Additional works have been added to the Sheboygan County Historical Documents collection which will continue to help researchers in their quest for information. The newly added city directories will assist genealogists and historians, while the other specialized historical items will open new vistas to Sheboygan's early history. Further use of these materials will promote increased knowledge of Sheboygan County's fascinating history with a deeper understanding of the past. This collection will provide researchers, students, genealogists, and the general history buff the opportunity to explore a wealth of historical information about this county. It also provides an understanding of how this history contributed to the historical development of this state and country.

Ideally situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Sheboygan was once known as the "City of Chairs, Churches, Cheese, and Children" for its abundance of each. Over time, the city's claim to fame has changed. It is now celebrated for bratwurst and hard rolls, great surfing on Lake Michigan, speedy cycling on its city streets, unparalleled sportfishing, and miles of sandy beaches and beautiful dunes in family-friendly parks. A fanciful tale often told to explain the meaning of the name Sheboygan involves an Indian chief who had many sons but no daughters; when his wife presented him with yet another boy, she was rumored to have lamented, "She a boy again." In reality, most authorities agree that Sheboygan is a Chippewa word, but the meaning remains elusive. Some say it refers to a passageway near water, while others say it documents a great river disappearing underground.