Fond du Lac donation helped historical society stabilize, society outlines preserved campus plan

Lisa Pauley Lafebvre, president of the Fond du Lac County Historical Society, told the Fond du Lac City Council on June 25 that a $25,000 city contribution helped the society secure a matching municipal requirement donor and stabilize operations while the organization reorganizes its campus and collections.

"We are an independent nonprofit organization," Pauley Lafebvre said. She told council members the matching grant required a municipal dollar‑for‑dollar match; with the city's $25,000 the group secured the donor match and used the funds to hire a six‑month transition director, support paid internships and pay for temperature‑control utilities for artifact preservation.

City Manager Joseph Moore framed the allocation as a targeted, one‑time investment that helped the society through an uncertain period. "You also authorized $25,000 for the Fond Du Lac County Historical Society, and that's why Lisa's here tonight," Moore said, noting the city's earlier approval and that staff had recommended the contribution.

What the society reported to the council: - Staffing and collections: the matching funds paid for a six‑month transition director and paid internships to professionalize collections work. The society said interns and staff have now documented more than 15,000 artifacts. - Preservation and consolidation: the society plans to downsize use of multiple buildings while keeping representative properties and exhibit spaces, including the Galloway House, Carriage House, Gazebo, Log Cabin, Welcome Center Pavilion and the Blakely Museum with the library. - Partnerships and storage: the society is collaborating with the Fond du Lac Public Library for genealogy and city directory access and is working with the Wisconsin Historical Society's Oshkosh repository for public tax records. Sensitive materials will be kept in temperature‑controlled storage and other records will be available by appointment at the county campus. - Collections care policy: Pauley Lafebvre described a formal deaccessioning process that prioritizes local museums and educational entities before any sale and requires insured professional movers for building relocations. - Public programming: the historical society is operating a full summer program schedule (fdlhistory.org), with upcoming events including a mother‑daughter tea and the 69th annual ice cream social on Aug. 10.

Councilmember Patrick Schisler asked about upkeep of the carriage house; Pauley Lafebvre noted the property is listed on the National Register and the society is consulting with the Wisconsin Historical Society on maintenance needs. Moore publicly thanked Pauley Lafebvre for her role in stabilizing the campus.

The presentation was an informational update; no new appropriation or action was taken at the June 25 meeting. The council previously authorized the $25,000 municipal contribution referenced during the presentation.