Contributions to Picture Oshkosh may be sent via email.  Some forms must be filled out when submitting items via email.  Below you will find links to these forms.

• Registration Form
• Identification Form - we need you to provide us with information on your items. 
• Agreement - please print this form out, sign it and return to the library.  You may either drop it off at the 2nd floor Reference Desk or mail it to the following address; Oshkosh Public Library, Picture Oshkosh, 106 Washington Ave., Oshkosh, WI, 54901. 

If you have any questions, please call the Reference Desk, 920.236.5205 or email, oshkoshalbum@oshkoshpubliclibrary.org

A Look at Life in Oshkosh Through the Eyes of Those Who Live Here

The Oshkosh Public Library wants to preserve images of Oshkosh community life through photos and videos taken by residents and visitors.  The Library has created Picture Oshkosh, a digital photo and video album.

Here's How it Works:

• Individuals and organizations submit photos or videos to the library that showcase Oshkosh people, buildings, history and special events.
• Library staff will scan and digitize the images to add to the online digital collection.
• Images will be uploaded into PhotoBucket, a photo/video sharing web site.
• Original photos and video will be returned to their owners, along with a free CD or DVD (Oshkosh residents only - while supplies last).

Types of Images We're Looking For:
Unique images that chronicle life in Oshkosh, both past and present, will be considered for Picture Oshkosh.  This may include:

• Buildings
• Events - Special or Annual
• People
• Neighborhood or Street Scenes
• Businesses
• Scenic Views and Attractions

Picture Oshkosh will include not just historic photos, but a mix of past and present scenes, events and activities.

Submitting Images:
Items should be in good condition in the following formats:

• Photos - Prints or Digital
• Video - VHS or Digital
• Slides

Oversized items, photo negatives, and framed or mounted photos cannot be submitted.   

Stop by the 2nd floor Reference Desk to pick up forms to fill out.  Use some of the forms to submit information about the images (identification, date, event, location).  Bring your completed forms and photos/videos to the Reference Desk.  We'll let you know when we're done digitizing them and give you a CD or DVD (while supplies last) of your photos or videos.

Digital photos and videos may be submitted via email.  Please see our special instructions for submitting via email.

For more information, please contact the Reference Desk, 920.236.5205 or email oshkoshalbum@oshkoshpubliclibrary.org

The Movies
1940s
Contributed by: Ron

Bibliography

Filmography

Casablanca
DVD
Warner Home Video, c1999

The Grapes of Wrath
VHS
CBS/Fox Video, 1983

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
VHS
Playhouse Video, c1987

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World War II
1940s
Contributed by: Ron

Bibliography

Additional Links

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Jeschke's Grocery and Tavern
Contributed by: Jean

One of my earliest memories as a youngster was when on Sunday afternoons, my dad would take me, and sometimes my brother, on the short walk from our house to Jeschke's Tavern on Rugby Street near Tenth for a soda. This got us all out of mom's hair for a while. And of course Dad enjoyed it too, as there were lots of neighbors who stopped there, especially on warm days. The kids would sit in a booth and drink orange soda, and dad's friends would buy us candy bars and other snacks. Most of these men were members of the Nestor Club with my dad. So many of these men have died that the club disbanded recently due to lack of membership. The Jeschke's building is now Jeff's on Rugby. A photo of the old grocery and tavern hangs on the restaurant wall.

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Tornado
1974
Contributed by: Steve

We moved into our house on South Lark Street in January of 1974. Just four months later in April, this area was hit by a tornado. Although we had a lot of damage, we were able to live in the house. We got a large tarp to throw over the roof and we boarded up broken windows. The southeast corner of the garage suffered severe damage, the patio door and the surrounding area was blown away and there was damage to siding, windows and roofing. We never did find the patio door and that baby was heavy. The damage amounted to between 25% and 30% of the total cost of building the house. There was no one home at the time of the storm. I was on my Sunday afternoon walk and the rest of the family was in Appleton attending a drum and bugle corps rehearsal. I was at a tavern on Rosalia Street when someone came in and told us a tornado hit town. We turned on a radio and I kept hearing about Copp’s Department Store and the university. Drawing a line between the two put our house right in line. A gentleman gave me a ride home and as soon as we hit Witzel Avenue, I knew I was in trouble. The first thing I tried to do was call Appleton. The phone was dead. A bunch of us were trying to clean up the place when all of a sudden, the telephone rang. It was my uncle wanting to know if I was hit and could he be of any help. It took a bit but then I realized my phone was working. The reason may be because all my wires are underground. The reason the phone didn’t work before was that the lines were jammed. I called Appleton right away and was told the family was on the way home. The word got around that I had a working telephone and, apparently, the only one in the area. We soon had a house full of strangers, most of them I never saw before or since. They all wanted to call relatives, friends, or their insurance agent.

What a party we had. I ran out of all liquid refreshments in short order and some people were going home to bring more. They were also bringing cookies and other snacks. We had no electricity so a lady who lived in the apartments across the street was making coffee on her gas stove and it was gone just as fast as she could bring it over. About midnight, a cop came to the door and told me I was to report to work immediately. I was put in charge of the clean up and would not see my bed for two days. Most storm damage was picked up in two weeks but some was still being collected two months later. What an experience this was. As many snap shots as we have taken over the years, we do not have single one of the damage. I think we were just too busy to think of it.

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Summer at the Park
Early 1960s
Contributed by: Mike

I grew up within blocks of Menominee Park and our summers revolved around the park, its ball diamonds and the swimming beach. We'd pack a lunch, play ball at diamond one in the a.m., swim in the afternoon and end our day at the park with another ballgame at another diamond. The days seemed to last forever as did summer. Now summer seems too short...

For more information on Menominee Park, please visit the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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Kids Parade
1950s
Contributed by: Steve

Each year the Ohio Street Civic Association would sponsor a parade for kids near the end of July. The kids would dress in costumes, show off a pet, ride their decorated tricycles or pull floats, large and small. The parade organized at the Sacred Heart School grounds on Fifth and Knapp Streets and went east on Fifth to Ohio Street, then south to the South Park. At the end of the parade, the kids were given refreshments and a bag of goodies. This parade was extremely popular not only with the kids but also with the parents. Some parents even competed against each other to see who could come up with the best idea for their kids. My son David built many floats for his younger sisters and most of them won prizes. Come to think of it, I think I still have some parts for these floats stored in the attic of my garage.

With the parade going past my mother-in-law’s house, it made an ideal excuse to have a family get together. Each year, the gathering got larger and larger. After the parade, Grandma would get a penny ante poker game going at the kitchen table and some of us guys would play sheepshead at a card table in the driveway. We were not allowed to play in the house because we argued so much and were too loud. There would be a lunch of potato salad, baked beans, homemade rye bread and other goodies. Nobody went away disappointed and everybody started looking forward to next year.

One year, construction on Fifth Street forced the parade to go down Fourth Street. It was a bit inconvenient but we survived. Be it known that in all the years I attended, it was the only time it rained during the parade or for that matter, during the gathering.

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