Part 1 (Series 173): Original Collection, 1837-1945
Physical Description: 7.6 cubic feet (44 archives boxes) and 1 reel of microfilm (35 mm) 
Scope and Content Note: Investigations, hearings, and reports of legislative standing, special, select, interim, and investigating committees, including transcripts of testimony and proceedings, hearings, minutes of meetings, exhibits, pertinent correspondence, newspaper clippings and reports, and statements of findings and/or recommendations of the committees. Among the better documented investigations are those that examined government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and Markets (1933), the Board of Control, Mendota State Hospital (1880 and 1934), and the State Highway Commission; and topics such as insurance companies (1906), juvenile delinquency (1945), prison labor, the 1908 Senate primary election, and prostitution (the Teasdale Committee to Investigate White Slavery and Kindred Vice, 1913-1915).
Arrangement of the Materials: Chronological by legislative session and thereunder alphabetical by subject and/or title of investigation.

1837

Conditions of Banks - Report of Select Committee on McGregor Case - Reports to legislature relating to

1839

Banks of Milwaukee and Mineral Point - Report of Select Committee on Investigation of

Bank of Wisconsin - Report of Joint Committee on

Public Buildings - Testimony before Committee on

1841, Building of State Capital - Report and Investigation on

1845

Bank of Milwaukee - Papers relating to Investigation of

Bank of Mineral Point - Papers relating to Investigation of

Doughty vs. Territory of Wisconsin - Communication from Attorney General

Mississippi Marine and Fire Insurance Company - Investigation of

1846

Claim of R. L. Ream to be Territorial Treasurer - Select Committee Report and Investigation of

Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Corporation - Papers relating to Investigation of

1856

Gubernatorial Elections Returns 1855 - Report of Judiciary Committee Investigation of

Investigation of Books of State Treasurer, Secretary of State, and School and University Land Commissioner - Report of Joint Committee on Investigation on

1858

Kilbourn City - Report of Committee on Investigation regarding

Land Grant Frauds

Testimony of Joint Select Committee on Investigation regarding

Testimony of Joint Select Committee on Investigation regarding (continued)

Papers relating to Milwaukee and Superior Railway Company

Contracts of Milwaukee and La Crosse Railway Company

Contempt cases arising out of Investigation of land grant frauds

1862

Original Subpoenas of Civil War Bond Investigation - Joint Select Committee of Investigation

Insane Hospital - Report of Select Committee Investigating

1880, Investigation of the Wisconsin State Hopital for the Insane at Madison

Volumes 1-3

Volume 4

1887, Investigation of University of Wisconsin

Transcript of testimony and proceedings

Exhibits, subpoenas, and estimates

1889, Convict Labor - Report of Committee to Investigate

1905, Railway Company Accounts - Investigation of

1906, Investigation of the Affairs of Life Insurance Companies

Reports of the Joint Committee of the Senate and Assembly on

Drafts of legislation

Exhibits

Opinions of committee report

Interest rates: Correspondence

Insurance legislation: Opinions of Judge Noyes, General Counsel of Northwestern Mutual Life

L.M. Fay “Receipt and Contract,” Views of a Wisconsin Life Insurance Company, 1902 May 31

Press release: Abridgement of report

Investigation of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company - Topical Indices

Investigation of Union Central Insurance Company

Investigation of the Fraternal Insurance Beneficiary Societies of Wisconsin

1907

Transcripts of hearings before the Committees on Banks and Insurance in Wisconsin Legislature, Volumes 1-3

Investigation of Postage Levees - Committee Report

1909

Senatorial Primary, Legislative

Investigation of - Testimony of witnesses before the Committee appointed by Joint Resolution 35 providing for an investigation regarding alleged corrupt and ulawful user of money by candidates from the U.S. Senate in the last primary campaign and primary election
Physical Description: 2 volumes 

Stephenson Primary Investigation

Report of the Senate members of the Joint Investigating Committee regarding the election of Isaac Stephenson to the U.S. Senate

Appendix to Report

Facts disclosed in the Stephenson Primary Investigation

Investigation by Special Joint Committee on Education, Official Report of Testimony

1911-1912, Fire Insurance Investigating Committee Report - Transcript of testimony at hearing

Volumes 1-2

Volume 3 (missing)

Volume 4

1913

Attempted Removal of H.L. Ekern as Commissioner of Insurance, Senate Investigation by the Committee of the Whole

