"As a professor, I tended to think of history as run by impersonal forces. But when you see it in practice, you see the difference personalities make."

- Henry Kissinger

 

Why McCarthy?

Senator Joseph McCarthy, born and raised in the Appleton area, went on to become the figure-head of anti-communist persecutions in the 1950s. An icon of the Cold War Era, his controversial role in the Red Scare led to the blacklisting of hundreds of Americans.

Regardless of your opinion on McCarthy’s political involvement, he was an important figure with strong ties to the Fox River Valley. In response to community feedback, The History Museum has removed Senator Joseph McCarthy’s bronze bust from collections storage for a permanent installation entitled, Why McCarthy?

The museum first showcased the bust in its award-winning exhibit Joseph McCarthy: A Modern Tragedy in 2002. While the new exhibit does not compare in size or scope to A Modern Tragedy, it accentuates McCarthy as a prominent figure in twentieth-century history. The bust is the focal point of the exhibit, giving visitors the unique opportunity to view this controversial sculpture. Visitors can use a touch-activated screen to view historic images and learn about McCarthy’s life and career.

Photo courtesy of The Post-Crescent

Marines unveiled McCarthy's bust in the Outagamie County Courthouse lobby on May 2, 1959. It remains one of the only tributes to the late Senator in Appleton. Several County Supervisors had asked for the removal of the bust since the late 1980s. In 2001, Outagamie County donated the controversial bust to the Outagamie County Historical Society.

The exhibits are a collaboration between museum curators and the community. A special thank you to the following:

An anonymous donor
Half Price Books
Bee Thao
Tom Zalaski
EnvisionInk
Digital Design Services
Marquette University Library
The Post Crescent