Part 1 (Wis Mss TX): Original Collection, 1896-1937
Physical Description: 4.0 c.f. (10 archives boxes) 
Scope and Content Note

These papers, presented in the 1950s, consist largely of correspondence and, with one exception, relate chiefly to the years when Charles A. Kading was a member of Congress, 1927-1933. Correspondence for the years 1923 and 1924 is concerned with Mrs. Kading's work as president of the State Board of Control. According to a 1953 field report by Historical Society staff, Mr. Kading sorted through the papers before releasing them to the Society and is thought to have “destroyed much.” Of the papers received, about one third were concerned with Kading's efforts to get pensions and compensation for ex-soldiers and their widows. As veterans information is available from the Veteran's Bureau, and the correspondence was of little consequence, this group of papers was not retained. The Kading papers are arranged chronologically, by month only. An appendix to this finding aid contains an index to selected correspondents' letters. Prominent correspondents include Charles Goff, Charles E. Broughton, Herman L. Ekern, William Theodore Evjue, Carlisle V. Hibbard, Halbert L. Hoard, Philip Fox La Follette, Robert M. La Follette Jr., O.J.G. Peters, and Edward Voigt. A few non-correspondence items are filed following the correspondence.

Matters with which Kading's Congressional correspondence deals vary widely in importance. By far the larger number of letters are concerned with satisfying requests from constituents--sending them bulletins, helping them to get appointments, helping them to extend rural mail service, helping to secure post ofice buildings, taking up grievances against the government etc. While in Congress he was a member of the Accounts, Elections No. 1, Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Rivision of the Laws, and Labor committees, and yet none of his actual committee work is revealed in these papers.

Occasionally, one finds a letter to a constituent, or to his brother, John F., in which Kading expresses his position as a lawmaker; and by these it is shown that he opposed Prohibition, supported organized labor, and opposed a Federal sales tax. Letters showing Kading's political associations in his district are a little less meager; for instance, there is material on the elections of 1926, 1928, 1930, 1932, and 1934. The two latter years yield some information on Progressives in that year and problems raised by redistricting.

Two small groups of papers merit special mention. (1) From 1926 to 1933 letters were exchanged between Charles A. Kading and O.J.G. Peters of Portage, Chairman of the Portage Deep Waterway Committee, concerning the Portage canal. There are also letters from the U.S. Army Engineers in 1928 on the advisability of dredging the upper Fox River. (2) Between 1928 and 1930 there are several letters referring to a proposal to revoke the license of many small radio stations in order to increase the power of larger ones. Some interpreted this proposal of the Federal Radio Commission as an attempt to control radio stations for political reasons. Several small Wisconsin stations, including WIBA, Madison, and WIBU, Poynette, would have suffered by this move.

Among the miscellaneous items filed at the end of the correspondence is a business survey and report on Sheboygan made April 30, 1929 in connection with efforts to obtain a new post office. Also found there are campaign expense records for 1906-1910 and other financial records.

Correspondence

1915, 1917, 1918, 1923-1926

1927-1928 June

1928 July-1929 October

1929 November-1930 May

1930 June-1931 April

1931 May-1932 February

1932 February-June

1932 June-December

1933-1934 August

1934 September-1937 March

Clippings

Biographical items

Miscellany

Campaign memoranda and expenses for 1906, 1908, and 1910 (Volume 1)

Account book and Assets and Liabilities, 1907-1911 (Volume 2)

Part 2 (Mss 426): Additions, 1893-1976
Physical Description: 1.2 c.f. (3 archives boxes and 1 oversize folder) 
Scope and Content Note

These additions to the Kading papers were organized in 1978, and are primarily records pertaining to Kading's son, Charles E., although there are substantial papers concerning the elder Kading and his wife sufficient to warrant a separate series for each family member. The papers are mostly personal in nature, and do not document the Kading family law practice, Charles A. Kading's years in the House of Representatives, or Mrs. Kading's terms as president of the state board of control. As some material concerns more than one family member, overlaps occur in several files. The additions are divided into the following series: the Charles A. Kading papers, the Elizabeth H. Kading papers, the Charles E. Kading papers, and the Unattributed papers.

The CHARLES A. KADING series contains records dissimilar to those in the main collection. The incoming correspondence is scattered from 1893-1935; most concerns Kading's years in the Theresa school system. In later correspondence are letters from his wife and son during the fatal trip west in 1925, and letters of condolence after the accident. The outgoing correspondence, in February and March 1935 deals specifically with the campaign of Charles E. Kading for circuit court judge.

