April 2022

"Hey Rube!" was historically used by circus and carnival workers to call for help in case a fight broke out! No fighting here, just great resources under the Wisconsin Historical Society education big top! April is also National Poetry Month, and you'll find links to our poetry lessons using How to Be An Indian in the 21st Century by Louis V. Clark III, as well as information on our updated digital textbook Wisconsin: Our State, Our Story. And don't miss our interviews with Keldi Merton (Madeline Island) and Georgia Stephenson (Circus World) for the latest goings-on at our sites!

Take a life-long journey, in prose and verse, with Oneida author and poet Louis V. Clark III (Two Shoes), who chronicles his voyage schoolyard bullies to workplace barriers—and the loves and lives in between—to discover How to Be an Indian in the 21st Century. Warm, plainspoken, and wryly funny, Clark shares his own American Indian story, talking frankly about a culture’s struggle to maintain its heritage.

Created for grades 9-12, the free downloadable education resource encourages students to tell their own life stories in poetry and prose in the way that Menominee Indian and poet Louis V. Clark III (Two Shoes) did in this award-winning memoir.

Tell us about yourself:

I'm Keldi Merton, Historic Site Manager, at the Madeline Island Museum. I have 4 adult children, 3 cats, 2 sets of cross-country skis, and one awesome fat tire bike that I enjoy riding in the Chequamegon National Forest.

What do you do?
I am responsible for the operation of the Madeline Island Museum. The best part of my job is meeting people and sharing stories with guests.

What are you excited about for the upcoming season? We are opening a collaborative exhibit titled "Meeting Nanabozhoo" featuring the art work of Rabbett Before Horses Strickland. We are also featuring a student beadwork exhibit feature pieces created by regional Ojibwe youth artists. I am also excited about our evening events this year!

Tell us about yourself:

My name is Georgia Stephenson and I’m the new Operations Manager for Circus World. I come from a multi-generational circus family. After 18 years on the road with different circuses (The Greatest Show on Earth, Big Apple Circus, and Cirque du Soleil) I left the road to relocate to Baraboo, which I now call home along with my rescue pit-bull. After traveling so much, I finally ran away and joined a town.

What do you do?
I support every aspect our museum! I have to know the operation inside and out so that I can assist the incredible team here.

What are you excited about for the upcoming season?
While we do have new exhibits here at the museum, what I am most excited about is this year’s live Big Top performances, daily beginning May 20. This year we have a pirate theme and have lots of fun planned for each performance, including our 2 pachyderms who can be seen up close inside the Big Top. These animals are glorious and seeing them within arm’s reach is nothing but a gift and a thrill.