Wauwatosa Historical Society Speakers Bureau
Bring Wauwatosa’s rich history to life at your next gathering with a presentation from the Wauwatosa Historical Society’s Speakers Bureau. Our dedicated historians, researchers, and subject-matter experts are available to present engaging, well-researched programs to community groups, organizations, schools, and clubs. From rare photographic collections and vintage film footage to architectural history and captivating family sagas, our topics span centuries of local life and culture. Whether you’re curious about the rise and fall of neighborhood breweries, the drama of a historic fire, or the remarkable women who helped shape our city, there’s a program to spark every interest.
Browse the available presentations below. If you’re interested in booking a presentation from the Speakers Bureau, complete the form, and a member of the research team will contact you. Speakers Bureau presentations are available for a recommended honorarium of $150.00.
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Gilbert Girls
Gilbert Girls” is part of the Wauwatosa Historical Society’s Speakers Bureau, bringing three generations of remarkable women to life. Follow Nancy, a true pioneer among the township’s earliest settlers, Mary, who witnessed the transformation from small settlement to city, and spirited Kate Evelyn, who fought to save her childhood home from Mayfair Mall’s demolition. One family, a century of change.
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The Great Wauwatosa Fire of 1895
Discover the dramatic story behind Wauwatosa’s great fire of 1895 through this captivating Speakers Bureau presentation. On a scorching July morning, flames tore through the village, reducing the business district to ruins by nightfall. Uncover whether it was arson or accident, how the crisis shaped city leadership, and which historic buildings still stand in Wauwatosa today.
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History of Brewing in Wauwatosa
Raise a glass to Wauwatosa’s brewing past with this Speakers Bureau presentation. Homebrewer and beer historian Jeff Enders traces Wisconsin’s brewing roots back to the 1840s, exploring the rise and fall of local breweries and the surprising ways beer shaped everyday life in our growing community. A fascinating pour of local history you won’t want to miss.
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Housing Styles in Wauwatosa
Explore 130 years of Wauwatosa architecture with this Speakers Bureau presentation by Julie Peay, a longtime Historical Society volunteer and researcher. From modest 1840s settler homes to mid-century modern styles, Julie brings expert insight and a passion for local history to every era. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply curious, this tour through Wauwatosa’s neighborhoods is not to be missed.
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Lefeber Glass Plates
This collection of more than 2,000 glass plate negatives provides a unique look at Wauwatosa from 1900 to 1935 through the eyes of one of the city’s most well-known families. Unlike much of the photography of this time, the Lefebers, owners of a longtime Village general store, took casual shots in addition to posed pictures, creating a visual time machine of life in our city more than 100 years ago.
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Our Home Town
Step back in time with this Speakers Bureau presentation featuring “Wauwatosa: Our Home Town,” a colorized and narrated film drawn from rare 1947–1948 footage of our city. Experience Wauwatosa as it once was, while learning about the history and events that shaped that pivotal postwar era. A rare and nostalgic glimpse into our community’s past you won’t want to miss.