the Historic Indian Agency House (HIAH). WAS members are welcome to join in excavations with the purchase or proof of HIAH membership (please register here: https://www.agencyhouse.org/archaeology). Tours and a social dinner at the Trails Lounge Supper Club in Portage (please RSVP to Bobbie Goodman at 608-429-3046 by August 12th) will be available to WAS members.
Please click here to read the Preservation of the Old Indian Agency House article if you are interested in more information on the preservation and history of the HIAH!
For information on the event, click here!
Summer 2021 Field School Opportunity
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The Summer 2021 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Anthropology Archaeological Field School will be held from June 1 - July 10 at the North Point Lighthouse in Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Please see the flier for more details or click on the provided website link. Please pass along the flier to anyone you think might be interested. If you are interested in participating in the field school, please fill out the application soon because space is limited.
For any questions, please contact Dr. Seth Schneider at sethas@uwm.edu
Read MoreFall 2019 Field Assembly
/This year’s Fall Field Assembly is co-sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Archaeological Center (MVAC) and will be held at Silver Mound, one of the largest, oldest, and most important archaeological sites in the Midwest. Silver Mound was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006. “Hixton Silicified Sandstone,” the stone found at Silver Mound, was used by Native Peoples for nearly 12,000 years. Find more details in the full post!
Read MoreSummer 2019 Field School Opportunity
/The UWM Archaeological Field School will be held at the Aztalan site in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Aztalan is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Midwest and UWM has a long history of research at the site. Students will learn to excavate, record, and interpret multiple occupation levels at the site through a field-based, hands-on practicum.
Please visit the website for more information.
Applications can be downloaded here.
February Robert Ritzenthaler Archaeological Society Meeting Cancelled
/Due to the weather, the Robert Ritzenthaler Archaeological Society Lecture that was scheduled for this evening, February 12th, has been cancelled. We would like to thank Jaremy for offering the program. We will try to reschedule him in the near future.