Proceedings of the Senate
Physical Description: 2 volumes 

Miscellaneous notes and testimony
Physical Description: 1 folder 

State Fair Investigating Committee - Report of

1915

Agriculture - Report of Joint Investigation Committee on

Board of Public Welfare - Report of Joint Investigating Committee on

Charges against Assemblymen regarding Bill 464S - Investigation of

Conservation - Report of Joint Investigating Committee on

Forestry Expenditures - Report of Special Investigating Committee on

Postage Levees - Investigation of

State Printing - Report of Joint Investigating Committee on

The Wisconsin Tax Commission - Report of Joint Investigating Committee on

University Lands, Purchase of, Report of the Special Committee on Investigation of

Volume 1: Hearings and reports

Volume 2: Exhibits and letters

Records of Legislative Vice Committee to Investigate the White Slave Traffic and Kindred Subjects, Howard Teasdale, Chairman

Correspondence

1913 July-1914 January

1914 February-December

1915 January-April; undated

Transcripts of hearings, 1913-1915

• A 1909-1910 ledger kept by a Milwaukee brothel is available online.

• A transcript of July 1914 testimony by Milwaukee prostitutes is available online.

• A transcript of 1914 testimony by Wisconsin working women is available online.

Exhibits, 1913-1915

Shorthand Transcripts of hearings

Shorthand Transcripts of conferences

Original Investigation Manuscripts

Key to code numbers
Physical Description: 1 volume 

Questionnaires

Alma - Reedsburg

Rhinelander - Waupun

Typed investigator's reports

Report of committee

Miscellaneous

1917

House of Good Shepherd, Milwaukee, Joint Investigation of - Hearings

State Board of Education - Answer to Senate Inquiries

1919

Historical Library, Investigation of

Testimony

Report

Milwaukee Street Car Investigation

Transcript of hearing in investigation of the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Ct. and Kindred Associations by the Committee of the Legislature appointed by Joint Resolution 5A

Volume 1-2

Volume 3-5

Report of Committee

1921

Teachers' Retirement Fund Committee - Report of Special Investigating Committee on

Northern Lakes Port Region

1925

Northern Wisconsin Home and Training School, Special Investigation by Visiting Committee to State Institutions

Report of the Senate Investigating Committee - A special committee to investigate charges of graft, immorality and misconduct by state officers and employees

Smith-Ekern Investigation - Special Committee Report

1927

Wisconsin State Highway Commission, Legislative Investigation of

Testimony

Volume 1

Volume 2

Papers relating to

Maps, blueprints, etc.

Report of Special Joint Committee on Investigation on

Sparta State School Committee on Investigation

Investment of State Trust Funds, Investigation of

Minutes of Committee

Correspondence

Farm Loan Reports-Retirement

Farm Loan Reports-Retirement (continued)

1929

Judge Belden - Investigation of charges against

Northern Lakes Park - Report of Special Committee to Investigate

Prison Labor Investigating Committee

State Athletic Commission - Report of Senate Committee to Investigate

State Office Building - Report of Special Committee to Investigate

1931

Conservation Commission, Investigation of

Transcript of testimony
Physical Description: 1 volume 

Related Material

Related Material (continued)

Report of Special Committee Investigating

Forest Fires - Report of Special Committee to Investigate

Manufacture of Farm Machinery at Waupun - Report of Special Committee to Investigate

Peter J. Smith

Report and Investigation of Bribery Charges against

Report and Investigation by Committee

Exhibits

Investigation of Wage Deductions

State Annuity and Investment Board, Investigation of - Testimony taken before the Assembly Committee on Agriculture

George Strabel, Investigation of the Trial and Conviction of

Original transcripts of testimony taken before the Assembly Interim Committee

Majority and Minority report of the Assembly Interim Committee

Wage Reductions, Investigation of Unreasonable - Report of the Committee on Labor regarding

1931-1932 Special Session

Athletic Department of the University of Wisconsin - Report of the Committee to Investigate

State Annuity and Investment Board, Investigation of - Statement, findings and recommendations of the Assembly committee on Agriculture

1933

Department of Agriculture and Markets, Investigation of, by the Special Committee appointed by Joint Resolution 55

Majority and minority committee reports

Committee minutes

Activities of Division of Livestock Sanitation

Brief on Bang's Disease and its Relationship to Undulant Fever

Transcript of testimony

Reports of Special Committee on Investigation on and material relating to

Parole of Issac J. Rosenberg, Investigation of - Report of Committee to investigate circumstances and conditions of parole

