INTRODUCTORY.

This tenth volume of the Wisconsin Historical Society's Collections completes the first series of the work, and includes a full index of the whole. Little need be offered by way of apology or explanation. In the infancy and poverty of the State, it was difficult at first to enlist the sympathies and encouragement of our people in the work of saving our historic materials; difficult to avert the obstacles thrown in the way by a doubting or querulous Legislature; difficult to secure even the smallest pittance for the most pressing needs of an infant institution; and difficult to secure the early publication of its garnerings, even in the rudest form. To inspire faith and hope, that what was sought to lay the foundations of such an institution was really necessary, or would contribute to the honor, fame and up-building of the youthful State, was a matter of no small effort. But it is gratifying to reflect, that all our early promises of usefulness, and pledges of economy, with faithfulness and devotion to the work in hand, have been fully met, and even more than realized.

During a period of over thirty years, under a single guidance, much of our Early Wisconsin story has been brought out, and not a little of it pretty thoroughly discussed and elucidated. Our pioneers have aided materially in this good work - Grignon, Brisbois, Shaw, Lockwood, Ellis, Childs, Meeker, Mr. and Mrs. Baird, Martin, the Parkinsons, Bracken, Lapham, Strong, Lothrop, Frank, Clark, Fonda, Powell, Vieau, De La Ronde, Beouchard, Mrs. Bristol, Brunson, Holton, Merrill, Peet, Rice, Whitford, Butler, and many others.

Such an array of contributors have very naturally covered a wide range of topics, embracing nearly everything touching the primitive history of Wisconsin and the