In this book, a diverse group of scholars explore key themes in Milwaukee"s history from settlement to the present. Contributors discuss the importance of socialism and labor in local politics; Milwaukee"s ethnic diversity, including its unusually large and significant German American population; the function and origins of the city"s residential architecture; and the role of religious and ethnic culture in forming the city"s identity. Rich in detail, the essays also identify critical areas and methods for future investigations into Milwaukee"s past.Contributors are Margo Anderson, Steven M. Avella, John D. Buenker, Jack Dougherty, Eric Fure-Slocum, Victor Greene, Thomas C. Hubka, Judith T. Kenny, Genevieve G. McBride, Aims McGuinness, Anke Ortlepp, Joseph A. Rodriguez, and N. Mark Shelley.