New Exhibit: African American Lead Miners in Wisconsin

The Mining and Rollo Jamison Museums are proud to announce a new exhibit, African American Lead Miners in Wisconsin, opening this October. 

The lead boom brought over 100 African Americans to the region. Tori Kosobucki, Simone Rand, Deja Roberson, Winifred Redfearn, and Elizabeth Larrison, under the tutelage of Professor Eugene Tesdahl at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, scoured local archives for information about these miners. Dr. Tesdahl developed final exhibit text over the summer.  “We’re not putting them in [the exhibits] for political correctness. We’re putting them in because they really lived, worked, retired and died a lead miner in Wisconsin,” Tesdahl said.

“Being able to tell a more complete and inclusive story about regional lead mining is inherently important to our mission of interpreting and presenting the history of Southwest Wisconsin,” says Museum Director Diana Bolander.

An Opening Reception will take place Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 6:00 pm and is open to the public.  A short presentation by the students, Dr. Tesdahl, and Museum staff will begin at 6:30 pm.

About the Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums
The Mining and Rollo Jamison Museums pursue excellence in regional and mining history.  We are located at the eastern end of Platteville’s Historic District. Visit us to tour the 1845 Bevans Lead Mine, ride in a 1931 mine train (weather permitting), and learn about the local history of Platteville and lead and zinc mining of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Find out more at www.mining.jamison.museum.