Peter Shrake is a lifelong resident of Wisconsin. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, focusing on Jacksonian Indian policy in Wisconsin. He also earned a master’s degree of library and information studies from the University of Wisconsin. Shrake served as the executive director of the Sauk County Historical Museum for eight years. For three years he worked as a reference archivist for the Wisconsin Historical Society Library and Archives. Since 2011, he has been the archivist at Circus World Museum. He lives in Baraboo with his wife and sons.