1948-2023
The Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association, founded in 1948, is a not-for-profit organization. For more than 7 decades WADA has been dedicated to the preservation and conservation of Wisconsin’s heritage. A large portion of each gate admission at our shows is reserved for such endeavors.
To Make a Grant Application:
For consideration of funding by the Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association, please submit the following:
1. A written request
2. A copy of the mission statement
3. A list of board members
4. Financial records for two years
5. An explanation of how the money will be used
6. A form verifying that the requester is a non-profit organization
Our Association requires the grant be used for a specific public-use area project that will help preserve buildings or objects of historical significance. Funding for plaques and/or to benefit private homeowners or businesses is not available. Grants are limited to $1,000. An organization cannot submit a grant request in two consecutive years.
Requests need to be submitted by May 15 of each year. Send items 1 - 6 to:
Debbie McArdle, Secretary, Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Assoc., PO Box 233, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545
2023
Manitowish Waters Historical Society: A $1,000 grant was awarded towards restoration and preservation of a historic Civilian Conservation Corps building for use as the Northwoods Forest History Museum. The NFHM will house historic exhibits and displays for the education of the public who visit the area.
Friends of the Jonathan Clark House, Mequon: A $1,000 grant was awarded to preserve and properly display the 400+ year old Bonniwell Bible. The Bonniwell family was one of the founding families of Mequon.
2022
Historic Indian Agency House, Portage: A $700 grant was awarded to help increase their capacity to create special archival boxes and storage mounts in order to give each artifact more effective protection and to monitor conditions to ensure a proper preservation environment.
Price County Historical Society, Fifield: A $1,000 grant was awarded toward the building of the Louis A. Koenig Research Center in Fifield.
2021
Mukwanago Historical Society: This request to fund the preservation of a large collection of Mukwonago-related historical materials was initiated by the Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society through their 2020 approved request. Collected by the late Marty Perkins, the collection includes first-hand settler accounts, genealogies, census studies, diaries, and photographs, both in print and glass plate negatives. The intent of this project is to preserve the materials themselves using archival methods and digitally record them as well with much of the material being placed on our website for the public use. This will greatly enhance public awareness of Mukwanago’s rich history going back to 1835.
Manitowish Waters Historical Society: A $1,000 grant was awarded to design prototypes for displays within the Northwoods Forest History Museum which will aid the education of the public who visit the area. Displays will trace forest history from First Nation History, the Three Phases of Logging, the reaction of the Logging Era-Wisconsin Conservation Commission and Department later the DNR, The Civilian Conservation Corps, The Youth Conservation Corps, Conservation vs. Preservation, and a changing display of historical topics.
2020
Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society: The Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association is the founding and continuing sponsor of their "30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction". In addition, a grant was approved for $1,000 which was allocated in 2021 to benefit the Mukwanago Historical Society. (See 2021)
2019
Historic Indian Agency House, Portage: A $600 grant was approved to help create an archival storage area.
H. H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells: A $1,000 grant, initiated by the Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2018, was used to create backdrops that will replicate those used in the 2nd half of the 19th century to create stereoscope cards.
2018
Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society: The Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association is the founding and continuing sponsor of their "30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction". In addition, a grant was approved for $1,000 which was allocated in 2019 to benefit the H. H. Bennett Studio in Wisconsin Dells. (See 2019)
2017
Pendarvis Historic Site, Mineral Point: A $1,000 grant, initiated by the Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2016, was used to conserve two important portraits of General William Rudolph and Mary Smith. General Rudolf was appointed by President Van Buren in 1839 as the Adjutant General of the Wisconsin Territory. In 1854 Rudolph was named the first President of the State Historical Society.
Price County Historical Society, Fifield: A $1,000 grant was awarded for interior painting and maintenance of the Old Town Hall and Museum in Fifield.
Rock County Historical Society, Janesville: A $500 grant was awarded to restore the A. F. Tait color stone lithography “American Field Sports”.
2016
Friends of the Wisconsin Historical Society: The Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association is the founding and continuing sponsor of their "30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction". In addition, a grant was approved for $1,000 for a project to conserve two portraits at Pendarvis Historic Site. (See 2017)
2015
Rock County Historical Society, Janesville: A $600 grant was awarded to restore the Becker double capacity “sweetheart” wooden-encased, double-belt-rotary stereopticon at the Lincoln-Tallman House Museum.
2014
The Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association recently voted to award a 2014 Grant to the FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society, continuing founding sponsorship of the "30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction". The $1,000 will be used in 2015 by the Wisconsin Historical Society to restore yet-unidentified artifacts at Wisconsin historical site.
2013
The Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association recently voted to award a 2013 Grant to the FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society, continuing founding sponsorship of the "30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction" to be held at Old World Wisconsin April 26, 2014. The $1,000 will be used by the Wisconsin Historical Society to restore artifacts at Lake Geneva's Black Point Estate, the 1888 retreat of Conrad Seipp, a Chicago brewer.
The Price County Historical Society, Fifield also received a pledge in the amount of $1,000 for a painting and maintenance project at the Old Town Hall Museum located in Fifield, Wisconsin.
2012
Israel Stowell Temperance House, Delavan, Wisconsin, to help in the sealing of the historical site, making it weather tight, vermin proof and secure prior to the beginning of any restoration; $1,000
The Rock County Historical Society, Janesville, to complete the refurbishment and adaptive re-use of one of a series of exhibit cases to be used in "Treasures of Rock County" showcasing the iconic artifacts and archival items from the RCHS collections; $520
Richfield Historical Society, pledge towards foundation restoration of the Messer/Mayer Mill; $500
2011
New Holstein Historical Society, to create & assemble an 1890s country school display; $1,000
FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historial Society’s “30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction”; Sponsorship (& repair of two paintings at WHS important to Wisconsin history); $1,000
2010
Hawks Inn Historical Society, Delafield, to purchase shake shingles for a badly-needed new roof at their 1846 Greek Revival Stage Coach Inn; $1,000
2009
FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historial Society’s “30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction”; Sponsorship (& repair of two paintings at WHS important to Wisconsin history); $1,000
2008
Friends of Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, Milwaukee, $1,000
Old World Wisconsin, Eagle; $500
Mineral Point Public Library Building Fund, Mineral Point; $500
2007
Lead Region Historic Trust, Inc., Shullsburg; $1,000
2006
Friends of the L. D. Fargo Library, Lake Mills; $500
Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, Mineral Point; $500
2005
Rock County Historical Society, Janesville; $900
Mercer Area Historical Society; $800
Hermann-Grima/Gallier Historic Houses; $800
2004
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts; $1,000
2003
Lead Region Historic Trust, Inc.; Shullsburg; $500.
Washington County Historical Society; $500
Art Council of Edgerton; $100
Appleton Art Center; $400
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum; Milwaukee; $500