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A Tribute to Dr. Les Crocker

Our community lost Dr. Leslie F. Crocker recently, a valuable and well respected architectural historian.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, retired LPL Archives Manager 1989-2025) In memory of Dr. Leslie F. Crocker, March 15, 1942 - February 16, 2025 Death is a hard teache… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/a-tribute-to-dr.-les-crocker/

Coulee Region Festival of Arts: Expanding Music in La Crosse

One of Maestro Francesco "Frank" Italiano's dreams was to establish both a summer symphony program and a youth symphony which would lead to the Symphony School of America.
(written by Charles Dyar, Archives Intern) Image of Frank Italiano The Coulee Region Music Festival was founded in 1960 to bring music culture to Southern Wisconsin. T… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/coulee-region-festival-of-arts-expanding-music-in-la-crosse/

New Deal Photographer Sets His Eye on La Crosse

In the summer of 1939, photographer Arthur Rothstein traveled through La Crosse, capturing poignant moments of a city in the midst of change.
(written by Sarah Ludington, Archives staff) In the summer of 1939, photographer Arthur Rothstein traveled through the Midwest to document rural life. Employed by a special pro… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/new-deal-photographer-sets-his-eye-on-la-crosse/

Anita Taylor Doering & Muriel Fuller

Senior Archivist and Manager of the LPL Archives Department, Anita Taylor Doering has been awarded the 2024 Wisconsin Library Association's Muriel Fuller Award.
(written by Jenny DeRocher, Archives staff) Anita Taylor Doering (left) and Muriel Fuller (right), both at their desks at the La Crosse Public Library about 70 years apart f… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/anita-taylor-doering-and-muriel-fuller/

Almost Untouched: A Survivor from the Past

This little Greek Revival house at 422 N. 8th Street has a wonderful story.
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History)   The Greek Revival style house now sits behind the Hixon House at 426 6th Street North, La Crosse. Ph… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/almost-untouched-a-survivor-from-the-past/

La Crosse's Radiant History

Within the last decade, many people have become familiar with the Radium Girls, the nearly forgotten story of the young women who worked for three of the biggest radium processing plants in the U.S. La Crosse also had industries and businesses that requi…
(written by Sarah Ludington, Archives staff) Within the last decade, many people have become familiar with the story of the Radium Girls. While directing the play “Our Shining … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosses-radiant-history/

Working Women: Domestic Servants in La Crosse

As long as there have been wealthy families in large homes, there have been domestic workers supporting them. In La Crosse, many young, single, Norwegian immigrants worked in domestic service.
(written by Meghan Hoefling, Archives staff) As long as there have been wealthy families in large homes, there have been domestic workers supporting them. Domestic work has lik… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/working-women-domestic-servants-in-la-crosse/

Myrick Park: A Hidden Gem

Established in 1903 as one of the first public parks in the region, Myrick Park is a vibrant testament to the harmonious coexistence between urban life and natural beauty.
(written by Sam Steingraeber, Archives volunteer) Myrick Park is a vibrant testament to the harmonious coexistence between urban life and natural beauty. Established in 190… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/myrick-park-a-hidden-gem/

Neighbors Making History: The Tesson Family - Life and Death on the Water

Frank H. Tesson, was a veteran boat pilot and captain during the heyday of steam boating on the Mississippi River. Frank B. Tesson met his death on distant seas in one of the most well-known disasters of the 20th century.
(written by Jeff Rand, retired Adult Services librarian) La Crosse Tribune 7 May 1915 One hundred and nine years ago, this is the front page that La Crosse residents s… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/neighbors-making-history-the-tesson-family-life-and-death-on-the-water/

Keeping Up Appearances: A Story of Blended Styles

Doubt loomed great over a caption on an old photograph written long ago with an ink pen that said, “Dwelling erected by the Rev. John C. Sherwin on NW corner of Cameron Ave. & 10th St.” Was the caption written with a shaky hand correct?
(written by Anita Taylor Doering and Sarah Ludington of the La Crosse Public Library Archives Staff with substantial contributions from Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/keeping-up-appearances-a-story-of-blended-styles/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: Religious Romanesque

The most obvious feature in the Romanesque style is the round arch, rather than the Gothic pointed arch. Round arches require more massive walls to restrain the load above them, so the Romanesque interiors were often rather dark with a few small windows p…
(Written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) This blog is fourth in a series on the Romanesque Revival. For more background on this revival, see Architect… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-religious-romanesque/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: Romanesque Revival Homes

The Romanesque Revival was all about masses and large-scale forms. Most houses don't have the size to show the style well.
(Written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) This blog is third in a series on the Romanesque Revival. For more background on this revival, see Architectu… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-romanesque-revival-homes/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: Romanesque Revival Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings were large enough to make use of the Romanesque Revival style. In La Crosse, the two largest use no decoration, while the smaller one uses relief sculpture to enliven the surface.
(Written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) This blog is second in a series on the Romanesque Revival. For more background on this revival, see Architect… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-romanesque-revival-commercial-buildings/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: Romanesque Revival Public Buildings

The Romanesque revival was based on church architecture, mostly in France and Spain, from the period of 950-1100 CE. The name means “like that in Rome” or in the Roman Empire.
(Written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) A more detailed discussion of these buildings can be found in my book Places and Spaces available at all publi… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-romanesque-revival-public-buildings/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: The Colonial Revival

During the 1876 U.S. Centennial celebrations, the old argument that the United States needed an “American” architecture was resurrected, but what at first seemed clear-cut and definable, soon changed into another catch-all style. By 1876, the various revi…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that triggered an economic depression in Europe and North America tha… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-colonial-revival/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: The Queen Anne Style

This style, as developed and named by Richard Norman Shaw in England in the late 19th-century, claimed to be based on design elements used in the time of the English monarch Queen Anne. As the style moved to the United States, it lost many of medieval ele…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) The Queen Anne Mess This style was developed and named by Richard Norman Shaw in England and claimed to be b… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-queen-anne-style/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: The Second Empire Style

The Second Empire style features include the mansard roof with dormer windows, decorative brackets, columns, paired columns, half columns, triangular pediments, curved pediments, decorative window crests; the more complex, the better. Even though few exa…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) Based on the grand public buildings in Paris designed for Napoleon III, the Second Empire style worked best o… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-second-empire-style/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: The Italianate Style

Though commonly referred to in architecture conversations, often used for any building with a bracket, the Italianate style is almost entirely a domestic style. There are very few public, religious, or commercial examples of the style in the United States…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) Italianate means ‘like something in Italy.’ Not a very specific definition for a style of building in the Uni… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-italianate-style/

Looking Back (2023)

A look back at the local history stories shared by the La Crosse Public Library Archives in 2023.
Archives staff/volunteers/interns/guest historians put together a lot of great blogs in 2023; please take a moment to check out these local history topics by clicking on the blog … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/looking-back-2023/

Architectural Styles and Revivals: The Exotic Revival

Exotic Revival architecture is mostly understood to be Romantic era homes with added ornamentation inspired by architecture from regions that, at that time in the United States, would have been considered exotic.
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History) In the book A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia & Lee McAlester, the authors group what they call… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-exotic-revival/

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