The financial material includes two bound journals which record the prices and inventory of books in the Theresa school system. The bankbook dates from 1900-1904, and many of the larger entries represented investment money that local German farmers entrusted to the Kadings.

Miscellany includes certificates of examination which enabled him to teach in Theresa, certification of his entrance into the law profession in Indiana, and assorted notes.

The ELIZABETH HOLSTE KADING series includes scattered correspondence from 1900-1925, mostly concerned with her years as a teacher in Theresa, Wisconsin. Except for two composition books dating from her secondary school education, there is little documentation of her early life. Mrs. Kading's speeches are concerned with national holidays, Watertown events, and school graduations; most are undated. The miscellany includes diplomas, testimonials, notes, and poems.

The CHARLES E. KADING series forms the largest segment in the additions. In the incoming correspondence are letters written in the period shortly after his mother's death, and also responses to his inquiries about commission as an officer in the Armed Services during World War II. The outgoing correspondence relates to Kading's unsuccessful campaign for circuit court judge in 1935 and to his involvement with the Armed Services during the war. Also found is his letter of resignation as judge to Governor Patrick Lucey in December 1976.

The file concerning Kading's relationship with Dr. Charles Goff of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee includes correspondence between them, and a copy of Goff's study of the abandonment of the council-manager position in Marinette County. Kading had produced a similar study on Watertown, and Dr. Goff traded advice and information with him concerning the problem.

The UNATTRIBUTED PAPERS series contains notes, poems, and writings for which authorship cannot be ascertained from the papers. Also included is a family scrapbook of newspaper clippings related to the Kading law practice, Charles E. Kading's scholastic achievements, and Mrs. Kading's obituaries. Certificates to practice law for Elizabeth Kading are filed separately with general oversize material.

Series: Charles A. Kading

Correspondence

Incoming, 1893-1935

Outgoing, 1935 February - March

Financial Records

Journals, 1899
Physical Description: 2 volumes 

Bankbook, 1900-1904

Bar Examinations, 1900

Speeches

1904-1933

undated

Individual Voting Record in the House of Representatives, 1927-1932
Physical Description: 2 volumes 

Miscellany

Memorial Book, 1956

Series: Elizabeth H. Kading

Correspondence, Incoming, 1900-1925

Secondary School Education, circa 1885

Compositions

Composition Books
Language: German

Examinations Questions Book

Speeches, circa 1895-1925

Holiday

Other

Bound

Miscellany

Series: Charles E. Kading

Correspondence

Incoming, 1926-1945

Outgoing, 1935-1976

Naval Career

Vital Statistics and Commission Papers, 1942-1946

Naval Air Technical Training Center Roster and Log, 1943-1944

Naval Service Fighter Plans and Training Manuals, 1943-1945

U.S. Naval Air Station Regulations and Training Book, 1945

Rock River Control Association, 1952

Watertown City Council

Activities, 1956

City Government Reports, 1956

Activities, 1958

Future Capital Construction Plans, 1958

Correspondence with, and Case Study on Marinette County by, Dr. Charles Goff, 1960-1961

Hearings on Rule 17

Legal Briefs, 1975 August

Chronology, Argument, and Preliminary Statement

Proceedings

Campaign Leaflets

Writings, Creative

Series: Unattributed Papers

Notes, Letters, Poems

Scrapbook of Clippings

Certificates, 1899, 1900

Part 3 (M75-382): Additions, undated
Physical Description: 343 photographs and 1 drawing 
Scope and Content Note: Photographs of the Kading family, primarily composed of studio portraits, but also including images of Watertown and postcards from around Wisconsin.

Part 4 (M78-495): Additions, 1930s-1970s
Physical Description: 0.2 c.f. (1 archives box) 
Scope and Content Note: Materials, 1930s-1970s, consisting of papers of Charles E. Kading, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge. Included are pamphlets of the Wisconsin Progressive Party, constitution and by-laws of the Jefferson County Progressive Club, proposals to the Watertown City Council, and legal decisions.

Part 5 (M93-252): Additions, 1896-1900
Physical Description: 0.2 c.f. (1 archives box) 
Scope and Content Note: Memorabilia, including souvenirs and programs for commencement exercises at the Theresa School, 1896-1900, and at the Lowell School (Dodge County; August C. Kading, teacher); and the program for Charles' and Elizabeth's graduation from law school, 1900.

Part 6 (PH 1173): Additions, 1912
Physical Description: 6 transparencies 
Scope and Content Note: Lantern slides used in the campaign of Charles A. Kading for mayor of Watertown, Wisconsin, 1912.