Wisconsin

1921 Kissel Custom Built Speedster

Society of Automotive Historians

Wisconsin Society of Automotive Historians

The Wisconsin Society of Automotive Historians (WSAH) is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Wisconsin Historical Society as well as the Society of Automotive Historians. 

The purpose of WSAH is to preserve, advance, and disseminate knowledge of the history of the automobile in Wisconsin, the United States, and worldwide.

The majority of members are Wisconsin residents, but the Society has members from other states and welcomes north inquiries and membership from anyone, anywhere. 

For more details and membership info, lease contact WSAH President Ken Nicmocks.

Wisconsin Society Activities

The Chapter holds meetings three times a years at different locations.

Helping with the Iola Car show is a major activity of the Chapter.

The Chapter actively supports the preservation of automotive history.

Read Chapter news to catch on the latest activities and events.

WSAH Meetings

WSAH meetings are held three times a year. The official Annual Meeting takes place at the lola Car Show in July. The WSAH also meets at The Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford, Wisconsin, home of the Kissel.

The Iola Car Show

One of WSAH’s major activities and primary fund-raiser is the Iola Car Show where society is paid for our efforts along with more than 135 other non-profit organizations whose members volunteer to put on the show. 

Since 1991 WSAH members have planned and staffed the Theme Exhibit section of the show, which involves displaying 200-300 vehicles, including up to 50 for a special exhibit inside the Theme Exhibit Building.  

The WSAH also selects vehicles for the official Iola poster and sells a variety of promotional and collectible items on behalf of the show. A combination sales and WSAH information table is located in the Theme Exhibit Building where the society encourages new members to join and fields questions about the show as well as automotive history.

Other Activities

For several years the WSAH has given monetary support to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum, donated to various Wisconsin historical projects and sponsored benches for the lola Car Show. 

The WSAH has published the book Wisconsin Cars and Trucks: A Centenary and produced a video entitled A Walk through Automotive History with Chet Krause (founder of Krause Publications a well as the Iola Old Car Show)

The WSAH has also produced the first of a series of video recordings relating to important people and places in Wisconsin automotive history, beginning with an interview of Gene Grengs of Eau Claire, WI, who owned movie theaters and began collecting and restoring cars with his grandfather while he was quite young. Please click here to view the Gene Grengs video.

Wisconsin Society News