Adolph Germer Papers, 1898-1966

Container Title
Micro 821/Green Bay Micro 26
Part 1 (Micro 821, Green Bay Micro 26): Original Collection, 1930-1967
Physical Description: 14 reels of microfilm (35 mm) 
Scope and Content Note

The collection contains a variety of materials created and gathered by Fisher for reference, illustrating his own research and the work of the Menominee Indian Study Committee. In particular, the papers include both general correspondence and a file of letters written by Constance Deer, self-proclaimed protector of Menominee interests. Most of the correspondence is found in printed form or as copies of the originals. A large file of legislation and related papers consists of federal and Wisconsin bills, drafts of legislation, reports of hearings, government publications, and other material pertaining to legislation and its progress through the Congress and Wisconsin legislature. Much of this file directly concerns the Menominee Indian termination, but earlier records deal with the termination of reservation status of the Klamath Indians in Oregon.

Fisher's papers include extensive files of minutes and announcements of regular and special meetings of the Menominee Advisory and General Councils. In addition, there are scattered minutes, copies of correspondence, memos, and other communications, reports, and a lengthy bibliography from the Menominee Indian Study Committee itself. There are also small files of reports and general papers, usually concerning the current operating status of Menominee Enterprises, Menominee Mills, and the Menominee Indian Agency. Copies of the Menominee Indian Tribal Rolls, compiled in 1939 and again in 1955 for the purposes of determining degree of Indian blood, membership in the tribe, and qualifications for receiving payments from the sale of Menominee-owned forest products, are also present in the collection. A major portion of the papers consists of reports and other material apparently collected only for reference purposes. The general file of reports dates from the 1940s, and contains a wealth of information on the economic, political, and social history and conditions of the Menominee Indians, proposals for future control of and changes in their assets (primarily the Menominee forest), and some items regarding the Klamath Indian termination experience. Specific reports and data concern Menominee births and deaths; selected census figures; annual reports of reservation churches, schools, and health and hospital services; and a summary of costs attributable to termination. In 1954, several tribal officials were in Washington, D.C. for government hearings on termination; the collection includes a series of weekly newsletters summarizing their activities and impressions for those who remained in Wisconsin. A small file of material concerning other organizations, but related to the Menominee Indians and conservation of their resources, is also present. The progress of determination and self-government for the Menominee is illustrated in the collection's file of news clippings. Most of these clippings were taken from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Milwaukee Journal, Madison Capital Times, and Wisconsin State Journal.

Many of the papers in the collection contain Fisher's underlining and handwritten annotations. His participation in the creation of reports and statements of the Menominee Indian Study Committee is clear in some places, but must be inferred in others. Copies of the drafts and articles by the Committee may be found in the files of reports and reference material.

Correspondence
Reel   1
Frame   1-285
General, 1950-1967
Reel   1
Frame   286-400A
Constance Deer, 1956-1959
Legislation and related papers
Federal
Reel   1
Frame   401-1166
1930-1932
Reel   2
Frame   1-1112
1944-1954 June
Reel   3
Frame   1-1250
1954 June-1957 February
Reel   4
Frame   1-1212
1957 March-1958 July
Reel   5
Frame   1-948
1958 December-1961, 1965
Wisconsin
Reel   5
Frame   950-1203
1955-1959 April
Reel   6
Frame   1-363
1959 April-1963
Reel   6
Frame   364-393
Mailing lists, 1955, undated
Menominee Advisory Council minutes
Reel   6
Frame   394-1166
1954 November-1955 June
Reel   7
Frame   1-1126
1955 July-1957 January
Reel   8
Frame   1-1165
1957 March-1958 December
Reel   9
Frame   1-152
1959 January-1960 August
Reel   9
Frame   153-304
Menominee Enterprises and Menominee Mills papers, 1942-1963
Menominee General Council minutes
Reel   9
Frame   305-1200
1954 January-1957 March
Reel   10
Frame   1-950
1957 May-1961 January
Menominee Indian Agency reports and papers
Reel   10
Frame   951-1174
1951-1957 October
Reel   11
Frame   1-119
1958 January-1960
Menominee Indian Study Committee (MISC)
Reel   11
Frame   120-249
Bibliography
Reel   11
Frame   250-593
Minutes, reports, 1955-1964, undated
Reel   11
Frame   594-1125
Menominee Indian Tribal Roll and stumpage payments, circa 1939, 1955
Reel   12
Frame   1-52
Miscellaneous
Reel   12
Frame   53-82
Records and forms for the proposed Menominee County
Reports and reference material
General
Reel   12
Frame   83-1239
1942, 1949-1956 February
Reel   13
Frame   1-1183
1957-1966 August
Reel   14
Frame   1-133
1967, undated
Reel   14
Frame   134-198
Births and deaths, 1943-1954
Reel   14
Frame   199-239
Census data and forms, 1930, 1950, 1955-1956
Reel   14
Frame   240-252
Churches, 1954-1955
Reel   14
Frame   253-281
Health Service annual reports, 1953-1956
Reel   14
Frame   282-403
Public Instruction, State Department of, 1947-1954, 1959
Reel   14
Frame   404-469
Summary of costs attributable to termination
Reel   14
Frame   470-540
Washington Delegates newsletters, 1954 January-May
Reel   14
Frame   541-596
Other organizations
Reel   14
Frame   597-999
News clippings, 1933-1941, 1955-1963