Pollution of Lake Delavan, Investigation of - Report on the Senate Committee on Water Pollution

Pollution of Mississippi River Waters, Investigation of - Report of Special Committee on

Reduction of cost of government - Report of Special Committee to investigate

Small Loan Legislation, Investigation of Lobbying in Connection with - Report and testimony of the Special Committee to investigate

Unification of the Courts of Milwaukee County - Record of proceedings before the legislative Interim Committee of the Wisconsin legislature

1934

State Board of Control, Investigation of by the Interim Committee on Prison Labor of the Wisconsin Legislature and the Governor's Citizens' Committee - Testimony

Wisconsin State Hospital, Mendota, Investigation of conditions in by the Legislative Interim Committee on Prison Labor

Testimony

Volume 1

1934 March 27-May 15 including list of Employers recommended for suspension and discharge by the committee, Volume 2

1934 July 30-August 14, Volume 3

1934 July 30-August 14, Volume 4

Survey of Patients by Buildings in Wisconsin Colony in Chippewa Falls

Volume 5

Volume 6

Survey of Patients by Buildings in Wisconsin Colony in Union Grove, Volume 7

1935

Board of Control Interpellation Proceedings

Proceedings, including petition for interpellation of the members of the State Board of Control and resolution, 1935 March 7

Proceedings, 1935 March 13-June 5

Schedules

Schedule A - list of employees entering service of Charitable and Penal Institutions from , 1932 January 1-1935 February 15

Schedule B - list of employees leaving service of Charitable and Penal Institutions from , 1932 January 1-1935 February 15

Schedule D - list of contracts and purchase orders of materials and supplies purchased by Board of Control for Charitable and Penal Institutions, 1932 January 1-1935 February 15

Schedule E - list of paroles granted from the Wisconsin State Prison, Waupun; Wisconsin State Reformatory, Green Bay; Industrial Home for Women and Wisconsin Prison for Women, Taycheedah; and the Milwaukee County House of Correction, Milwaukee for 1932 January 1-1935 February 15

Schedule F - list of Revocations of paroles granted from the State Penal Institutions from , 1932 January 1-1935 February 15

Schedule C - Certified copy of the minutes of the State Board of Control, Volumes 1-2, from 1932 January 1-1935 February 15

Schedule C, Volume 3

Communism, Teaching of at University - Report of Special Committee to investigate

Communistic and other “subversive” activities - Report of Investigating Committee on

Finance Companites, Investigation of - Report of the State Banking Commission and Interim Advisory Legislative Committee to Investigate Finance Companies

Milwaukee County and Civil Service Commission - Report on the investigation of

Pollution of Mississippi River Waters - Report of Special Committee to Investigate

Relief Administration, Investigation of by Senate Committee

Unofficial transcript of testimony

1935 March 15-April 25

1935 May 2-14

Interim Committee to Study Problem of Compulsory Automobile Insurance

1937, Investigation of Krause Milling Company Explosion

1939

Conservation Commission, Assembly Conservation Committee Investigation of

Statement of Frank N. Graas to Committee

Majority and minority reports of committee

Department of Agriculture and Markets - Original Transcript of Special Legislative Committee to Investigate

Decreases in Receipts from Liquor, Malt Beverages, and Gasoline Tax - Report of Committee to investigate

1941, Conservation Department Investigation

Transcript of testimony before the Senate Committee of the Whole, 1941 March 20
Physical Description: 1 folder 

Testimony and proceedings, 1941 March-April
Note: Also petitions.

Physical Description: 1 folder 

Interpellation of Mark S. Cathin Sr., 1941 March-April
Physical Description: 1 folder 

Supplement to transcript of testimony and proceedings regarding Conservation Department
Physical Description: 1 folder 

1943

Civil Service Personnel Problems - Report of Special Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate

State Board of Public Welfare - Report of Special Joint Committee

School for Boys - Report of Joint Legislative Interim Committee to Investigate

1945

Loaning Institutions - Report of Joint Legislative Interim Committee on

Purchase of Normandale Inc. - Investigation by Joint Interim Committee

Baraboo Chamber of Commerce vs. Conservation Department (James G. Halstead)

Special Joint Committee to Investigate the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency - Transcripts of meetings with Board of Public Welfare including testimony of educators, law enforcement officials, school aged children, clergymen, and private citizens

Ashland meeting - La Crosse meeting

La Crosse meeting - Wautoma meeting