362 
WISCONSIN STATE AO HI CULTURAL SOCIETY, 
indicated a progress in the first hundred years of our national ex¬ 
istence, that our own people could hardly realize, and that aston¬ 
ished our visitors from foreign countries. In fine, it was a magnifi¬ 
cent success, in which every American heart should rejoice. 
STATE BOAED OEGANIZED. 
Having briefly noticed some of the prominent national features 
of this exhibition, a few words as to the part taken in it by our own 
state of Wisconsin may not be out of place. It was somewhat 
difficult to arouse an interest in this state; nor, until a short time 
previous to the opening, was there much action taken by our peo¬ 
ple, in preparing for a representation at Philadelphia. In the win¬ 
ter of 1875, the legislature made provision for the appointment of a 
State Board of Centennial Managers to look after the interests of 
the state in connection with this enterprise, and made an appropri¬ 
ation of $2,000 to defray expenses. The State Board, as first ap¬ 
pointed by the governor in April, 1875, consisted of the following 
members, to wit: 
John B. Parkinson, Madison. 
Eli Stilson, Oshkosh. 
Jerome I. Case, Racine. 
E. A. Calkins, Milwaukee. 
Thad. C. Pound, Chippewa Falls. 
David Atwood, U. S. Centennial Commissioner, and E. D. Hol¬ 
ton, U. S. Alternate Commissioner, were, by this law, made ex- 
offieio members of the State Board of Centennial Managers. 
In April, 1875, the State Board was organized by the election of 
J. B. Parkinson, president, and W. W. Field, secretary. Several 
circulars, addresses, etc., were issued to the people, inviting them 
to aid in making such a representation of the various resources of 
our state as would give it a respectable position at the exhibition. 
A few responses were received during the season, not enough, how¬ 
ever, to afford the managers special encouragement. They were 
not disheartened, but persevered in their efforts. After a few 
weeks Col. E. A. Calkins resigned his position as a member of the 
board, and Adolph Meinecke, of Milwaukee, was appointed to fill 
the vacancy thus created. 
