Reuben Gold Thwaites, librarian, historian, editor, and administrator, served as secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin from 1887 until his death in 1913. An industrious writer, he produced an array of books and superb documentary editions that added substantially to the understanding of the American westward movement. Following the career of his illustrious predecessor, Lyman C. Draper, he used his abundant enthusiasm and dedication to advance the Wisconsin society to new levels of achievement, rivaling, if not surpassing, the accomplishments of older historical societies in the East. Most significantly he created the modern idea of the historical society, especially the publicly supported society, transforming it into an instrument for public education, freeing it from antiquarian clubbiness, and encouraging the use of its varied resources by all people.

Thwaites was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, on 15 May 1853, to William George Thwaites and Sarah Bibbs Thwaites, recent emigrants from Yorkshire, England...